With hundreds of shows taking part during Fringe, we had to ensure our awards reflected the diversity, talent and excitement of our programme. We’re thrilled to announce the 16 awards up for grabs for Brighton Fringe 2026 – brought to you by local sponsors, arts organisations and Brighton Fringe staff.
Some awards are open for self-nominations while others are left to independent judging panels or audience members. Artists are welcome to self-nominate for any and all they meet the criteria for.
The Brighton Fringe 2026 Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday 31st May at The Old Market. You will be contacted by the Brighton Fringe team if your event or venue has been shortlisted. Good luck!
All awards are judged at the discretion of the partners, and judging terms may vary.
2026 Awards
The Artists Open Houses festival provides a unique experience for visitors, where you can view an array of work from contemporary and original local artists and makers in their homes, as well as meeting the artists and buying artwork and crafts directly from them. The festival runs twice a year – for four weekends in May and for three weekends in November/December.
Criteria: An exhibition or piece of work that most fits their three criteria of
Prize: Free registration for Brighton Fringe 2027, plus a free advert in the Artists Open Houses brochure 2027.
Nominations process: AOH team members will visit the exhibitions (no need to apply).
The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe Award Ceremony on 31st May.
Previous winners include: SMART Sheds (2025), Mid Street Lab (2024), Kitty Bew (2023), Phoenix Art Space (2022).
Wach’Art exists because we believe art should live inside communities, not only institutions. Every conversation, every exhibition, and every person who walks through the door helps build that environment. Thank you for being part of it. This award is open to any artist, company or organisation whose Brighton Fringe event:
The Mid Street Lab team members will select a shortlist and winner.
Previous winners include: Sitting in Silence - The Feline & the Falcon (2025)
Newman Thomson is one of the largest printers in Mid-Sussex. They offer a 24 hour production cycle using lithographic and digital machinery capable of offering more or less every print service you could imagine – and we at Brighton Fringe have been using them for the last 2 years.
Prize: Free registration for Brighton Fringe 2027 and a printout of your winning poster.
The shortlist will be made by Brighton Fringe staff, and the winner will be chosen by Newman Thomson and presented at the ceremony on 31st May.
Previous winners include: All Aboard! An evening with Pearl and Dean (2025)
This award will be presented to the most outstanding work by neurodivergent artist(s) at this year's Brighton Fringe. The shortlist will be made by the Brighton Fringe judging panel, and the winner chosen by SupaJam Education.
Criteria: The event must have -
Prize: Free registration to Brighton Fringe 2027 and marketing support to be determined with the SupaJam team.
Nomination process: Applications will be open from 1st April 12:00pm until 19th April 11:59pm, after which a shortlist of nominees will be determined. All shows in the shortlist will be seen by the judging panel and a winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on 31st May.
Previous winners include: Poppy Radcliffe Productions - SECTIONED: Schrödinger's Mental Health (2025), Neurochatter by Sarah Harvey (2024)
Same Sky is an award-winning community arts charity based in Brighton. Since 1987 we have been creating magical, out-of-this-world events: luminous night-time parades, fantastical puppets and floats, large-sky fire shows and staggeringly imaginative costumes and concepts. Working with a wide variety of organisations across the South East including Brighton Festival to produce the Children's Parade that is now celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Prize: Free registration Brighton Fringe 2027
Nomination Process: A panel of judges will see a selection of events from the Children & Young People genre and decide a winner.
FringeReview are excited to offer their Outstanding Theatre Award again for 2026. There is no submissions form for this award and all shortlisting will be managed by the FringeReview team. The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe Awards Ceremony on the 31st of May.
Criteria: The show needs to -
Where possible we look for a second or third opinion and final decision is made by the review team.
Prize:
Previous winners include: Electra – The Conor Baum Company (2025), The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey - Give or Take Production (2024)
UpRoar Arts is a production company and creative consultancy specialising in the creation, development and production of high-quality cabaret and other shows with a unique and innovative flavour that do not fit within the traditional genres of theatre/ comedy/ dance etc. Established and run by Sarah French and Rich Watkins who have many years of experience creating and performing their own shows as well as supporting fellow artists, UpRoar Arts seek out the silly, weird and wonderful in their mission to bring more joy and acceptance to the communities around us.
Criteria: This cabaret award is for those artists and shows who sit outside the traditional genres of theatre/ comedy/ dance.
Do you have a show that deserves to be heard? That is unique, fresh and defies traditional definition? Then this is the award for you!
UpRoar Arts are searching for the show that embodies the very essence of Fringe, and to support the winner to take their show to the next level. (No mixed bill line ups, sorry).
Prize:
Nomination process: Interested artists should complete the EOI on the Brighton Fringe website by Thursday 30th April. UpRoar Arts may also attend other shows that have not applied but meet all the relevant criteria. Submission of interest in the award does not guarantee judges attending your show. Shortlisted artists will be notified ahead of the Brighton Fringe Awards Ceremony on May 31st where the winner will be announced.
Since 2009, Pebble Trust has donated to numerous organisations and artists in Brighton and Hove. They support Brighton Fringe artists through the multiple bursaries and awards they offer across the festival.
Criteria:
Prize:
Nomination process: Applications will be open from 1st April 12:00pm until 19th April 11:59pm, after which a shortlist of nominees will be determined. All shows in the shortlist will be seen by the judging panel and a winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on 31st May.
Previous winners include: C’est Magnifique (2025), Madonna/Whore (2024)
The Nest, Chichester’s new creative venue for fresh ideas, new voices and local artists. It’s part of Chichester Festival Theatre but with a more intimate, informal vibe. Think fringe theatre, stand-up comedy live music, interactive shows for early years, and community-led events - all in one welcoming space. Whether you’re watching or performing, The Nest is a place where stories are shared, experiments take shape and ideas come to life.
Criteria:
Prize: £500 + a performance at The Nest at the end of June 2026, with full tech production support.
Nomination process: Applications will be open from 1st April 12:00pm until 19th April 11:59pm, after which a shortlist of nominees will be determined. All shows in the shortlist will be seen by the judging panel and a winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on 31st May.
South East Dance works to make the South East a thriving home for dance by nurturing artists that specialise in all dance forms. They offer a wide range of support with funding, mentoring and networking opportunities for artists at all stages of their careers.
Criteria: Be presenting a work with Dance at its heart. We are open to multidisciplinary works (e.g. Dance Circus/ Dance Physical Theatre), but dance must be central to the show, and it must have a choreographic dramaturgical approach.
Prize:
Nomination process: Fill in the form to be considered for the South East Dance Brighton Fringe Award, and Reserve 2x complimentary tickets for the award panel at a day and time to be agreed with both the Artist and South East Dance.
Brighton’s premier, independent entertainment venue for over 30 years, hosting the best in comedy, music, cabaret, club nights, kids’ shows and more. Home to the famous Komedia Comedy Club and awarded the best venue in the south.
Criteria: Your show must take place during Brighton Fringe 2026. You must be willing to give judges 1x complimentary ticket each to a performance of their choice.
Prize:
Nomination process: Applications will be open from 1st April 12:00pm until 19th April 11:59pm, after which a shortlist of nominees will be determined. All shows in the shortlist will be seen by the judging panel and a winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on 31st May.
Farnham Maltings is a pioneering cultural organisation based in South West Surrey with a regional, national and international reach. They make their own theatre for communities across the south east, as well as producing and investing in a cohort of the region’s leading theatre companies.
Criteria: Your show must take place during Brighton Fringe 2026 and made specifically for children and young people.
Prize:
Nomination process: A panel of judges will shortlist and judge a selection of events across Brighton Fringe 2026. The winner will be announced at our Awards Ceremony on Sunday 31 May.
Previous Winners include: Sitting (In Silence) - The Feline & The Falcon (2025), How to Catch a Book Witch - Coppice Theatre (2024)
Gold Arts is family run professional jewellers based in Sussex, with stores in Brighton, Chichester and Eastbourne, each with an onsite goldsmith's workshop. Established in 1979, they have over 40 years experience and specialise in Certificated Diamonds, luxury brands and bespoke jewellery.
Criteria: You can nominate anyone who has been involved in the Fringe this year, from performer to venue manager, producer, lighting designer, front of house member, photographer… anyone!
Prize: Free registration for Brighton Fringe 2027
Nomination process: Nominations are open from 1st April until 29th May, after which a winner will be decided and announced at our Awards Ceremony on 31st May.
The winner will be determined based on a voting process by audience members emailed after seeing a show and submitting reviews. The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe 2026 Awards on 31st of May.
The winner will be determined based on a voting process by audience members emailed after seeing a show and submitting reviews. The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe 2026 Awards on 31st of May.
The winner will be determined based on a voting process by audience members emailed after seeing a show and submitting reviews. The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe 2026 Awards on 31st of May.
The winner will be determined based on a voting process by audience members emailed after seeing a show and submitting reviews. The winner will be announced at the Brighton Fringe 2026 Awards on 31st of May.
Talking to the Box Office...
