The Sydney Fringe Festival, the largest independent arts festival in the city, has revealed its spectacular lineup for 2023. The festival, which spans the entire month of September, will feature over 400 events and 12 festival hubs throughout the city. Notable highlights include a special performance by iconic Australian band Rogue Traders for Fringe Ignite, along with a vast array of local and international shows presented across the Made in Sydney and the Touring Hub segments. For the first time, the Sydney Dance Company will host the inaugural Fringe Dance Hub, while the pioneering micro-festival LIMITLESS returns to celebrate the creativity of d/Deaf and disabled artists.
The festival kicks off on 2nd September with Fringe Ignite in The Rocks, a free street party featuring the best of Fringe comedy, cabaret, music, dance and more. The streets will come alive with artists performing amidst the historic cobblestone laneways and sandstone buildings, with the Rogue Traders headlining the event at the Argyle mainstage.
The Sydney Fringe Cabaret Club will also return with a month-long program of fabulous cabaret shows at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel. This includes a performance by legendary Australian cabaret performer Naomi Eyers, alongside unforgettable nights of glamour and empowerment with drag royalty Hannah Conda, Charisma Belle, and Carmen Geddit.
The festival will also spotlight numerous First Nations artists presenting works throughout the festival, as well as a special FEAST event hosted by Chinese-Australian writer, comedian, and food enthusiast Jennifer Wong at the Hurstville Entertainment Centre. The Made in Sydney program from 5 – 9 September at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists will feature three locally made works by Sydney’s most exciting independent theatre-makers and artists.
From 12 – 30 September, the Touring Hub at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists will bring to Sydney smash-hit shows from the international Fringe circuit. The LIMITLESS micro-festival returns for its second year to celebrate d/Deaf and disabled artists, offering an inclusive and accessible space for audiences and artists to enjoy.
“This year’s Sydney Fringe Festival is one of our most dynamic and diverse yet,” said CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock. “We can’t wait for audiences to experience the innovative works as part of the festival-first Dance Hub, our hand-picked shows for Made in Sydney, plus our fabulous new precinct takeover at Entertainment Quarter. Fringe has something for everyone!” Tickets for these events are now available at Sydney Fringe Festival.