The 2026 ESL Rochester Fringe Festival celebrates its 15th season with 715 performances of comedy, theatre, dance, music, kids’ shows and more. With returning favorites, festival debuts and major U.S. premiers, there is something for everyone! The festival runs from September 15 – 26.
The Fringe has been one of the most anticipated annual festivals in the region. It has been recognized by the New York Times as “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events.” It is also the largest performing arts festival in the state and is the current winner of CITY Magazine’s Best of Rochester Award for Best Arts Event.
Forty-five venues across the heart of Rochester and beyond will host more than 1,600 performers from around the world on Rochester stages across the 12-day festival. Make sure to visit the rare Spiegeltent performing arts space at home in the festival’s hub—One Fringe Place—an urban pop-up lounge on the corner of Main & Gibbs Streets in downtown Rochester.
The Fringe is a “choose your own adventure” experience where you get the freedom to see the types of things you know you like, but also be curious, and try new things.
But to fully enjoy the experience of Fringe, you need to go! So, let’s go!
MUST SEE AT FRINGE
Get ready as CIRCUS IN THE CITY transforms downtown Rochester into a spectacular celebration of contemporary circus on September 18 & 19. This FREE event features acclaimed circus artists from across North America. Experience the internationally celebrated FLIP Fabrique from Québec, aerial innovators Aloft, the fearless artistry of Circus EVO, the whimsical world of Big Teeth Collective, 3AM Circus, and more as they take over downtown Rochester with unforgettable moments around every corner.
CIRCUS IN THE CITY is Western New York’s largest-ever outdoor circus activation and is made possible through a Market New York grant awarded by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism. It includes jaw-dropping acrobatics, incredible trapeze, tight wire work, a Chinese pole performance, hand balancing and contortion archery. There will event be a community Juggle Jam, plus food trucks and bar services.
The event takes places on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19 at Parcel 5 (285 East Main Street) from 5 – 10 p.m. and at a second walkable location on Gibbs Street (between East and Main Streets) from 5 – 9pm. For a complete schedule and parking information visit rochesterfringe.com.
The 2026 Fringe also features comedy headliner Pete Davidson on Friday, September 25, as well as internationally acclaimed shows direct from Edinburgh Fringe, including Marcel Lucont’s Whine List, Les Enfants Terribles—A Gameshow for Awful Childrenand Just to Be Close to You by 10x award-winner Cam Poter. A world premier of Cirque du Fringe: Anchors Away!will headline in the rare Spiegeltent, and audiences will enjoy a transformative, quiet moment with Tea Party at the End of the World in the new Garden Studio space at Once Fringe Place.
Tickets to all shows are available online at rochesterfringe.com, via phone at (585) 957-9837 (additional phone fees apply) or via the Rochester Fringe Festival App, which is available for download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Tickets for all shows may be purchased in-person at the Justin L. Vigdor Fringe Box Office at One Fringe Place at the corner of Main & Gibbs Streets starting September 13 and at the doors of all venues one hour before curtain.
Nearly a quarter of the Fringe’s more than 715 performances are completely free.
Make a plan for how you will Fringe today!
