What is Fringe?

Our inaugural Yukon Fringe Festival will take place on Oct. 1-4, 2026 in downtown Whitehorse, YT! It will feature 6 different artist companies from across the Yukon, Canada, and beyond! We are excited to host theatre, dance, comedy, storytelling, circus, puppetry, and any other kind of performance art that Fringe artists can dream up!

What exactly is a Fringe Festival, anyway?

Is it theatre? Is it comedy? Is it... interpretive dance in a onesie?
Yes. Yes. And very possibly yes.

Fringe is live performance with no rules and no filters.

It’s an open-access festival where artists of all kinds—from total newcomers to seasoned pros—take creative risks, tell untold stories, and make shows exactly the way they want. No gatekeepers. No one telling them what to do. Every performer runs their own show and takes home their own ticket sales. It’s grassroots. It’s gutsy. And it’s kind of magical.

So what’s it like?

Some shows are funny, fast-paced, and feel like a night out with a friend. Some are weird and wild and wonderful. Some are deeply personal. Some are experimental and unforgettable. Fringe is the scrappy cousin of traditional theatre. But also: comedy, circus, puppetry, music, spoken word, improv, dance, cabaret, burlesque. Anything goes. Fringe is where artists get to do whatever they want—with zero censorship, low cost of entry, and 100% creative freedom.

So what makes a Fringe Festival different from your average theatre festival?

Three big things:

  1. It’s unpredictable—in the best way.
    You might see a solo clown opera about climate change. Or a punk-rock puppet show. Or an experimental dance piece that involves a canoe and a fog machine. The lineup is never curated, which means artists bring whatever they’re passionate about. Some shows will make you laugh, some will challenge your perspective, and some might leave you scratching your head—and that’s all part of the fun. Performances also happen in unconventional spaces: cafés, business foyers, basements, hallways—places you’d never expect to become alive with performance.

  2. It’s artist-driven and open-access.
    Anyone can apply, and shows are selected by lottery, not by opinion. Artists self-produce, keep 100% of their ticket sales, and use the Fringe to test, build, or completely invent their next big thing. It’s a launchpad for emerging artists, and a playground for established ones who want to try something new.

  3. It’s affordable and accessible.

Fringe keeps ticket prices low—because live performance should be something everyone in the community can enjoy. That means audiences can see more shows, discover more artists, and be part of the fun without breaking the bank. Plus, there’s a free stage downtown at Festival HQ where you can catch performances, buskers, and pop-up shows at no cost at all.

There are also after-parties, artist mixers, and an atmosphere that’s part block party, part creative playground. 

Whether you’re an arts lover, a curious first-timer, or someone who’s just looking for something a little different—Fringe is for you.

Where did it all start? 

Way back in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland, a bunch of indie performers who weren’t invited to the official international theatre festival showed up anyway and did their own thing on the fringe of the festival – in church basements, storefronts, streets and alleys. Boom: the original Fringe. Since then, the movement exploded worldwide, with cities across the globe hosting their own DIY-style fests that welcome all kinds of creators: comedians, dancers, poets, clowns, cabaret queens, drag kings, weirdos, and experimental artists of every kind.

The Yukon Fringe Festival honours the original spirit of unconventional venues by presenting all works 'offstage' in irregular and non-traditional spaces.

Yukon Fringe Festival is a proud member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals