NZ Fringe is New Zealand's largest open-access arts festival: about three weeks of comedy, theatre, cabaret, dance and experimental shows in venues across Wellington, from 12 February to 6 March 2027. Anyone can register a show, so the programme is a lucky dip. About a quarter of shows are free or koha (pay what you feel), and a $20 Fringe Addict membership gives 20% off.
On this page
Key facts
- When
- 12 February to 6 March 2027
- Where
- Around 40 venues across Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington
- Tickets
- Online, plus a pop-up box office from late January
- Free and koha
- About 25% of shows. Koha seat reservations from $5.
- Fees
- 6% handling fee, capped at $5 per transaction
- Discounts
- Concessions for students, Community Services Card and Gold Card holders; Fringe Addict membership $20 for 20% off
- Refunds
- Non-refundable unless a show is cancelled or changed
- Age ratings
- All ages, PGR, 13+, 16+ and 18+, shown on each event
What it is
NZ Fringe, also known as the Wellington Fringe, started in 1990 when a group of performance makers came home from the Edinburgh Fringe and declared, “We need some of that too!” It began as a one-week festival within a festival at BATS Theatre and is now the largest open-access multidisciplinary arts festival in New Zealand. Open access means anyone can register a show, without gatekeeping, so you can watch “the next big thing” being born. Its motto is Te Kōhanga o Auaha, the Birthplace of Brilliance.
It is run by the not-for-profit Creative Capital Arts Trust, which also runs Wellington’s free street arts festival, CubaDupa.
What to expect
A huge range of shows: comedy, theatre, cabaret, burlesque, dance, music, circus and work that defies description. For scale, the 2026 festival had 170 productions, 590 performances, 764 artists and 40 performance spaces over three weeks, with more than 20,000 tickets sold.
Venues range from established theatres such as The Hannah and The Gryphon to car parks on Cuba Street, the Botanic Garden and even Wellington Zoo. Most shows are an hour or so, so you can see two or three in an evening.
The organisers’ advice: step out of your comfort zone and go to shows you would not normally see.
Who it suits
Anyone curious, from first-timers to Fringe regulars. Check age ratings: No Restrictions (bring your whānau), PGR, 13+, 16+ and 18+.
Tickets and booking
- Online: add shows from the programme to your cart. All tickets are e-tickets.
- Box office: usually opens in late January, with pop-up box offices announced closer to the festival. Email boxoffice@fringe.co.nz or call 04 212 4725.
- Fees: a 6% handling fee on each transaction, capped at $5.
- Concessions: for students with ID, Community Services Card holders and Gold Card holders.
- Fringe Addict membership: $20 for 20% off all shows, through advance sales only.
- Ticket+: add $5 or $10 to a full-price ticket, with all of it going to artists.
- Free and koha shows: around 25% of the programme. Reserve a koha seat for a minimum of $5.
Sales are non-refundable unless a show is cancelled or changed.
Getting there
Most venues are in central Wellington, which is compact and walkable. Wellington Airport is on the city’s eastern edge, and buses and taxis run into the centre. If you are coming from the South Island, see our Interislander vs Bluebridge ferry guide.
Where to stay
Stay in the city centre, around Te Aro and Cuba Street, to walk between venues. See our things to do in Wellington guide for areas and ideas.
Food and drink
Cuba Street and Te Aro are packed with cafes, bars and cheap eats close to many venues. Garage Project brews an annual Fringe beer, Beyond the Pale, a limited edition that changes every year.
What to bring
Wellington is famously windy and the weather changes quickly, even in summer. Bring a jacket and comfortable shoes for walking between venues. At festival pop-ups you can bring a clean cotton tee or tote to get a live screenprinted Fringe keepsake.
Make a trip of it
Fill your days with our things to do in Wellington guide, or head over the hill to the Wairarapa wine country. Our 10-day North Island road trip ends in Wellington.
FAQ
What does open access mean?
What is a koha show?
How do I buy tickets?
Are there shows for children?
Is it worth a Fringe Addict membership?
Sources
Last checked 11 November 2026 against the organiser's own pages
