With the Adelaide Fringe’s final weekend upon us, have you crossed off your bingo card? Here are three artists’ tips for finding the ‘fringe’ of the Fringe.
Sixty-six years since a group of disaffected Adelaide artists launched the Fringe as an AF-you to cultural gatekeeping, the 2026 Adelaide Fringe program is bigger than ever.
If you hold the textbook-thick program up to your ear you might just hear the cries of a few thousand artists desperately wailing for attention. With more than 1200 events, the ever-expanding program has made the original intention of showcasing local work increasingly challenging.
However, the independent spirit of the festival season is far from impossible to find. A solid piece of advice is to pick a trusted venue and take a punt on the night; many locally run spaces carefully program their Fringe season, and hidden gems are eagerly waiting to be discovered.
Choose your own adventure, or follow the advice of these three trusted local artists as they share their favourite venues and the shows they are presenting there. From ‘the home of the clowns’, to a bar with a (literal) human-sized nest, these independent spaces are rife with content to enjoy whether you’re stumbling in, or listening to the artists collective pleas to book ahead.
Arthur Art Bar
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66 Currie Street, Adelaide
Who are you?
Three best friends who make ridiculous musicals about everything from Scientology to cigarettes.
What can audiences expect from Arthur Art Bar?
Low budget but high energy shows, beautifully friendly people and average toilet facilities – pure Fringey goodness. Also, the secret nest upstairs. Once we asked if we could cover the walls and floor in canvas and let 120 drunk people paint it – and Cass (the owner) was like,
“absolutely”.
What about your show, Dial M for Mushrooms?
Our new show is about the Mushroom Murders. You can expect live funky music, absurd comedy, fake blood and free Mentos.
What are your tips for making the most of the “fringe” of the Fringe?
Whether the show is a hot mess or perfectly off beat, it’ll make your night. Seek the small venues like Arthur Art bar, cram yourself into tiny rooms and take a chance, you coward!
The Courtyard of Curiosities
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Migration Museum, 82 Kintore Avenue, Adelaide
Who are you?
I’m an actor/theatre-maker and programmer/co-producer at The Courtyard of Curiosities.
What can audiences expect from The Courtyard?
A curated hub of world-class independent theatre and comedy, run by artists for artists. Bringing art into the heritage buildings we know and love.
What about your own show, Rattle & Reverie?
A late-night cabaret full of mischief, equal parts laughter and tenderness.
What are your tips for audiences making the most of the “fringe” of the Fringe?
Take a risk. See something you’ve never heard of. Trust venue curation. It’s an exciting time to support independent and support local.
The Mill
154 Angas Street, Adelaide
Who are you?
A comedic theatre maker and aspiring weirdo.
What can audiences expect from The Mill?
A textured curation of world class performance, comfy chairs, and a delightful selection of refreshments.
What about your show, My Grandpa Doesn’t Follow me on Instagram?
To be moved; perhaps to laughter, perchance to tears. To feel enriched and nourished.
What are your tips for making the most of the “fringe” of the Fringe?
Discover something brand new by someone you’ve never heard of; invest in a future you being able to say: “I saw them before they were huge”. The weirder the better. You may stumble across an entire art-form you didn’t know existed, and it may awaken something in you. And seriously, book tickets in advance, it’ll make everyone’s life better – I promise.
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