• Newburgh Fringe Festival

Newburgh Fringe Festival

Returning October 16-18, 2026!

Newburgh Fringe Festival showcases thrilling and thought-provoking performing arts from Newburgh and across the Hudson Valley. The festival encompasses original theater, existing plays with a new take, plays that have never been staged, full length, short form, sketches, standup, one person, puppetry, musicians, dancers, clowns, merrymakers and anything else that falls under performing arts. Our goal is to present innovative, immersive, and experimental programming that employs creativity, diversity, and inclusivity.

Newburgh Fringe Festival is presented by Safe Harbors of the Hudson in partnership with Hit House Creative (Shane Killoran, John Hartzell, and Patricia A. Cornwell), Ken Martinez, Gloria Bonelli, and Buffey Maria Favata. We hosted the inaugural Newburgh Fringe Festival in October 2025 in the City of Newburgh, NY.

Photography by Brian Wolfe

Take the Stage for the 2026 Newburgh Fringe Festival!

Applications to submit work for consideration for Newburgh Fringe Festival closed on June 15, 2026.

The Newburgh Fringe Festival committee will issue invitations to participate by July 15, 2026 

Upon acceptance, artists will receive a full Festival Handbook with detailed information about participating in Newburgh Fringe Festival. In the meantime, additional details are available in the FAQ below. Have more questions? Email: newburghfringe@safe-harbors.org

Support NFF

Show your support for artists and the arts in your community by sponsoring the 2026 Newburgh Fringe Festival! 

FAQ

The first ever fringe festival took place in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1947, as an offshoot of the Edinburgh International Festival. Performers who were not admitted to the International Festival banded together to create their own festival on the “fringes.” And so began the beloved tradition of fringe festivals. Fringe festivals celebrate experimentation and creative risk-taking, showcasing diverse genres and forever pushing the boundary of what’s possible. 

Inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, these festivals now exist all over the world. Newburgh Fringe Festival, which premiered in 2025, is the first and only fringe festival in the Hudson Valley!

The application fee for Newburgh Fringe Festival is $15. After submitting your application form, you will receive an automated email with a link to process your payment.  

Application fees help to cover our administrative and producing costs for NFF. If the fee is a barrier to your participation, please contact us directly. 

Yes! Note that the application fee applies per submission. If you have multiple works you wish to have considered for Newburgh Fringe Festival, each one must be submitted individually with a corresponding application fee. 

Whether you are a solo artist or working in a group, you will be asked in registration to name a single producer who will be NFF’s sole and primary contact for your show. 

We will issue Letters of Invitation by July 15, 2026. These will include additional details about the schedule, technical expectations, marketing, venues, and more. Producers will be expected to complete forms and return contracts to confirm participation.

Safe Harbors of the Hudson (111 Broadway) is the main hub for the festival, including the Lobby at the Ritz, Ritz Stagehouse, Safe Harbors Green, and other spaces, as well as neighboring partner venues. 

The 2026 Newburgh Fringe Festival is from October 16-18, 2026. Participating artists are expected to be available during this entire time. More information about schedules will be provided with Letters of Invitation. 

All NFF participating productions receive 100% of ticket sale proceeds for their performance(s). Tickets are $10 for all NFF performances. A $5 facility fee is added to each ticket, and proceeds from these fees only go to Safe Harbors to help cover production expenses.