The World Fringe Congress is a bi-annual gathering of Fringe festival producers, managers, directors, and leaders. Led by World Fringe and hosted by guest Festivals across the world.
The Congress’s primary goals are to strengthen the global Fringe sector through learning, sharing, and collaboration.
Vision & Mission
By uniting Fringe Festivals in-person, the Congress fosters international collaborations, strengthens the World Fringe community, and aims to raise awareness of the scale and importance of Fringe activity on the world stage.
Aims & Objectives
- Strengthen the global Fringe sector through learning, sharing, and collaboration.
- Foster international collaborations among Fringe festivals.
- Raise awareness of the significance of Fringe activities worldwide.
- Establish how the World Fringe community can serve each other and support growth.
These objectives contribute to the enrichment of the cultural landscape, support for artists, and the fostering of vibrant, inclusive community
Keep up to date with World Fringe Congress’s using #FringeCongress
World Fringe Congress 2024
World Fringe Congress 2024
Stockholm Fringe Festival
#STOFF2024
Location: Stockholm & Turku Åbo
Dates: 26 – 30 August 2024
Contact Us: wfc@stockholmfringe.com
https://stockholmfringe.com/wfc-2024
The world’s Fringe Festivals play a vital role in enriching the cultural landscape, supporting artists, and fostering a vibrant and inclusive community. Known for their innovation, collaboration and pushing boundaries. They celebrate diverse voices through artistic expressions from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, providing a stage for new and emerging artists. Fringe festivals can have a significant economic impact on their host towns and cities. They attract tourists, generate revenue for local businesses, and create jobs in the arts and hospitality sectors.
World Fringe serves as the global hub for this vibrant Festival community and advocates for the importance of Fringe by fostering peer-to-peer support. Launching in 2007 our mission has always been to unite Fringe Festivals across the world through meetings, social media, conversation and connectivity. World Fringe Day on the 11 July every year serves as a huge social platform that spreads the word about Fringe Festivals to millions of people.
World Fringe Congress is our bi-annual meeting of Fringe producers, managers, directors and leaders. The aim of the Congress is to strengthen the World Fringe sector through learning, sharing and collaboration. After its launch at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2012 the World Fringe Congress has traveled to Montreal, Adelaide and Orlando. 2024 is an exciting year as it is the first time co-hosted by two cities and in non-English speaking countries. I was privileged to be in Stockholm, in July 2016 when the Nordic & Baltic Fringe Network was born. Stockholm Fringe and all those in the Network continue to be a proactive and positive part of the World Fringe ecosystem. We are delighted to be generously hosted by STOFF this year.
World Fringe is more than a network, it is a family.
Welcome to the World of Fringe—it’s where creativity knows no bounds!
Holly Lombardo, WF Director
Fringe World Congress 2022
May 19-23, 2022, Orlando, Florida, USA
Global Fringe meet of Fringe Festival producers and decision-makers.
Hosted by Orlando Fringe
Fringe World Congress 2020
February 14 to 19, 2020, Adelaide, Australia
Global Fringe meet of Fringe Festival producers and decision-makers.
Hosted by Adelaide Fringe
Fringe World Congress 2018
16 – 20 August, Edinburgh UK
Hosted by Edinburgh Fringe Society.
Fringe World Congress 2016
16 – 18 November 2016, Montreal Canada
Hosted by the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF) & Montréal Fringe.
The Congress took place at le Conseil des Arts de Montréal -and Théâtre MainLine Theatre – 3997 Boulevard Saint-Laurent.
World Fringe Congress 2014
Edinburgh Scotland
Hosted by Edinburgh Fringe
World Fringe Congress 2014 took place during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the world’s largest arts festival and the birthplace of the original Fringe from 15-17 August 2014. Hosted by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society it was attended by 56 delegates representing 38 fringe festivals from 15 countries across 4 continents.
World Fringe Congress 2014 was part of the Culture 2014 programme, which accompanied the Commonwealth Games which took place in Glasgow, and was funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland, EventScotland and British Council Scotland.
Hear what the 2014 delegates have to say about attending the World Fringe Congress.
World Fringe Congress 2012
Edinburgh Scotland
Created & hosted in partnership by Edinburgh Fringe & World Fringe
The inaugural World Fringe Congress took place in Edinburgh between 16 and 19 August 2012 and was attended by 74 delegates representing 47 fringe festivals from 16 countries across 6 continents.
The 2012 World Fringe Congress was part of the London 2012 Festival, the cultural celebration around the Olympic Games, and was funded by the City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland and British Council Scotland.
The panel discussions and workshop sessions were recorded and are freely available as a resource for anyone working at or interested in Fringes.
