The final awards ceremony took place on Sunday 23 March at The Piccadilly, marking the culmination of another dynamic Fringe season. Judged by an esteemed panel of arts industry professionals and cultural leaders, the awards honour the artists and shows that have not only captivated audiences but have set new creative benchmarks.

The Adelaide Fringe Awards are renowned for their role in elevating artists, with winners receiving monetary prizes, mentorship opportunities, and pathways to national and international touring. This year’s recipients have delivered unforgettable experiences, earning well-deserved recognition for their contributions to the festival.

South Australian artists continue to be at the heart of Fringe, with more than half of this year’s awards going to local talent; and 45% of the awarded shows were supported by the Adelaide Fringe Fund. Across all categories, a total prize pool of more than $260,000 in cash and in-kind opportunities has been distributed to artists.

As Australia’s biggest arts festival, Adelaide Fringe has once again drawn enormous audiences in 2025, exceeding one million ticket sales for the third year in a row. The festival is estimated to have attracted more than 60,000 visitors from interstate and overseas, reinforcing its cultural and economic impact on South Australia.

CEO and Director of Adelaide Fringe, Heather Croall AM, said: "Adelaide Fringe continues to be a platform for artistic innovation, and this year’s award winners have truly embodied the passion, diversity, and creative spirit that make Fringe so special. Their work has inspired, challenged, and entertained audiences, and we are incredibly proud to celebrate their achievements. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners—your talent is what makes Adelaide Fringe the internationally recognised festival it is today."

Adelaide Fringe offers a special thanks to awards partners; Adelaide Comedy, Adelaide Critics Circle, Adelaide Festival Centre, Arts South Australia, Australian Refugee Association, BankSA, Carclew, Dolphin Creative, Fiji Fringe, Frank Ford AM Bequest, FRINGE WORLD Festival, Graham F Smith Peace Foundation, Guildhouse, Hither & Yon, Holden Street Theatres, Hollywood Fringe, House of Oz - Georgie Black, Inspiring South Australia, KOJO, KWP+PARTNERS, Leslie Thompson, Lumo Energy, Mary Walker OAM & John Walker, Matt Tarrant, Melbourne Fringe, MILKE, mindshare, Musicorp Australia, Nature Foundation, NZ Fringe Festival, Office of the Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia, Ray and Conrad Henley-Calvert, Sarah Rohrsheim, Svigos & Dimond Families, Sydney Fringe Festival, TAFE SA, The List, Theatre Network Australia, Visualcom, and Wallis Cinema.

As the 2025 festival season concludes, Adelaide Fringe congratulates all award recipients and extends its gratitude to the artists, audiences, and industry supporters who have made this year’s festival an overwhelming success. Looking ahead, the festival remains committed to fostering artistic excellence and global connections as it prepares for another extraordinary season in 2026.

Edinburgh Fringe Award
Lewis Major: Triptych (SA)*

John Chataway Innovation Award presented by KOJO
Transmission - into the dark (VIC)

The Frank Ford Award
Tracy Crisp (SA)

Sarah Rohrsheim Adelaide Fringe Fellowship Award
Dusty Lee Stephensen (SA)

Adelaide Critics Circle Award
Ten Thousand Hours (SA)

The Holden Street Theatres Adelaide Fringe Award
Love is a Game: An Adele Song Cycle (SA)*

Science at the Fringe Award presented by Inspiring SA
The Earth Above: A Deep Time View of Australia’s Epic History (VIC)

Adelaide Festival Centre's inSPACE Award
DUST (SA)*

Best of Street Award presented by Dolphin Creative
The Brucie Show (VIC)

Guildhouse Award
Object Permanence (SA)

Artform Shaker Award presented by Theatre Networks Australia
Tracy Crisp: Pearls (SA)

Take a Chance on Adelaide Award presented by Ray and Conrad Henley-Calvert
Dirty Work (VIC)

One to Watch Award presented by Matt Tarrant
Charlee Watt (SA)*

Best Emerging Producer Award presented by MILKE
Matthew Liersch (SA)*

Mental Health Awareness Award presented by mindshare
I Think I'm Dying [But I Don't Want To Go To The Doctor] (SA)*

Mental Health Commissioner's Staging Change Touring Award
Skinny (SA)*

The Eran Svigos Visual Art Award for Best Solo Exhibition
presented by Svigos & Dimond Families
Object Permanence (SA)

The Marjorie Fitz-Gerald Encouragement Award for Costuming
presented by Leslie Thompson
Amazônia (SA)*

House of Oz Purse Prize presented by Georgie Black
FLICK (VIC)*
Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence (WA)*

Award for Excellence in Poetry presented by Mary Walker OAM & John Walker
Tony Doyle (SA)
WRIGHT & GRAINGER (UK)*

Cultural Diversity Award presented by the Australian Refugee Association
NIUSIA (VIC)*

Sustainability Award presented by Graham F Smith Peace Foundation
Black Girl Rising (AUS)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award
Dusty Feet Mob (SA)*

Adelaide Fringe Access Award
SICK-STEEN (SA)*

Carclew Creative Youth Award
I Still Have No Friends (SA)

Adelaide Fringe Emerging Artist Award
FLOP (VIC)

Hollywood Fringe Tour Ready Award
Maybelline is in her Slut Era (NSW)*

The FRINGE WORLD Tour Ready Award
Adam Page - For Kids... and their Adults (SA)

Fiji Fringe Festival Tour Ready Award
BAM WOW Amazing Show! (SA)

The Sydney Fringe Tour Ready Award
Aidan Jones - Chopin's Nocturne (AUS)

NZ Fringe Festival Wellington Tour Ready Award
I Think I'm Dying [But I Don't Want To Go To The Doctor] (SA)*

The Melbourne Fringe Tour Ready Award
JOY (SA)*

Volunteer of the Year presented by Lumo Energy
Trevor Hobbs (SA)

Adelaide Fringe Best Kids & Family Award presented by Wallis Cinema
Signor Baffo (VIC)

Adelaide Fringe Best Cabaret Award presented by The List
An Evening Without Kate Bush (UK)*

Adelaide Fringe Best Circus Award
The Mirror (SA)

Adelaide Fringe Best Comedy Award presented by Adelaide Comedy
Garry Starr - Classic Penguins (VIC)

Adelaide Fringe Best Dance Award presented by TAFE SA
Overture (NSW)*

Adelaide Fringe Best Theatre & Physical Theatre Award presented by TAFE SA
Why I Stuck A Flare Up My Ar** For England (INT)

Adelaide Fringe Best Film & Digital Award presented by KWP+Partners
The Great Solar System Adventure: Full Dome Experience (UK)

Adelaide Fringe Best Interactive Award presented by KWP+Partners
Karate Man – A Live-Action Video Game (NSW)*

Adelaide Fringe Best Eat & Drink Award
Ăn cơm (SA)

Adelaide Fringe Best Community Event Award
Amplifii Music Festival (SA)

Adelaide Fringe Best Workshops & Talks Award
Silver-clay: A Jewellery Making Experience (SA)*

Adelaide Fringe Best Magic Award
Stuart Lightbody's Magical Hands and Magical Feats (South Africa)

Adelaide Fringe Best Music Award presented by Musicorp Australia
This Old Cello Box (UK)

Adelaide Fringe Best Visual Art & Design Award presented by Visualcom
Hag-ia (SA)*

Adelaide Fringe Best Variety Award presented by Hither & Yon
An Evening with Dame Granny Smith (SA)

BankSA Pick of the Fringe
Chicken (Ireland)*