Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/23/26

Festival unites artists and community with more than 245+ live performances across seven venues

The Atlanta Fringe Festival returns for its 14th annual celebration this summer, delivering an expansive lineup of bold, original performances across the city. Building on last year’s success, the 2026 festival will again host a two-week run, featuring more than 245 live acts from May 27-June 7 at seven venues throughout Atlanta. This year’s lineup includes 49 distinct shows from a diverse roster of artists: 27 local performers, 18 touring artists representing 13 states, and an international act from Scotland. Altogether, the festival showcases more than 400 individual performances, offering audiences an immersive, citywide arts experience.

“The Atlanta Fringe Festival is a celebration of fearless creativity and the artists who bring it to life,” said Executive Director Diana Brown. “From local talent to international voices, this year’s festival invites audiences to discover work that is unexpected, unforgettable and uniquely Atlanta.”

Known for its genre-defying programming, the festival spans the full spectrum of live performance – from improv and burlesque to stand-up comedy, spoken word, puppetry and magic. As part of the global Fringe movement, the Atlanta Fringe Festival operates as an open-access platform, empowering artists to present original, unconventional work while retaining 100% of their ticket revenue.

In keeping with Fringe tradition, participating artists were selected through an unjuried lottery from approximately 150 submissions worldwide, ensuring a dynamic mix of voices, disciplines and experience levels.

Festival Highlights Include:

• Kids Fringe (Free Family Programming): Presented in partnership with East Atlanta Kids Club, this interactive series returns May 30-31 and June 6-7 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., featuring puppet shows, crafts, games, a “Baby Rave” and more for children ages 0-12.
• Atlanta Street Fringe (Free Outdoor Festival): In partnership with the Little 5 Points Cultural District, this outdoor celebration takes place May 29-31 and June 5-7 throughout Little 5 Points Village.
• Five/5ths of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Back by popular demand after two consecutive sell-outs, this variety benefit returns Monday, June 1 at 7:30 p.m. Five performance groups each reinterpret one segment of the classic film, resulting in a wildly inventive, one-night-only mashup featuring puppetry, burlesque, clowning and more.

In addition to live performances, the festival will once again present Fringe Audio, a first-of-its-kind podcast network within the Fringe circuit. Launching May 20 at AtlantaFringe.org, the platform will stream original storytelling and radio theater—many of them world premieres—from local and national artists. A $200 cash prize will be awarded to the Critics’ Choice winner for excellence in podcast production.

Multi-show passes will go on sale April 20, with single tickets going on sale April 27. Tickets will be available at atlantafringe.org. 

For new announcements, volunteer opportunities and information on upcoming exclusive performances, visit atlantafringe.org, or follow Atlanta Fringe Festival on Instagram and Facebook.