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Durham Fringe Festival 2026
Various Locations across Durham
Durham City
County Durham
DH1 3NJ
Durham City
County Durham
DH1 3NJ
Book Tickets
TripAdvisor
Opening Times
| 2026 (29 July 2026 - 2 Aug 2026) |
|---|
Highlights...
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Lights, Music & Thrills - Durham Fringe FestivalLights, Music & Thrills is the fascinating, wonderful and sometimes weird world of one of the most endearing traditions of the life of the travelling showman.- more info
Friday, 31st July 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
The Magic Sweet Jar - Durham Fringe FestivalA play for children aged 6 -11 about a young girl who falls through a portal into a world made entirely of sweets. Filled with live music, puppets, homemade masks, and interactive storytelling, audiences are encouraged to help bring the story to life.- more info
Thursday, 30th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Romeo.Juliet - Durham Fringe FestivalRomeo and Juliet and the manosphere. Award-winning Shakespeare supported by Stephen Fry- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Friday, 31st July 2026
INFESTATION - Durham Fringe FestivalINFESTATION is set in the English countryside in early winter of 1916. Dorothy gets a letter from the front that her husband James has been injured and is being honourably discharged- he’s coming home. However, when he arrives Dorothy notices that he has changed- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Walking with the Wind - Durham Fringe FestivalClose to nature. Embraced by love.
Adapted from the picture book by acclaimed Chinese illustrator Xiong Liang, Walking with the Wind follows Little Wood Child and the Wind as they travel through forests, caves and fields, meeting a host of playful characters along the way. When exhaustion finally…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Dance City Presents - Durham Fringe FestivalBoundless is the name of Dance City’s 55+ company which provides a unique opportunity for mature dancers in the region to develop their contemporary dance and performance skills as well as technical ability.- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
80’s Party Game Show! - Durham Fringe FestivalUnleash your party animal, throw on your 80's fancy dress, and become part of the most outrageous game show ever created.- more info
Saturday, 1st August 2026 - Saturday, 1st August 2026
Harriet Kemsley: Work In Progress - Gala Durham - Durham Fringe FestivalFollowing her eye-opening appearance on the first series of Last One Laughing UK, multi-award winning stand-up comedian Harriet Kemsley tries out new material in this work in progress show.- more info
Saturday, 12th September 2026 - Saturday, 12th September 2026
Susie Dent - Word Perfect - Gala DurhamA brand-new tour of the joys of the English language with ‘Britain’s best-loved wordsmith.’- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
The best ever cartoon draw along in the world ever - Durham Fringe FestivalAlex Collier is a Viz Comic cartoonist and a writer of all your most favourite animated shows - from Mr Bean to Danger Mouse, My Little Pony and Dennis and Gnasher Unleashed. Come join Alex as he shows you how to draw the best ever mega amazing super brilliant cartoons in the world and become the…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Offgridland - Durham Fringe FestivalFlight. Mode. The two most wonderful words...but even with his mobile blocking the outside world, can our desperate, overworked hero ever switch off? It's time to go to his favourite place: Offgridland.- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Friday, 31st July 2026
Sherlock Holmes The Death and Life - Durham Fringe FestivalSHERLOCK HOLMES: The Death and Life. Starring Nigel Miles-Thomas, written by David Stuart Davies, adapted for the stage and directed by Gareth Armstrong; with original music by Simon Slater.- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Friday, 31st July 2026
Love Factually - Durham Fringe FestivalEver wish you could re-live your “how we met” story? Well now you can.- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Wednesday, 29th July 2026
Rachel Creeger: “Queen Of The Jews!” (WIP) - Durham Fringe FestivalWhen a poisonous message slid into her DMs concluding "Who do you think you are, Queen of the Jews?" Rachel thought "That's not quite the hostile flex you think it is!" Let's explore the humorous side of hate as we consider whether people's actions are down to racism, or Rachism?- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
A Pilgrim’s Song - Durham Fringe FestivalMarking ten years since his acclaimed song 'City of Sanctuary', Durham folk singer-songwriter Sam Slatcher presents an intimate evening of songs and stories from a modern pilgrim. Inspired by journeys of sanctuary, chance encounters on trains, and the search for meaning in troubled times, this…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Mills & Farrell - Durham Fringe FestivalMills & Farrell, traditional/contemporary folk duo, travel the world in pursuit of music, both the ancient and in inspiration. Coming from backgrounds of Australian rock (David Farrell) and Nova Scotian folk (Janet Mills), they use two voices and acoustic guitars to blend sound in new arrangements…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
Percy Savage: Notorious P.I.G. - Durham Fringe FestivalFor his entire life, Percy Savage has been on a quest to find his authentic self. This has not been helped by endless comparisons to tank engines, lightning thieves and park keepers. Now, via his hatred of a certain brand of M&S confectionary he is reclaiming the title that is rightfully his. So…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Funnier - Durham Fringe FestivalEver wondered how to survive life’s messy, awkward, and chaotic moments with your sanity (mostly) intact? Comedian Thao Cao has been there—surviving near-death experiences, racism on public transport, and endless teasing about her Vietnamese name—and now she can laugh about it... and so can you.…- more info
Friday, 31st July 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
Heroes and villains – a musical journey by Pen and Stu - Durham Fringe Festival'Heroes and Villains - a musical journey' tells the tales, through song and story, of a Northumbrian heroine, an infamous highwayman, a notorious blacksmith and more! Pen and Stu play original modern folk - with BIG whistles and tenor guitars. Their songs, written by Pen, tell stories about famous…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Friday, 31st July 2026
ALL HAIL THE GREAT COSMIC MOTHER! - Durham Fringe FestivalALL HAIL THE GREAT COSMIC MOTHER! is an immersive hour of storytelling, music, and myth. Combining live voice, guitar, violin, evocative projections and atmospheric soundscapes, this reflective performance invites audiences on a journey through goddess traditions, folklore, and our connection to…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Friday, 31st July 2026
Brooklyn’s Magic Hour - Durham Fringe FestivalJoin Brooklyn-Ellis Carr as he returns for Durham Fringe 2026 with his brand new show. Prepare for an hour of mystery, illusion and laughter with the teenage magic sensation. You will be amazed by the mind-blowing magic and may even have the opportunity to get up on stage yourself to experience the…- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Thursday, 30th July 2026
How Do I Hold It? - Durham Fringe FestivalTabatha waited decades to see her favorite reclusive musician perform live. When an anniversary concert in London was announced, she bought the first ticket. What happened next happens to one in three women. What happened after that happens to no one. This healing journey is an earnest comedy about…- more info
Friday, 31st July 2026 - Saturday, 1st August 2026
It’s Your Role - Durham Fringe FestivalAnswer the call and become the hero in an interactive D&D adventure! Returning to the Durham Fringe after a fantastic run in 2025 - It's Your Role is an Off-West End fantasy show based on the popular roleplaying game: Dungeons & Dragons. - more info
Saturday, 1st August 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
Jake Donaldson: The Fifth Weezer - Durham Fringe FestivalJake was born in the 90s, a teenager in the 2000s, and never really fit in. Turns out being into X-Men and the band Weezer didn't win you much respect growing up in a North East ex-mining village. He only ever had one real dream but never followed it. Maybe all of this is why he's ended up the way…- more info
Saturday, 1st August 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
Lichfield & Larmouth Present: “The Greatest Magic Show” - Durham Fringe FestivalThe Greatest Magic Show is coming to the Durham Fringe. After sold-out shows at previous Fringes, award-winning magicians Tim Lichfield and Andy Larmouth are back for 2026 with a BRAND-NEW show- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Wednesday, 29th July 2026
Granny Apocalypse - Durham Fringe FestivalIt's the end of the world, the end of the world when Granny Apocalypse enters the ring...- more info
Friday, 31st July 2026 - Sunday, 2nd August 2026
Northern Lights presents… Horrible Harmonies (History as you’ve never heard it before!) - Durham Fringe FestivalHistory Gets Remixed! Strap in as Northern Lights, Durham University’s internationally award-winning group, takes you on a musical journey through time.- more info
Thursday, 30th July 2026 - Saturday, 1st August 2026
Tom Bolton: Just Magic - Durham Fringe FestivalAfter 4 sell-out years, Durham Fringe favourite Tom Bolton returns with his BIGGEST show yet. Bringing together the very best moments from his career alongside BRAND NEW illusions, this is a show not to be missed.- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Wednesday, 29th July 2026
Durham Fringe Family Showcase - Durham Fringe FestivalSample a taste of Durham Fringe 2026 at our FREE family showcase. See up to 6 different family-friendly acts from this year's programme, squeezed into 60 minutes. The perfect event if you're not sure what to go see at this year's festival.
- more info
Wednesday, 29th July 2026 - Wednesday, 29th July 2026
It Just So Happened: An Alternative History Show - Durham Fringe FestivalAward-winning stand-up comedian Richard Pulsford hosts this show for history fans. Three guest comedians / history buffs perform short stand-up sets based ‘on this day’ in history before exploring some possible alternative histories of Durham people and events.- more info
Access Information
Find out what’s happening this week across the Culture County. From festivals and exhibitions, to sport and theatre, you’re certain to have an eventful time in Durham.- Durham is home to world-class events, discover Durham’s most unmissable for 2026.
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