Nearly 50,000 seats filled annually, over 1,000 artists, dozens of works, hundreds of performances at over a dozen venues and spanning almost 20 genres. With those numbers, it seems pretty obvious that Minnesota's annual Fringe Festival is the largest performing arts festival in the Midwest.

Find modern twists on classic tales, politically driven story lines, crying-tears-of-laughter comedic productions, and surprisingly relatable narratives. With performances for all ages, the Minnesota Fringe Festival is a unique and spirited celebration of diversity, artistic expression and voice that connects adventurous artists with adventurous audiences on both a local and national level.

The Fringe Festival is produced by Minnesota Fringe, a publicly supported nonprofit that supports and connects communities through bold risks and new ideas.

Minnesota Fringe Festival performances will take place at different theaters within four different geographical hubs, Northeast, Phillips, Uptown and Cedar-Riverside.

Purchase a button & tickets

A Fringe button is your entry to the Minnesota Fringe Festival (and more*). Your one-time $5 button purchase is your Festival entry fee — wear your button proudly everywhere you go to make seeing shows easier. Fringe buttons are available at all box offices during the Festival. All box offices are cashless, so bring a credit card or a check.

Instead of paper tickets, you will receive a reusable tokens at each venue. You will receive your seat token at the box office when you buy or redeem your ticket, then turn it in to the usher when you enter the theater.

Learn more about purchasing a buttons and tickets.

2026 Shows

See a list of all of this years shows.

Fringe After-Hours

The official post-show hangout destinations throughout the festival take place each night from 11:00pm(ish)-12:30am(ish) at various locations throughout the festival. All Fringe After Hours events are free and open to the public. See the official schedule for each event. And don't forget on August 16, 2026 to check out the ULTIMATE Fringe After Hours: The Minnesota Fringe Festival Closing Night Party at The Cedar Cultural Center.

Performances to check out:

1. 1985: Relative Chaos!: Dive headfirst into the wild chaos of growing up, growing older, and finding your place in the herd. Uproarious, poignant, nostalgic, and bursting with heart. The Schommer family puts the fun in dysFUNctional!
2. A Woman's Place is in the House: An interactive activist comedy following Minnesota's first four female legislators as they journey to today, joining the ongoing fight for equal rights - with various special guest speakers at each performance.
3. Casa Bde Maka Ska: Everyone comes to Rick's. Even in the middle of a hostile occupation. Even in a world where lovers who have been torn apart by circumstance can bond over some well chosen Prince music.
   
4. It's-a-Me, a Musical!: Mario and Luigi jump off the screen and onto the stage in this exciting musical adventure based on the cult classic 1993 movie! Featuring four original songs and all your favorite Mushroom Kingdom characters.
5. Muskie: It's Fishing Opener on Lake Mille Lacs, but some of the locals have started disappearing. Could it be the work of the terrifying, mythical Muskie? Find out in this Minnesota-based parody of "Jaws."
6. Noise: NOISE explores the sounds that shape our lives—both heard and unheard. Through movement, the work examines the emotional, mental, and physical noise that surrounds us every day: expectations, distractions, memories, relationships, and the constant demand for attention. Contrasting moments of chaos with profound stillness, NOISE asks what happens when the volume rises—and when silence becomes its own kind of deafening presence.

Venues