Cheltenham Fringe Festival 2026

Apéritif Fringe Concert

A selection of songs in concert format.

Fringe Festival Launch Variety Show

Step right up and kick off Fringe season in spectacular style at our Fringe Festival Launch Variety Show — a night of glamour, glitter, and jaw-dropping talent!

Pic n Mix

A showcase of songs, poems and monologues.

Acting For All

Early Bird Offer of £5 off all tickets until Friday 17th April.A come as you are acting workshop for ALL SKILL LEVELS. An afternoon of acting exercises, games and a chance to learn how to approach a monologue and perform in front of a friendly and…

A Marriage of True Minds

Two by Two present a new play about love, tea and books. A couple look back at the beginning of their relationship, and as they do, characters from their reading step in and out of their lives, questioning the nature of love, of family, and of what…

Not a Cult presents: Mandatory Fun

Following a completely sell-out run of shows in 2025, Cheltenham's own Not A Cult are performing in their very first Fringe Festival!

Fringe Wii Gaming Night

It's 2010. Your friends are over. Pizza's on it's way. The Mario Kart tournament has kicked off. Relive this nostalgia (minus the pizza...sorry...) in the Cheltenham Playhouse's Green Room Bar.

Whose Fringe is it Anyway?

Join Comic Sans Script; Cheltenham's longest running Improv Comedy group and resident of The Cheltenham Playhouse for a night of completely off the cuff comedy!

Werewolves: An Interactive Gaming Experience

Will you be a Villager or a Werewolf...?Join us for an exciting, immersive experience on the Cheltenham Playhouse auditorium stage.You will be randomly assigned Villager or Werewolf status.

Tabletop Role-Playing Game: The Musical!

60 minute comedy musical about tabletop role-playing games, returning from last year!

Acting For All: Shakespeare Edition

Early Bird Offer of £5 off all tickets until Friday 17th April.A Shakespeare workshop for ALL SKILL LEVELS An afternoon of games and exercises to demystify Shakespeare and a chance to learn how approach a Shakespeare monologue and perform in front…

Humdinger Words for Whippersnappers & Guttersnipes

A playful, inclusive, intellectually mischievous family show for curious minds. Humdinger Words for Whippersnappers and Guttersnipes is a PG hour of comedy-cabaret poetry led by stage hypnotist turned primary school teacher Ben Dali.

Mystery at Murderingham Manor

A brand new comedy from The Natural Ones, 'Mystery at Murderingham Manor' follows world renowned detective Harold Parsons, fresh from The Case of the Colchester Cabbage Murders, as he finally solves the mysterious death of Sir Toby A Corpse at…

Humdinger Words for Lollygaggers & Fuddy-Duddies

A varied hour of comedy- and cabaret-based poetry, from a multidisciplinary neurospicy performer with a healthy balance of infectious sincerity and unapologetic filth.

Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons

The average person will speak 123,205,750 words in a lifetime. But what if there were a limit? Oliver and Bernadette are about to find out.

Judy! Judy! Judy!

A cabaret show celebrating the greatest entertainer in show business: Ms. Judy Garland!We pay tribute to the life of Judy Garland, perform some of our favourite songs from her gorgeous repertoire & acknowledge the permanent place Judy has in our…

Musical Theatre Karaoke

London's West End! Broadway! The Cheltenham Playhouse! These venues are synonymous with Musical Theatre, and during this year's Fringe Festival, you will have the chance to live your best lives at our Musical Karaoke Night!

The Village

The Village (a Longform Improvised Comedy Show)Join us for a soap-opera style trip to a village of your choosing!Where is this village?What is the hot gossip?Who is upset about what – and who is happy about it?We don’t know - yet!

Queer Eyes on Queer Lives

An exciting anthology of three new plays from local playwright Louis Davenport, one of which is hot off the heels at a sold out night at the Bristol Old Vic! Who Killed Karl Heinrich Ulrichs?“Absurdist, comedic and thought-provoking.

Fringe Spoken Word, Film & Music Night

Join us for a celebration of art, and those who create it, in the Green Room Bar!Our community is full to the brim of creativity, talent and passion for the arts, and what better way to showcase that then with a night dedicated to the spoken word,…

A Terrible, Horrible, Monstrous, Terrific, Man-Eating Musical

"Look there's something in the water..." Join composer/ lyricist Luke Crichton for an original musical adaptation of the legendary shark movie, that inspired so much in its wake, including him.

Zoe

Wild child and party animal Zoe, finds herself somewhere she never expected; in a retirement complex in Tenerife.Days pass in a medicated haze where water aerobics is the only highlight.

Sonic the Hedgehog the Fanfic the Podcast the Live Show - 2

Last year, Sonic The Hedgehog The Fanfic The Podcast opened the Cheltenham Fringe Festival.For some reason, we have been allowed back.

Any Scene Will Do

A fast-paced comedy improv show performed by The Fab Libs, where audience dreams spark spontaneous scenes. With quick wit, bold characters, and unpredictable twists, every performance is a one-of-a-kind adventure through the imagination.

A Dungeons and Dragons Comedy Show

Joe Riley & Paul Hilleard: Country Boys

Joe Riley and Paul Hilliard will do half an hour each of stand-up, focused on their backgrounds in the countryside, followed by stories that have to be heard to be believe them.Paul HilleardDaft, dry & Welsh.

The Untold Fable of Fritz

A Piece inspired by Philip Pullman's short story, ‘Clockwork’. White snow sweeps down from the mountain tops of the Neuchstein region, freezing over the valleys and the hearts of all the people that live within it.

In Our Broken Hours

Two hander play exploring the role-reversal which takes place when addiction reshapes a family. An alcoholic father is visited by his daughter; an event which forces them both to confront long-held uncomfortable truths.

Regular Man Showcase

Live performance of music with an insight into the songwriting and life experiences of this Regular Man.

Howlers May - Fringe Special

Welcome to Howlers at the Playhouse, the home of great comedy in Cheltenham! Every month at Howlers, we bring you the very best in stand-up with top notch line-ups from the UK and beyond!

Fringe Late Night Stand-Up Variety

This event is pay what you can. If you wish to book your spot in advance (online, or via our box office), you will have to pay a £1.25 booking fee per ticket.

The Bubble Show 2 - More Bubbles!

A magical journey through the Legends of BubblelandFrom the creator of TheBubbleShow® comes a dazzling new adventure full of bubble artistry and visual magic!

Epic Magic Show and Disco

Magic show, crazy games, snow, bubbles and non stop disco with Phil from Cotswold Children’s Parties; aimed at ages 3-8 but enjoyable for all ages. cotswoldchildrensparties.co.uk www.facebook.com/CotswoldChildrensParties www.instagram.

Charles Dickens’ ‘THE SIGNALMAN,’ presented by David Alnwick

An evening of Victorian illusions & ghost stories. Occult Illusionist David Alnwick presents Charles Dickens’ ‘The Signalman.’ A lone traveller befriends a railway signalman who has a terrifying tale to tell.

The Strand Up Comedy Farewell World Tour

Strand Up Comedy enjoyed a fun 18 month run of shows at its home at The Strand in Cheltenham. That run has now come to an end, but before we move on to a new beginning, Strand Up is going out in style with a World Tour!

Pianissimo

Give yourself time to relax, unwind and drift away to an hour of calming piano music especially chosen to transport you wherever your imagination takes you.

Fringe Follies

Lace & Lashes is BACK at Cheltenham Playhouse on 29th May as part of the Fringe Festival for a night of camp, cabaret, circus, drag, live vocals, burlesque & pure nonsense! Friday 29th May 8.

Callum Lee: Lampbas***d

Stand-Up Comedian Callum Lee makes the brave journey across the Severn Bridge to perform his new show in full for the first time ever, fuelled by the undeniable power of lamp. 18+.

Musical Chairs

A concentrated blast of musical stand-up comedy. This lyrical and comical duo blend music and jokes distinctively with style. The daft, exuberant Ashley Frieze is joined by the drole and urbane Edi Johnston in a show that will both tickle and…

The Scene

Following a week of shows, events and workshops, Cheltenham Fringe Festival will be hosting its closing event on 30th May. We will be celebrating the highs and lows of the week with a fantastic line-up of live music as we partner with ‘THE SCENE:…