The National Arts Festival Fringe Holds Space

Featuring just over 200 new works from nine provinces, the Fringe is back and the National Arts Festival is about to get festive. The Fringe is a space where artists bring work that’s new, wild, weird, funny and wonderful for audiences hungry for a peek beyond the everyday algorithm. Presented in a multitude of South African languages, it’s a vibrant programme of everything from comedy camps to cool urban collectives, Makhanda turns into SA’s cultural laboratory thanks to the Fringe. Since the late 1970s, (making it one of the earlier Fringe festivals in the world) it’s been the place where South African theatre makers come to claim ground, resist and gather.

Says National Arts Festival Executive Producer, Zikhona Monaheng,

“The Fringe continues to be one of the most exciting platforms in the country to see new stories, brave work, experienced and emerging artists. Programming is always about balancing artistic excellence, diversity of voices, audience experience and the practical realities of venue and budget availability. We’re excited to see legendary artists return to the Festival stage this year while also collaborating and sharing space with emerging voices.”

What’s Landing This Year:

For the second year, Spark in the Dark (Cape Town) and TX Theatre (Soweto) are bringing entire rosters of work under collective hubs. Comedians also come to the Festival to reconnect with each other, and their loyal audiences – who keep coming back for more. This year’s line-up includes Loyiso Gola, Stuart Taylor, Conrad Koch, Dalin Oliver, Langa Kulati, Khanyisa Bhunu and many more – who’ll be running their shows at the Graham Hotel till late – and then likely host the informal after-party! This year, the Great Hall becomes a Fringe music base. Expect a programme of diverse musical acts and late-night DJ sets from across the country.

Universities, schools and institutions are also heading for the NAF Fringe with works from Wits, UCT, UWC, AFDA, TUT, Phoenix College, Sacred Heart College, University of Zululand, Walter Sisulu University, plus the Eastern Cape’s Sonwa Sakuba Institute for the Performing Arts.

Assitej will also be there to complete a programme of works for young families. Confirmed works on the family bill already include Turn the Tide, which uses waste puppets to inspire young audiences to protect our oceans, The Great Race, which reimagines The Tortoise and The Hare as a celebration of South Africa’s 30-year democracy and The Circus; a sharp reminder that power corrupts when farm animals overthrow their bossy farmer. Heitsi Eibib brings a First Nations legend to life through lively storytelling, music and movement, teaching the courage and power of choosing right over wrong.

Award-winning collective PentaFusion returns with 5 Years, 5 Musicians, celebrating their journey through music at the NAF over the years – including multiple Ovation Awards. Tony Miyambo presents a hat trick of compelling works that have crossed the boards at NAF, and travelled the world since, from The Cenotaph of Dan Wa Moriri to Commission Continua and the multi award-winning Kafka’s Ape.

Written and performed by National Playwright Competition finalist, Scout Fynn, In(hair)itance tells the story of a young girl navigating an identity crisis, deeply rooted in her relationship with her hair. More than one work grapples with fatherhood both as a presence and absence (Dear Son, You Should Go In, 4 Sons and a Father, Dear Tata… What Makes a Man a man? and My long Lost Father are just some of the works that touch on this theme).

Northern Cape’s Masakane Arts Centre presents Khoes; a powerful and emotionally driven stage production about a young Khoi-San girl whose mother, in a devastating act of desperation, sells her to the Botswana Chief, Mokoena, in exchange for the community’s right to remain on their ancestral land. Legae Arts presents Setswana Sober which follows a group of young individuals who fall into the grips of addiction.

The Fringe is also popular with magicians and will see the return of Festival favourites Brendon Peel and Li Lau with Liam Sass and Charlie Quinn also on the illusion bill. Films on the Festival’s Fringe includes Griet, Even Your Footprints Walked Away, 18, Episodes of Death and Cry of the Arts, Arts and it’s Artist. From Pantsula to contemporary, cabaret to street style there’s also plenty of dance in store.

With the support of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture’s Mzansi Golden Economy Programme, the Fringe will also offer added value to artists through workshops, talks and critical review that will deepen the Fringe experience and foster a sense of shared community and creative connection.

Audiences are encouraged to take a chance on the unexpected and book Fringe shows as part of their National Arts Festival experience. Keeping an eye on the Ovation Awards is also an indication of the Fringe shows to watch. Tracked and awarded by an anonymous panel of reviewers, Ovation Awards are announced throughout the Festival, culminating in the final weekend’s Ovation Awards Ceremony when productions find out if they will receive Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.

For a free taste of the Fringe, be sure to head to the Sundowner Stage in The Monument at 17h00 daily for a one-hour showcase from the programme.

These are just a few highlights from a programme of 200+ works spanning every genre imaginable. During Festival, the Fringe can be found across the town in multiple venues and searched for by date, genre, artist or show name then booked directly on the National Arts Festival’s website when tickets go on sale on 20 May 2026.

The National Arts Festival takes place from 26 June – 6 July in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape. Further programme announcements will be shared in the weeks to come.

Connect with the National Arts Festival Makhanda on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok