Nanaimo Fringe Festival

The Nanaimo Fringe Festival, celebrating its 16th year, is scheduled to run for eleven days from August 6 to 16, 2026, in Nanaimo, British Columbia. This international festival is a vibrant showcase of artistic talent, featuring over 30 diverse performances and activities spanning theatre, music, and magic shows. The festival's core mission is to foster connections between artists and the community, with all ticket revenues directly supporting the participating artists, technicians, crew, and festival staff.

Key highlights of the festival include "Spontaneous Shakespeare" by The Spontaneous Shakespeare Company, an award-winning improvised Shakespearean epic that incorporates audience participation, performed at St. Andrew’s United Church from August 14-16. Another notable presentation is the award-winning autobiographical play "Embarrassed Naked Female" by Swiss performer Elsa Couvreur, showing at The Port Theatre from August 7-9. This 19-plus production delves into themes of consent and artistic expression, containing mature content. The festival also features other engaging performances like "Consider the Dongfish" and "PTS Tea," alongside unique events such as a Late Night Adults Only Bedtime Story and a silent disco.