Weird World

Even as it celebrates turning “35 Years Weird” (its official theme), the Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival constantly revisits its roots. Pioneering local fringers, of course, took their cues from the storied Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

That event, now the oldest and most revered fringe theater festival in the world, more or less spontaneously erupted in 1947 when several troupes that weren’t chosen for the more traditional Edinburgh International Festival staged their shows anyway on the “fringes” of the existing event.

Orlando Fringe hasn’t existed as long as the progenitor of them all in Scotland. But it has been around long enough to be considered almost mainstream. Well, if not mainstream in terms of content, then mainstream in terms of its stature as a beloved annual tradition.

Founded in 1992, Orlando Fringe is the longest-running fringe theater festival in the United States. Following well-established international fringe festival guidelines, the event remains uncensored, unjuried, accessible and inclusive.

All ticket revenue (save for a $2 ticket surcharge that goes to a third-party ticketing company) goes directly to participating artists. Orlando Fringe makes its money from the sale of a $10 button that every attendee must wear to gain admission to ticketed shows.

 In any case, one of the region’s most intriguing cultural events—a gathering that revels in its unconventionality—is preparing to return to center stage. Orlando Fringe will again occupy Loch Haven Cultural Park and its venues (plus other places) from May 12 to 25, with more than two weeks’ worth of performances and art installations.

And although the event’s fortunes have risen and fallen over time, the 2026 edition is already showing significant growth year over year.

There were 404 applications to the lottery—from which participating shows are chosen—a whopping increase from last year’s 326. And there’ll be 121 shows, up from last year’s 107, while the Visual Fringe art gallery will showcase works by 91 artists, up from last year’s 78.

Returning favorite performers will include two Canadians: Keith Brown, a magician who combines comedic personal observations with sleight-of-hand; and TJ Dawe, a monologist who’ll share the provocatively titled Things I Shouldn’t Tell You.

Another returnee, Martin Dockery, based in New York City, will offer The Review, a new-to-Orlando show about gladiatorial politics that accompany a corporate performance review. Dockery, often a solo performer, will be joined on this one by frequent collaborator Andrew Broaddus.

 Storyteller Jon Bennett, based in Australia, will reprise How I Learned to Hug, which he first presented here in 2016. The one-person show will document Bennett’s turbulent relationship history and explore the heartbreak that caused him to retreat emotionally.

PUSH Physical Theatre, based in Rochester, New York, will offer Generic Male: Just What We Need, Another Show About Men, which was first staged here in 2022. The two-person show will explore modern masculinity and incorporate acrobatics and physical comedy into the high-energy production.

In addition, comic creators Kerry Ipema and KK Apple, based in New York City, will return to debut a new show, We Got Got. Ipema and Apple will be remembered for their 2022 offering, Six Chick Flicks, a spoof of women’s-movie cliches that they created in collaboration with Dawe.

Other acts that will be familiar to frequent fringe-goers: Orlando’s Opera del Sol, which will present Tiger Queen: The Opera, a spoof of the streaming series Tiger King; and the South Asian duo Two2Mango, based in Toronto, which will reprise a show called Colonial Circus: History Clown Style. Plus Katie Thayer, an Orlando Fringe favorite, will present the local debut of her one-person show Intimi(Dating).

The “Fringers of the Future” youth division will be represented by Ocoee High School, Cornerstone Charter Academy’s Thespian Troupe 8121 and Lake Highland Preparatory School’s Underground Theatre Incorporated. Applications were still open at press time for Kids Fringe, the child-friendly subfestival that will be presented at the Orlando Garden Club.

In addition to the ticketed shows—admission to which is again capped at $15, although some performers chose to charge less—the festival will offer numerous free experiences, including live music and other performances on the Outdoor Stage and art displays at Visual Fringe.

“Our artists are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” says Artistic Director Tempestt Halstead. “You’ll be able to see anything and everything. There truly is something for everybody—but we’ll also allow you to experience something you’re not used to.”

In addition to Loch Haven Cultural Park and its environs, there’ll be activities in several BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) locations, including Renaissance Theatre Company, The Starlite Room at Savoy, B-side at Ten10 Brewing Co. and Ivanhoe 1915.

There’ll also be tents on the park’s expansive lawn—including two large dining tents and another that will encompass the Outdoor Stage—as well as numerous food vendors.

And in a fun anniversary touch, there’ll also be a setup near Orlando Family Stage where you can be photographed inside a frame replicating the festival poster from the year you first attended.

Orlando Fringe appeared to be in the crosshairs of the culture wars in 2024, when Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed the entire $32 million state arts and culture budget and pointed specifically to perceived inappropriate content at fringe festivals in Orlando and Tampa.

In fact, Orlando Fringe—like all fringe festivals—has always offered some adult fare as well as a plethora of family friendly programming. Although funding was partially restored for the 2025–26 fiscal year, it was contingent upon adopting restrictions with which Orlando Fringe couldn’t comply due to its non-juried status. This made it ineligible to receive $70,500 that it might otherwise have been awarded.

Orlando Fringe has since operated on funding from private donors and continuing support from Orange County Arts & Cultural Affairs, the City of Orlando and United Arts of Central Florida. Its annual budget is approximately $1.7 million.

Says Managing Director Melissa Fritzinger: “We provide trigger warnings and ratings for the performances because we want to let people know what’s happening. Everything you choose to take in is completely up to you.”

Even if some of it is—profoundly but proudly—weird.

For more information, visit orlandofringe.org or call the box office at 407.648.0077.