About Us
How it all began...
Adelaide Fringe began in 1960 as an alternative to the Adelaide Festival, which offered limited opportunity for local and smaller-scale artists. As an open access event, the Fringe allowed anyone with ideas and enthusiasm to register and be a part of the program, showcasing their arts to a welcoming public.
Adelaide Fringe and Adelaide Festival ran side by side, every second year, for over three decades until 2007, the year that the Adelaide Fringe became an annual event.
Adelaide Fringe is renowned for fresh ideas, risk, imagination, spontaneity and fun. It is the largest arts event in Australia and only rivalled by the Edinburgh Fringe on a worldwide scale.
Artists from across the globe participate alongside home-grown talent, in all artforms. For independent artists, it’s an inspirational environment. For audiences, it’s an atmosphere that encourages taking a chance on something new.
To be a part of the Adelaide Fringe, artists pay a one off registration fee which includes a listing in the Official Guide, plus access to artist services such as ticketing and help finding venues, equipment and a place to stay.
Adelaide Fringe also organises its own public events, which help bring that carnival atmosphere to town. But in general it is the artists and audiences who make our Fringe, so thank you all and keep up the brilliant work!