The Fringe Returns

September 15-26, 2026

Applications are now closed for this year.

If you’ve already applied, click here to access Backstage.



For the Uninitiated.

The ESL Rochester Fringe Festival is a 12-day, all-out, no-holds-barred, multi-arts festival. The Fringe features international, national and local artists. It showcases theatre, comedy, dance, music, visual arts, children’s entertainment, physical theatre, musical theatre, opera, poetry, literature and experiences that have yet to even be imagined.

The New York Times named us “one of the country’s more prominent multidisciplinary events” in September 2023 and indeed we have grown to become one of the largest Fringe Festivals in the U.S. and New York State’s largest multidisciplinary performing arts events.  Even better, CITY Magazine has named us “Best Arts Event” in their Best of Rochester Awards for the last 3 years running!  *blush*