PRESS & MEDIA
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ELGIN FRINGE FESTIVAL: A CELEBRATION OF ARTISTIC INNOVATION
For thirteen years, the Elgin Fringe Festival has been vibrant celebration of artistic experimentation featuring an uncurated, inclusive, and affordable experience, drawing both local and national talent to Elgin’s historic downtown. Over 80 performances captivate audiences, showcasing dance, theater, comedy, music, magic, and other innovative art forms. Festival-goers can easily walk between venues and enjoy local dining and entertainment.
The Festival begins with a Visual Art Opening early in September, followed by Fringe Fix pop-up events giving a taste of Fringe across downtown Elgin. Performance Weekend kicks-off with a Preview Party, where Elgin Fringe artists perform short previews designed to introduce audiences to their shows. Festival Weekend also includes an Almost-Closing Party, and a Closing Party! All ticket sales go directly to the artists, supporting the creative community.
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WHAT IS A FRINGE FESTIVAL?
Fringe festivals exist worldwide as havens for underground and emerging arts scenes. The Fringe concept was incubated in Edinburgh, Scotland. In 1947, eight performance groups appeared uninvited on the “fringes” of the exclusive Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has since grown into the largest arts festival in the world, with hundreds of artists, thousands of performances, and millions of patrons every summer. It annually grosses over $100 million for the local economy and remains the biggest tourist draw in the UK.
Fringe Festivals have since sprung up in dozens of cities across the world. Most Fringe festivals are open and unjuried, preferring lotteries, first-come-first-served, and find-your-own-venue systems to a formal selection process. This open means of programming fosters the work of both the well-established and the obscure; everyone has the opportunity to participate. Fringe festivals nourish young visionaries by providing networking opportunities and production experience. They also provide large economic and cultural boosts for their hosting communities. It's exciting and meaningful that Elgin Fringe is a part of the larger Fringe movement, learning and encouraging each other to better our world through artistic expression.​
The Elgin Fringe Festival is part of the United States Association of Fringe Festivals (USAFF), the World Fringe Association, and the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF).
​2026 ELGIN FRINGE FACTS
80+
Performances
Seats Filled
34
Visual
Artists
1300+
Performers from 10 states
18
6
100+
Venues
Performing Groups
A WIDE SPECTRUM OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION​
Dramatic theater, comedy theater, solo storytelling, personal stories, improv comedy, stand-up, clowning,
Spanish-language improv, magic, cabaret, drag, improvised burlesque, contemporary dance, tap dance, gothic bellydance, dance theater, multimedia performance, rock spectacles, weird jazz, jukebox music,
musical comedy, experimental music, poetry, visual art, and the undefined!
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More than half of participating performers self-identifying as part of an underrepresented population, including artists who identify as BIPOC and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Artists are chosen by lottery, and 100% of performance ticket proceeds go directly to the artists who created the work.
PRESS PASSES
Whether you’re interested in reviewing shows, covering special events, or writing larger stories about the festival, we’d love to have you at Elgin Fringe.
​​​​Press Passes will be available for pick-up at Fringe Central during operating hours. A Press Pass is required to enter any Fringe performance. ​
PRESS CONTACT: Michael Novelli michael@elginfringefestival.com
