The Singapore Fringe Festival is set to return in 2026, celebrating its 22nd edition. An important and novel aspect of the much-loved annual event is that the festival organisers are crowdfunding to keep Fringe alive and well, even as they look for a new title donor.
Performances: 15-16 January 2026, 8pm; 17 January 2026, 3pm & 8pm;
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
A recent media release says: “Fringe 2026 will feature an inspiring and thought-provoking line-up of events by Singapore and international artists that address the theme of ‘Represent’ — both as an issue explored in the works, as well as a play on the representation of the Fringe.”
School bookings confirmed before 15 December 2025 are eligible for the Early Bird School Booking rate of SGD 26 per student ticket.
“We are truly heartened and grateful by the enthusiastic groundswell of support we received for our fundraising campaign to keep the Fringe alive,” says Melissa Lim, Singapore Fringe Festival’s Executive Producer and General Manager of The Necessary Stage, which organises and curates the festival. “Their robust belief in socially-oriented art and its relevance to the Singapore society has been incredibly inspiring and motivating for us.”
Lim adds that the work to fundraise for future iterations of the festival continues. “We are continuing our search for a new title donor aligned to our ethos and vision for the Fringe,” she states. “But in order to run the 2027 edition of the Fringe, we will be launching a new fundraising campaign.”
We are appealing to you — members of the public and arts community — to stand with us like you did, and support innovative, thought-provoking, and pertinent art so that we can make Fringe 2027 materialise. Your generous donation at donate.necessary.org will allow us to continue supporting independent voices.
Melissa Lim, Singapore Fringe Festival’s Executive Producer
Why the theme ‘Represent’?
Since its inaugural edition in 2005, the Fringe has been dedicated to curating cutting-edge, contemporary works tackling critical social issues faced by communities around the world.
The Fringe media release says: “As populations in many parts of the world grow increasingly diverse, we also see an alarming pushback against minority groups with racist, xenophobic, homophobic, and other discriminatory behaviour and statements. Representation in theatre, media, politics, etc, becomes more important than ever, as the visibility of diverse communities and voices reduces stereotyping and prejudices, and broadens perspectives. This leads to informed actions that help shape a more equitable, empathetic, and compassionate society that benefits everyone.”
Performances: 21-24 January 2026, 8pm; 24-25 January 2026, 3pm
Venue: Esplanade Theatre Studio
Lim asserts that as Singapore celebrates SG60, it is apt for the Fringe to spotlight the complexities of representation. “We should relook at how we can become a more inclusive and cohesive society,” she affirms. “There is no better time to consider who we might have overlooked, left behind, or marginalised, and we must uplift these communities so that no one is left behind in our national pursuit for excellence and well-being.”
In the Fringe 2026 line-up of six events, there is a range of works exploring this theme of representation — from visible and invisible disabilities, to the inner dilemma of a military personnel who abhors violence; from the multiplicity of ethnicity, to affirming positive portrayals of love in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Performances: 16-17 January 2026, 8pm
Venue: Practice Space, The Theatre Practice
Lim says that the theme is also a play on the idea of representing the festival as a ground-up initiative. “For the first time, the Fringe can truly profess to be independent and propelled by the public’s warm support,” she shares.
“This Fringe, we will reimagine how we can be more fearless and responsive to societal needs, going beyond presentation of productions to actively engage communities in difficult but crucial conversations about recent developments in Singapore.”
Tickets: bookmyshow.sg
Prices: SGD 38 for regular priced tickets
* 20 per cent discount for students, NSF, senior citizens and PwD cardholders
* Admission to panel discussions is free with registration
Redeemable with SG Culture Pass credits:
1. A Lesbian Love Story: The Musical by Woody Avenue (Australia/ Singapore/ United Kingdom)
2. Invisible by ART:DIS and The Necessary Stage (Singapore)
3. Celup by Sofie Buligis (Singapore)
Esplanade&me specials: (Up to 25 January 2026, limited tickets): Esplanade&Me members enjoy a 10 per cent discount off standard price tickets to performances at Esplanade venues. Log in to your Esplanade&Me member account to access the promo code.
Early bird school bookings: School bookings confirmed before 15 December 2025 are eligible for the Early Bird School Booking rate of SGD 26 per student ticket.
