Denver Fringe Festival

The stage is set, the rules are gone, and this year’s Denver Fringe Festival is bringing more shows, new venues and dozens of ways to experience art in the Mile High. With 200+ total performances of 75 self-produced original productions in all types of performing arts – including theater, clown, dance, circus, comedy, cabaret and more – the 2025 festival features its most expansive and eclectic lineup to date.

In its sixth year, Fringe is opening new doors–literally–by adding new venues to the world of unjuried, uncensored and unconventional performance art, including The Learned Lemur, Denver’s most eccentric oddities shop; the creative event space at Hope Tank; The Shop at MATTER, a bookstore, artistic playground and community hub; and Manos Sagrados, a community event space that showcases music, art and movement.

From full-on theatrical and musical productions to avant garde spoofs and chaotic cabaret, audiences can choose their own adventure with what they decide to attend during the four-day festival. In addition to the main performance schedule, there will be two locations to see FringeART (a visual art show), a two-day KidsFringe with free shows and activities for families, and outdoor street performances and free arts activations in unexpected places during the Fringe Free-For-All.

“Art shouldn’t be hidden behind velvet ropes,” said executive director Ann Sabbah. “Fringe is about breaking barriers and giving independent artists a platform to incubate their ideas. We strive to create equity in the arts, ensuring that creative expression is something everyone can access, whether on stage or in the audience. This is art for the people, by the people, building connection and community along the way.”

“Fringe is everything we love about the arts – it’s unexpected, inclusive and accessible,” said Alye Sharp, Executive Director of Programs & Partnerships for the RiNo Art District. “We’re proud to be the presenting sponsor of this year’s Denver Fringe Festival because it does exactly what RiNo is designed to do: bring people together through creativity. And with all the diverse venues for this year’s festival, Fringe also promises to be a powerful driver of foot traffic and discovery for our local businesses. This partnership is a win for our artists, our local businesses, and the broader cultural fabric of Denver.”