When is the next Asheville Fringe? ➕

March 14-21, 2027

All ticketed shows take place in the evenings of Thursday, March 18th through Sunday, March 21st, 2027.

Is this year's Fringe online or in-person? ➕

Our festival is completely in-person.

What kind of performances does Asheville Fringe accept? ➕

The Asheville Fringe Society is dedicated to cultivating strange and wonderful work that lies outside the mainstream. We aim to provide artists with opportunities to explore the edges of their work, to collaborate across genres and to bring new and innovative performances to culturally adventurous audiences. Our continual goal is to curate experiences that expand the minds and hearts of our audiences and to be inclusive of artists who work within a myriad of genres, styles, and forms to create truly unique and original pieces in our community.

We accept 5 types of shows:

1. Fringe Shot

* A piece that is 5-15 minutes long * May be featured in a showcase, double feature, or selected as a free Random Act of Fringe.

2. Short Form

* A piece that is 20-40 minutes long * May be paired with another show.

3. Full-length

* A piece that is 45-55 minutes long * Ticketed theater-style show.

4. Installation

* A piece that is site-specific (any length) * May be in an unusual location, or repeated many times. May be seen by as few as one person at a time.

5. Film (TBD, seeking venue)

* A piece designed specifically for film. * May be in any genre * Should be less than 20 minutes in length * If we find a venue for this, submissions will open in January on Film Freeway .

How are shows selected? ➕

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival is a juried festival. We carefully review each and every submission. Applicants must show their work (or fully present their concept) at a short virtual or in-person adjudication session in October or November. Festival staff will notify you regarding acceptance into the festival in November or December.

What does it cost to apply to Asheville Fringe? ➕

The Asheville Fringe Arts Festival does not charge an application fee. If accepted into the festival, there is a $45 Participation Fee, which is paid when you sign your Artist Contract. Artists who submit films through FilmFreeway.com ($5) do not need to pay the participation fee. However, if money is your only barrier to entry, please do not let that stop you from applying!

How many times does each Fringe artist perform? ➕

Typically, each ticketed show is presented two times, except for the LaZoom Bus Festival Tour, which runs three times. We may add a show or two for artists who have a track record of selling out. Some musicians or Random Acts of Fringe will get only one performance.

What do Fringe artists receive? ➕

• Access to our wonderful audience
• 50% of ticket sales
• Artist passes for each member of your team, granting you standby access to most shows
• Comps to your show for 4 people of your choice
• Listing in our printed guide, on our website, and local publications
• Photos of your performance, in most cases
• Box office support
• Professional sound & lighting support
• Social media promotion

IMPORTANT DATES: When do I need to turn everything in? ➕

Application Deadline: September 30th, 2026

Adjudication Sessions: October 2026

Acceptance Notification: November 2026

Marketing Materials Due: December 2026

Venue Placement & Freak Pass Sales Begin: January 2027

Schedule Release & General Tickets On Sale: March 1 2027

Technical Rehearsals: March 15-18, 2027

Previews: March 17, 2027

Performance Dates: March 19-22, 2027

Closing Party: March 22, 2026

How do ticket sales work? ➕

All ticket sales are handled by Asheville Fringe, and are subject to change. Since 2021, tickets have been $16, except for the LaZoom Festival Bus Tour, which is $20. Artists receive 50% of ticket sales. All ticket and pass sales are transparent on Eventotron, and artists may track this data at any time. Artists sharing a one-hour time slot will split the 50% artist payout. No artist will be paid less than 35% of the artist payout.

Where will I be performing? ➕

The Asheville Fringe staff will pick a venue that best suits your needs. Our shows are typically seated, and our venue sizes range from 30-80 seats at full capacity. Since 2025, we have also been presenting shows at Asheville Community Theatre, which has around 300 seats.

Currently, our ticketed venues may include, but are not restricted to:

• The BeBe Theatre (Downtown Asheville)
• LEAF Global Arts (Downtown Asheville)
• Asheville Community Theatre & 35below (Downtown Asheville)
• LaZoom Room / Bus Tour (Downtown Asheville)
• Sly Grog Lounge (Downtown Asheville)
• Little Animals (Downtown Asheville)
• Art Garden (Downtown Asheville)

What are Fringe artists responsible for? ➕

• Artists must provide artwork and descriptions for promotional purposes.
• Artists are asked to share & create social media posts.
• Artists are responsible for casting their own shows.