By Molly Given
It’s been years since FringeArts has been able to launch a winter-spring season, but that’s all about to change.
Following the success of the annual Fringe Festival that took place over the course of three weeks in September, the creative organization recently announced details for a jam-packed schedule and a new artist residency program, both at its home on the Delaware Riverfront.
Under the new leadership of Producing Director and CEO Nell Bang-Jensen, the 2025 Philadelphia Fringe Festival saw record-breaking participation from both artists and audiences. As a release notes, over 1,200 performances of 350 shows and events took place during its run. Audiences increased 15% from 2024, with more than 35,000 Fringe Festival tickets sold.
“FringeArts is a home for bold artists, projects, and experiments; a place where Philly can come together to celebrate the arts, each other, and the power of community,” says Bang-Jensen. “With these two new programs, FringeArts aims to bolster the vibrant artistic ecosystem already existing in Philly and introduce Philly artists and audiences to works that push the boundary of what’s possible in the performing arts.”
To continue its mission — to act as a platform, launchpad, and resource for Philadelphia-based artists whose work deserves to be seen on a larger scale — FringeArts’ plan for its creative residency program is to help artists with their process in a way “that is not prescriptive.”
Dubbed the Albert M. Greenfield Residency at FringeArts, this program leverages the company’s resources and space to promote the development of new work in a trust-based selection model and will be adjudicated by a panel of artists who represent the city. The release also states that artists are not required to deliver a specific product at the end of their residency, and are given space, time, money, and mentorship to develop their work. Three companies or artists will be selected for the program’s inaugural year in 2026 (which will take place in the summer). Applications are open for artists through Jan. 15.
This season also brings in a stacked schedule to bring audiences to FringeArts’ home on the Delaware Riverfront more consistently year-round. In recent years, the organization implemented a mini-festival model during the colder months, which featured weekend-length programs like the Blue Heaven Comedy Festival and Hand to Hand Circus Festival. This consistent upcoming programming on the other hand will feature shows from Jenn Kidwell, Lee Minora, Hirokai Umeda, and duo Pax Ressler and Jackie Soro.
The shows span Fringe Festival favorites reimagined, special dance showcases, artists belting out original songs and even a dark comedy that invites the public “to roll in the pigsty of American consumerism.” Scratch Nights will also return in 2026. Each of the four variety nights will be curated by one of the Fringe Festival Hub partners, while additional Scratch Nights will feature longer-form works-in-progress.
“From Philadelphia premieres, to new musicals, to Fringe Fest favorites, we’re thrilled to be presenting and supporting a slate of artists whose work spans genre, disciplines, and borders,” adds Mikaela Boone, FringeArts’ Director of Programming.
“Whether you met Fringe through a love of boundary-pushing performance art, because you’re an admirer of contemporary dance, or because you wandered into Fringe Bar—there’s something for everyone this spring at Fringe.”
To find out more information on everything happening this upcoming winter and spring at FringeArts, visit fringearts.com
Keywords
Philadelphia Fringe Festival,
FringeArts,
Performing Arts,
Artist Residency