The following principles were developed collaboratively by delegates attending the first World Fringe Congress in 2012. They are not intended as a formal definition of Fringe, but as a reflection of the shared values and characteristics identified by festivals from around the world.
- ‘Fringe’ comes from a ‘Fringe of another Festival’ or ‘Fringe Arts’. ‘Fringes’ administer shared risk: not a single pot of money coming from one place to produce a programmed event, it is about support, development, accessibility and everyone involved, including artists, venues, audiences, and funders, investing together in a creative platform and delivering a unique & organic occasion.
- Fringe Festivals come in all different shapes and sizes; some are open access (anyone can take part by registering), first come first served, created by lottery, juried, part programmed or a mix of them all.
- They are born from passion and hard work; a passion for development, for creating a platform and for seeing and realising new ideas and initiatives. Fringes are exciting sparks where stars are made; they are the ‘excellence’ of the future.
A global movement with many expressions
There is no single definition of a Fringe festival—and that is one of its greatest strengths.
Around the world, Fringe festivals take many forms. Some are open access, some are curated and others combine different approaches. They vary in scale, structure and artistic focus, reflecting the communities, cultures and places in which they exist.
What connects them is not a single model, but a shared belief in creativity, opportunity and artistic exploration. Since the first Fringe performances took place in Edinburgh in 1947, the movement has grown into a worldwide network of festivals that champion artists, celebrate diverse voices and create meaningful cultural experiences for audiences and communities.
Defining Fringe Together
In 2012, representatives from Fringe festivals around the world gathered at the first World Fringe Congress to explore a deceptively simple question:
What is a Fringe?
Rather than seeking a rigid definition, they recognised that the diversity of Fringe is one of its greatest strengths. Instead, they identified the shared values and characteristics that connect festivals across the world.
Fringe is…
- Artist-centred – creating opportunities for artists to develop, present and share their work.
- Creative – encouraging experimentation, innovation and artistic risk-taking.
- Independent – shaped by the people and communities that create it.
- Inclusive – welcoming diverse voices, perspectives and artistic practice.
- Connected – bringing artists, audiences, producers, venues and communities together.
- Collaborative – sharing knowledge, ideas and experience across festivals and borders.
- Community-focused – reflecting and celebrating the places where each Fringe takes place.
- Always evolving – continually adapting to new ideas, cultures and generations of artists.
These are not rules or requirements. They are the shared values that emerged from the first World Fringe Congress and continue to inspire the global Fringe movement today.
Why Fringe Matters
Fringe is more than an annual festival.
It creates opportunities for artists to develop new work, for audiences to discover unexpected experiences and for communities to come together through creativity.
Fringe festivals nurture emerging talent, encourage cultural participation, activate public spaces, contribute to local economies and build international relationships through the exchange of ideas and artistic practice.
Every Fringe reflects its own community, but together they demonstrate the extraordinary impact that creativity can have when artists are given the freedom to explore, experiment and connect.
The Global Fringe Movement
Today, the Fringe movement includes:
- 300+ Fringe festivals
- 30 million+ audience members every year
- 170,000+ artists
- 600,000+ performances annually
- Festivals across every continent
Together, these festivals represent one of the world’s largest and most vibrant cultural movements, creating opportunities for artists, enriching communities and inspiring audiences across the globe.
World Fringe
As the international Fringe movement has grown, so too has the need for stronger connections between festivals.
World Fringe brings festivals together to share knowledge, build partnerships and create opportunities that no single festival could achieve alone. Through collaboration, advocacy and international exchange, we help strengthen the relationships that enable the movement to continue growing and evolving.
We celebrate what makes every Fringe unique while supporting the connections that make the global Fringe movement stronger.
Interested in learning more?
- Discover the History of Fringe
- Learn more About World Fringe
- Find out how to Support World Fringe