Rochester Fringe

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About

Since its debut in 2012, the Rochester Fringe Festival has drawn more than 750,000 visitors from around the world to experience over 5,000 diverse performances and events. As New York State’s largest multidisciplinary performing arts festival, Rochester Fringe has gained national recognition and has become one of the most successful fringe festivals in the U.S. The festival features a mix of local, national, and international artists across theatre, comedy, dance, music, film, visual arts, and more.

The festival follows the model of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where performances are selected through a mix of curated programming and venue-specific selection. One Fringe Place, located across from the Eastman Theatre, serves as a central hub, offering nightly indoor and outdoor shows, food trucks, and an immersive audience experience.

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Submission Requirements

The Rochester Fringe Festival follows an open-access model where venues curate performances based on artist applications. The submission process includes:

1. Application: Artists apply via Fringe Backstage, specifying show details and selecting preferred venues.

2. Venue Selection: Venues review applications and offer performance slots. Artists negotiate directly with venues.

3. Registration: Once a venue is secured, artists pay the registration fee and finalize ticket pricing.

4. Marketing & Promotion: Artists receive PR support, marketing templates, and ticket sales through the Fringe’s centralized box office.

5. Performance & Settlement: The festival takes place in September, and payments are issued post-event.

Key dates:

• Applications Open: Early 2025

• Applications Close: Mid-2025

• Fringe Festival Press Launch: July 16, 2025

• Festival Dates: September 2025

• Settlement Deadline: October 20, 2025

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Finances

Rochester Fringe does not charge an application fee, making it one of the few fringe festivals in the U.S. with a free application process. Once an artist secures a venue, they pay a one-time registration fee based on venue capacity:

• Venues with 100+ seats:

  • Multiple ticketed performances/exhibits: $125

  • Free, non-ticketed performances/exhibits: $100

  • One ticketed performance/exhibit: $100

• Venues with 99 seats or less:

  • Multiple ticketed performances/exhibits: $75

  • Multiple free, non-ticketed performances/exhibits: $50

  • One ticketed or free performance: $50

• Online Shows (live or pre-recorded): $25

Artists receive their box office revenue after the festival, with settlements postmarked by October 20, 2025. Ticketing is managed through a centralized Fringe box office, and ticket prices are set in collaboration with venues. Fringe retains $1 per ticket to cover administrative fees.

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Volunteer Information

As a non-profit organization, Rochester Fringe relies on volunteers to help with ticket scanning, ushering, production support, and festival operations. Volunteers receive an official Fringe t-shirt and earn one free ticket to a Fringe-curated show for every eight hours worked.

Interested volunteers can sign up through the Fringe website. Returning volunteers can sign up for shifts, while new volunteers must complete a registration form. Volunteer inquiries can be directed to Lynn Harris and Lisa Vitale at volunteer@rochesterfringe.com.

Volunteering at Rochester Fringe is a great way to be part of an internationally recognized festival, gain experience in the arts, and support the local creative community.