After a year of absence from live music and performances, New South Wales’ largest independent arts festival, Sydney Fringe, is finally returning this September.

In addition to the traditional program we have come to love over the years, the 2021 festival will also include two new initiatives continuing Sydney Fringe’s work supporting local communities. The first, Art In Isolation, is a showcase of new works developed as part of the Sydney Fringe’s 2020-2021 residency program; offering paid residencies to artists across performance, writing and visual art. The second, is a new series of AUSLan interpreted and relaxed performances at Eternity Playhouse every Monday of September.

“After our incredibly successful digital program last year, Sydney Fringe is delighted to be returning in 2021 with a physical footprint that will once again bring life, colour and support to the precincts and venues of Sydney," shared Sydney Fringe CEO and Festival Director Kerri Glasscock.

"Our new hubs and initiatives reflect the dynamic ways we found to directly support artists and the broader performing arts sector during the covid pandemic as well as our ongoing focus to implement long-lasting change post-recovery. The 2021 Festival will celebrate the sector’s tenacity and invites audiences to get back out and explore Sydney’s amazing talent while directly supporting the artists and venues who need it most. Watch this space - we can’t wait to show you what we have in store!”

One of the events to definitely keep an eye out for are those held at Fringe HQ – which this year, is being held at the historic ballroom at 5 Eliza Street, Newtown. Here, you'll be able to catch a hand-picked selection of award-winning works from international and interstate festivals in an affordable and accessible space.

We also recommend checking out one of the festival's new hubs, Young Henry’s Made In Sydney Hub; a showcase of tour-ready work by leading independent Sydney based theatre-makers.

The full festival program for the 2021 Sydney Fringe will be available in July, so keep checking back for more updates to come.