Hamilton Fringe

10/30/2026

The things that keep us up at night…

But you know what? With you by our side, we can face just about ANY spooky thing that comes our way 💪

What’s the scariest thing YOU can think of? Tell us below!

And if you’re scared about missed opportunities, check out all the open applications at HFTco.ca and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on all programs and events!

Fringe photo credits (sans ghosts) :
1 - Fringe Boulevard by Kasey Bridges Photography
2 - Outdoor stage by Teryn Lawson
3 - Townsperson #3 by Etemadi Entertainment, photo by Teryn Lawson
4 - Audience by Kasey Bridges Photography
5 - Staff at venue box office by Teryn Lawson
6 - Intro to Adult Acting by We Tried Theatre Inc., photo by Teryn Lawson

10/30/2026

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the team at Hamilton Festival Theatre Company (HFTco/Hamilton Fringe) celebrated the culmination of their work made possible through a $131,400 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

On Friday, October 30, 2026, the team at Hamilton Festival Theatre ...

10/22/2026

Here’s what last year’s New Play Contest winner, Owen Carter of Sheep’s Clothing Theatre, had to say about their experience:

“Hamilton Fringe's New Play Contest is an incubator for joy. Winning the award allowed myself and Brianna artistic freedom to explore an iteration of the script we had both been dreaming of, but not yet explored on stage.

“We spent our summer obsessing over syllabic structure and how to encapsulate a world within a very specific container of form - while doing that in a rehearsal room full of friends, working towards a dream of ours.

“Three words: apply, apply, apply!”

Whether you’ve been writing plays for years or you’re a brand new talent with a story the world should hear, this is a great opportunity to share your creative vision with a panel of theatre professionals and get a shot at putting your show on a Hamilton Fringe stage.⁠
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Apply by Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Visit https://HFTco.ca/new-play-contest/ for more info.⁠

📷1: Icarus is Falling by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre, photo by Audrey Persaud
📷3: Gringas by First Born Theatre, photo by Shaun Soutar
📷4: Crane Girl by Falling Iguana Theatre, photo by Barry McCluskey
📷5: Icarus is Falling by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre, photo by Audrey Persaud

10/08/2026

Calling all playwrights and theatre makers: The 2027 Hamilton Fringe Festival New Play Contest is now accepting applications!⁠
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Do you have an unproduced 60-minute play or musical hidden deep in a drawer just waiting to be shared with the world? Maybe it’s still the tiniest seed of an idea and you’ve been waiting for a sign from the universe to finally write it out?⁠ Well, this is the sign you've been waiting for!⁠
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All contest submissions are anonymous, and the winning script gets a FREE 60-minute production slot in the 2027 Hamilton Fringe Festival – plus a sweet, sweet $300 cash prize. Second and third place winners will each receive a Fringe Binge 6-Show Pass for the 2027 Hamilton Fringe Festival.⁠ ⁠
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Whether you’ve been writing plays for years or you’re a brand new talent with a story the world should hear, this is a great opportunity to share your creative vision with a panel of theatre professionals and get a shot at putting your show on a Hamilton Fringe stage.⁠
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Apply by Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Visit https://HFTco.ca/new-play-contest/ for for info and to apply.⁠

📷1: Icarus is Falling by Sheep’s Clothing Theatre, photo by Audrey Persaud
📷2: Gringas by First Born Theatre, photo by Shaun Soutar
📷3: Crane Girl by Falling Iguana Theatre, photo by Barry McCluskey

09/30/2026

You’re one application away from potentially joining the 2027 ALERT Producer-in-Training Program!

ALERT is a customized training opportunity for emerging producers ("Producer-in-Training") and companies/collectives with one or more works-in-development ("Company-in-Residence").

As an ALERT Producer-in-Training, you’ll get the chance to learn or refresh theatre-specific producing skills (budgeting, marketing, fundraising, etc.), participate in customized mentor-led workshops and in-depth conversations with theatre professionals, and be part of the producing team for the ALERT Company-in-Residence’s public presentation at the 2027 Hamilton Fringe Festival.

Producers-in-Training get free entry to all HFTco programming and events in the 2026-2027 season, access to HFTco staff and resources, and will be directly supported by the ALERT Coordinator. An honorarium of $800 is provided upon completion of the program.

Applications close November 2, 2026 at 11:59PM. For more information and to apply, visit https://HFTco.ca/alert/

📷 1: 2026 ALERT Clowning workshop
📷 2: 2026 ALERT team BATESON&SHAW with Producers Colina Philips and Rebeca Costa, photo taken by Teryn Lawson
📷 3: “Rebel Spirits” by Bateson & Shaw at the 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival, photo by Teryn Lawson
📷 4: Producer Colina Philips at the 2026 Hamilton Fringe Lottery Party, photo by Kasey Bridges Photography
📷 5: 2025 ALERT Resident Company Afterlife Theatre with cast Audrey Clairman & Meg Webster, Producers Tone Bailey & Annie Laleon, and Stage Manager Sofia Smith

09/17/2026

Apply to the OAC Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators Program!

Supported by the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), the Recommender Grants for Theatre Creators (RGTC) Program enables arts organizations to directly invest in the creative process of artists throughout the province. HFTco is thrilled to be taking part in this program for the first time this year, and we invite you to apply!

Like our flagship event, Hamilton Fringe, almost any project goes! We’re focussing primarily on work that involves some kind of live performance element, but we take a broad, multi-faceted approach to our definition of “Theatre.” We want to give applicants plenty of room to dream up exciting new ways to engage audiences.

We’re specifically prioritizing emerging/early career artists from the Hamilton and/or Greater Hamilton Area who are creating work that is artistically adventurous, innovative, and accessible.

We’re also looking to support work that includes artists from a diversity of ages, abilities, gender identities and expression, sexual orientation, and/or racialized groups.

Projects being proposed should be in-development and not previously produced.

Application Deadline: November 30, 2026 at 1 PM ET

All applications must be submitted directly through the OAC online portal (NOVA).

Read on for more information: https://hftco.ca/recommender-grants-for-theatre-creators/

07/29/2026

EDIT: Giveaway is now closed - but the survey remains open!

We want to know what YOUR Fringe experience was like! ⁠
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If you took part in any of Hamilton Fringe Festival's free or ticketed programming, take a moment to fill out our 2026 Audience Survey and enter the draw to win a Hamilton Fringe prize pack - which includes an HFTco toque, a "Keep Hamilton Weird" tote bag, and a vinyl Hamilton Fringe sticker.⁠

https://form.jotform.com/HamFringe/AudienceSurvey2026
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Thanks for helping us make Hamilton Fringe a little bit better every year!⁠
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Image: Hamilton Fringe staff, photo by Kasey Bridges Photography

07/27/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our award winners at the 2026 Hamilton Fringe Festival!⁠
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Best In Venue - Mills Hardware:⁠
“A Seance Spectacular with the Mystical Medium Wolf Sisters from the Great White North” by Ghosts Are Everywhere ⁠
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Best In Venue - The Players’ Guild of Hamilton⁠:
“Intro to Adult Acting” by We Tried Theatre Inc.
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Best In Venue - Theatre Aquarius ⁠Studio:
“Rebel Spirits” by Bateson & Shaw
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Best In Venue - The Westdale: ⁠
“Raging Gracefully” by Big Chick Energy

Best In Series - Fringe Mini Bar: ⁠
“Medically Strange” by Phoebe Taylor ⁠
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Best In Series - Indie Venues: ⁠
“Felt Cute, Might Overshare Later” by Kristi Boulton Presents…
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Best Touring Show:
“Tilt” by Solo Chicken Productions (Fredericton, New Brunswick)
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Best In Fest:
“Felt Cute, Might Overshare Later” by Kristi Boulton Presents…
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Critics’ Pick Winner:
“Townsperson #3” by Etemadi Entertainment
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The Critics’ Pick Award was chosen by: | | | | | | ⁠|
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THANK YOU REVIEWERS!⁠

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Audience Choice Award Winner:
“Townsperson #3” by Etemadi Entertainment

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NEW THIS YEAR: The Cairine Wilson Spirit of the Fringe Award recognizes a festival participant — a volunteer, staff member, artist, community member, or patron — who demonstrates exceptional service and support to others in the festival community.

This award was created to honour the incredible work and memory of Cairine Wilson and will continue to celebrate her impact on Hamilton Fringe for years to come.

2026 Cairine Wilson Spirit of the Fringe Award:
Corey Long

Thank you artists and to everyone who came to see and celebrate one of the most memorable Hamilton Fringe Festivals in history!

07/24/2026

Here are your 2026 Shorts Showcase competition winners:⁠
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First Place: “Cherry” - directed by Shaun Soutar
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Second Place: “Carry My Couch” - directed by Christopher Lawrence and Katie Lawrence
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Third Place: “Got a Light?” - directed by Matt Lishman
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Congratulations to these exciting Canadian filmmakers on their innovation and creativity! ⁠
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Huge thank you to the incredible Jennifer Walton for hosting the Shorts Showcase, and to the amazing jury who chose the winning films: Yasith Weerasinghe, Rebecca Applebaum, and Todd Brown. And thank you to Downtown Hamilton BIA for presenting this event!

Image 1: 2026 Shorts Showcase, photo by .r (IG)
Image 2: 2025 Shorts Showcase audience, photo by Dave Pijuan-Nomura

07/22/2026

Tonight's outdoor showing of "Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour (The Final Show)" has been cancelled. Instead, join us for tonight's rescheduled event -- Films On The Fringe: Shorts Showcase presented by DTBIA, running 9pm - 11pm on Fringe Boulevard (King William St at James St N)!