San Diego Fringe Festival This Week

San Diego International Fringe Festival is in progress this week, with performances continuing through May 24 at venues across the city and, this year, into Baja California. The 2026 edition is the festival’s 14th, according to organizers, and began with preview events on May 12. (sdfringe.org) The lineup spans theater, comedy, dance and circus, with shows scheduled daily at multiple locations. Organizers describe the event as open-access, unjuried and uncensored. ### How long is the festival running this year? (sdfringe.org) May 12 through May 24 are the official dates for the 2026 San Diego International Fringe Festival, according to the festival website and a KPBS event listing. The current week falls in the middle of that run, rather than covering the full festival window. The 14th annual edition launched with Fringe Previews on May 12 and continues through Sunday, May 24, organizers said. KPBS reported on May 11 that the festival had returned with more shows, more venues and an international focus. (sdfringe.org) ### What kinds of performances are on the schedule? The festival website says this year’s program includes theater, dance, comedy and circus acts from artists “from around the globe.” SanDiego.org separately describes the event as a platform for experimental and independent theater, dance, music and comedy. (sdfringe.org) KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando highlighted productions including “Re:Re:Reincarnation,” “The Fairy Tale Monologues,” “Life’s a Drag,” “Ghost Train,” “An Audience With Robinson Crusoe” and “Rhythm Delivered” in a May 11 preview. (sdfringe.org) The festival’s performances archive also shows productions running on dates including May 18 through May 24 at venues such as Centro Cultural de la Raza, Golden Corpse Theatre, SDSU MainStage, SDSU Prebys Theater and New Destiny in Lincoln Park. (sdfringe.org) ### Where is it happening? Multiple San Diego locations are hosting Fringe events, according to the festival and KPBS listings. The festival’s schedule page is paired with a map, and KPBS lists the event as taking place at multiple locations rather than a single campus or theater. Organizers said the 2026 festival is also introducing a Baja California Pilot Program. On the festival homepage, they said the initiative is intended as a first-phase return to Baja and part of a longer-term cross-border expansion toward Ensenada and Mexicali. (kpbs.org) ### How do tickets work? A $7 Fringe Tag is required for ticketed shows, according to the festival’s ticketing page and homepage. Organizers say the one-time tag functions as a pass for 11 days of performances and can be picked up at any Fringe venue. (sdfringe.org) The festival says 100% of ticket-sale revenue goes directly to performing artists, while revenue from Fringe Tags supports the event itself. Tags are not required for Family Fringe, Street Theatre or other free programming, according to the ticketing information. (sdfringe.org) ### What are organizers emphasizing in 2026? This year’s festival is tied to a broader international push, according to organizers. On the official site, they said the 2026 edition comes as San Diego prepares to welcome global leaders for World Fringe Congress 2026 and expands its binational footprint. (sdfringe.org) The festival also says its artist applications were launched “quietly and without advance notifications” so that new artists, emerging voices and first-time applicants would have the same opportunity to participate as returning companies. (sdfringe.org) That language appears on both the festival site and the KPBS event page. ### What happens after this week? May 24 is the festival’s closing date, and the schedule page lists awards at 8:30 p.m. that night at Centro Cultural de la Raza in Balboa Park. The festival website directs attendees to its shows, schedule and ticket pages for the latest lineup and availability. (sdfringe.org) (sdfringe.org)