San Diego International Fringe Festival indie shows

San Diego International Fringe Festival is in the final stretch of its 14th annual edition, with performances continuing through Saturday, May 24, across venues in San Diego and Baja California. The festival says its 2026 run began with previews on May 12 and is built around an open-access model that is unjuried, uncensored and artist-driven. (sdfringe.org) Organizers describe this year’s edition as a cross-border program, with events in San Diego as well as Baja California under a pilot expansion. (sdfringe.org) A one-time $7 Fringe Tag is required for ticketed shows, and the festival says all ticket-sale revenue goes directly to performing artists. ### How long is the festival still running? May 24 is the festival’s closing date, according to the San Diego International Fringe Festival website and a KPBS event listing. The current edition runs May 12–24, with performances scheduled daily during that span. KPBS said the event was ongoing daily from May 12 until May 24 at multiple locations. The festival’s own homepage says the 2026 event launched with “Fringe Previews” on May 12 and continues through May 24. ### What kind of shows are on the program? (sdfringe.org) The festival’s events archive listed 66 results when accessed on May 22. The lineup spans theater, comedy, cabaret and circus, music and workshops, with age guidance varying by production. Examples on the schedule include “Don Toberman: Ping-Pong Champ” by Moonlight Theater Company LLC at Centro Cultural de la Raza from May 20 to May 22, “Serving Can’t” by Marshall Lorenzo at SDSU MainStage from May 20 to May 23, and “The Fairy Tale Monologues” by Riot Productions at SDSU Prebys Theater from May 20 to May 24. (sdfringe.org) The archive also lists “Hail Mary, None of the Grace” by Mary Kennedy in Lincoln Park and Ensenada, and “My Precious! (kpbs.org) The Cabaret” by Morgan Palmer at SDSU Experimental Theater through May 24. ### Where are performances happening? San Diego State University venues appear repeatedly on the schedule, including SDSU MainStage, SDSU Experimental Theater and SDSU Prebys Theater. (sdfringe.org) Other listed sites include Centro Cultural de la Raza, Golden Corpse Theatre, the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theatre, Light Box and School for Creative Careers. The 2026 edition also includes a Baja California pilot program. The festival website says that expansion is aimed at Ensenada and Mexicali, and the event archive shows at least some performances with Baja listings, including Gertrude Pearlman Theatre in Ensenada and CEART Rosarito. (sdfringe.org) ### What do audiences need to buy? The festival says a Fringe Tag is required for ticketed shows. That tag costs $7 as a one-time purchase and can be picked up at any Fringe venue, according to the festival website and KPBS listing. Organizers say tags are not required for Family Fringe, Street Theatre or other free programming. (sdfringe.org) The festival also says the tag serves as a pass for 11 days of shows and that 100% of ticket sales go directly to artists. ### What makes this year’s edition different? The 2026 festival is being presented as a binational edition. (sdfringe.org) The festival says it is expanding its “binational artistic footprint” and preparing to welcome global leaders for World Fringe Congress 2026. The organizers also said artist applications were launched “quietly and without advance notifications” to give new artists, emerging voices and first-time applicants an equal chance to participate alongside returning companies. (sdfringe.org) That description came from the festival’s website. ### What happens next for people who want to go? (sdfringe.org) Tickets and show listings are available through the festival’s online schedule, and the event continues through May 24. The schedule page and homepage direct attendees to browse individual show pages for tickets and to use the festival app for browsing, reviews and purchases. (sdfringe.org) May 24 is the final day of the 2026 run, and listed productions continue at venues including SDSU theaters, Centro Cultural de la Raza and Baja California sites through that date. Organizers say updated scheduling information is available on the festival website. (sdfringe.org) (sdfringe.org)