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By: Natalie Pugh
If you’ve spent summers in Perth thinking you’ve seen it all, Fringe World 2026 is ready to change your mind. From 21 January to 15 February, the city bursts into life as a buzzing summer playground of creativity, colour and non-stop entertainment.
Presented by ARTRAGE Inc, Fringe World brings together 607 events across 110 venues and 38 suburbs, brought to life by more than 3,000 artists. Comedy, theatre, cabaret, circus, music and family-friendly shows spill across the city, from iconic venues in the CBD to coastal and suburban stages stretching from Scarborough to Rockingham and Busselton.
Thanks to the festival’s open-access model, every visit feels different. World premieres sit alongside local favourites, with Western Australian talent sharing the spotlight with artists from across Australia and the globe. Whether you’re planning a spontaneous after-work show, a full day out with the kids, or a big night of laughs and spectacle, Fringe makes it easy to curate your own perfect festival experience.
This year’s program is packed with crowd-pleasers and curious discoveries. Expect nostalgic laughs with Kath & Kim in Fountain Lakes: Y2K, high-energy performances from The Lady Boys of Bangkok, and plenty for younger audiences, including circus acts and magic shows. Fringe World has also joined forces with the Arts and Cultural Theatre Trust to present standout productions and a dedicated children's program during the school holidays.
The beloved Pleasure Garden returns as Perth’s ultimate summer hangout, serving up street performers, food stalls, axe-throwing, sausage sizzles and surprise pop-up moments well into the night.
With hundreds of shows running day and night, affordable ticket prices and clear accessibility and content information listed for every event, Fringe World invites everyone to jump in and explore.
For more information and to view the full program, visit fringeworld.com.au.