Sydney Fringe Festival 2025

Grab your front row seat, Sydney Fringe Festival is about to transform Sydney into a vibrant hub of theatre, cabaret, music and more.

Sydney Fringe Festival is the beating heart of Sydney’s independent arts scene, dedicated to fostering new talent, supporting diverse voices, and showcasing bold ideas. Every September, it transforms Sydney into a platform for artists to experiment, collaborate, and connect with audiences in fresh and surprising ways. This year, that mission takes centre stage once again with multiple arts hubs popping up right across the city, offering unforgettable theatre, cabaret, music, and more.

First stop - The Rocks. This is a precinct that embodies the adventurous spirit of Fringe, with historic cobblestoned streets, audiences can find everything from hidden immersive theatre to raucous live music and large-scale street parties. It’s a hub designed for exploration - a place where you can follow the sound of a saxophone down an alley, stumble upon a pop-up cabaret in a courtyard, or catch a performance staged inside one of Sydney’s oldest buildings. The Rocks is where Fringe thrives on surprise, and where festival-goers are encouraged to let curiosity lead the way.

Nearby, Darlinghurst’s Eternity Playhouse makes a triumphant return as the newly minted Off Broadway Hub. Closed for over a year, the Playhouse is now back with a program that underlines its reputation as one of the city’s most atmospheric venues. Expect an eclectic line-up of contemporary dance, genre-defying theatre, and intimate cabaret that puts audiences up close to the action. The building itself — a heritage-listed former church — adds a powerful dimension, its soaring architecture providing a dramatic backdrop for artists pushing their craft in new directions.

For families, The Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park will once again transform into the joyful world of Fringe Kids. Across the school holidays, children will be treated to circus acts, interactive shows, and playful adventures designed to ignite imagination. From big-top style performances to hands-on workshops, the program is as much about participation as it is about spectacle. Parents can relax knowing that Fringe has crafted a space just for young audiences, where fun and creativity come first.

Meanwhile, Qtopia Sydney in Darlinghurst takes on the role of the Queer Hub, a vibrant showcase of LGBTQIA+ voices across comedy, cabaret, and musical theatre. Fringe has long celebrated the importance of queer storytelling, and this dedicated hub gives artists the platform to share work that is fearless, funny, and deeply personal. Audiences can expect a mix of emerging talent and established names, all contributing to a program that celebrates identity, resilience, and joy.

Not far away in Erskineville, PACT Centre for Emerging Artists is once again home to the Yagali First Nations Hub. Here, audiences will experience the power of Indigenous storytelling in all its forms — from theatre and dance to live music and spoken word. The hub continues to be a vital space within the festival, ensuring that First Nations voices remain central to Sydney’s cultural conversation.

Together, these hubs form a patchwork of creativity that stretches across the city, each offering a unique window into Sydney’s independent arts scene. What unites them is a sense of intimacy and discovery. Whether you’re standing in a transformed laneway in The Rocks, sitting under the gothic arches of the Eternity Playhouse, or sharing laughter in the Queer Hub, you’re not just watching a performance — you’re part of a moment that could only happen here, during Fringe.

With more hubs, more artists, and more opportunities for audiences to engage, Sydney Fringe Festival 2025 promises to be a landmark year for the city’s cultural life. For those willing to step off the beaten path, the rewards will be unforgettable: stories that challenge, performances that delight, and the chance to see Sydney through the eyes of its most daring creatives.

See the full program here: sydneyfringe.com