The Brighton Fringe Awards celebrate the outstanding performances and events that make the festival fly. All companies who win an award also win a free registration to take part in Brighton Fringe the following year!
There will be an award for each category of the brochure, each award is judged by a separate organisation and runs slightly differently. For some, if you meet the award criteria, you will need to apply to be considered. For others, whether your show is seen and shortlisted is decided by the judging panel in question or it may come down to an audience vote.
As awards are confirmed they will be added to this page and announced in participant newsletters, so make sure you keep checking in. Good luck!
View all of our 2018 award-winning events here
2019 Awards:
The Brighton Fringe Visual Arts Award in Association with Artist Open Houses
All exhibitions listed in the visual arts section will be visited by Artist Open House judges for this award. Each will be assessed on its quality, integrity and concept.Voice’s Best Newcomer Award at Brighton Fringe
Are you a Brighton Fringe first-timer? We want to hear from you!
At Brighton Fringe 2019, Voice Magazine will be awarding a prize to the Best Newcomer.
Your show can be in any category (theatre, comedy, circus, visual arts etc), there is only one condition for eligibility: it must be your first time at the Fringe.
To be in the running you must apply to Voice by 17 April 2019 with details of your show, dates of performances and information about your company or solo practice. Voice will create a long-list and then send a reviewer to one of your performances if chosen—don’t worry, they’ll arrange tickets directly through the Fringe.
Towards the end of the Fringe they will publish a shortlist and get in contact for interviews. From there, they will let us know the finalists so we can invite you to the award ceremony.
What will you get?
All shortlisted applicants will:
- Have your show reviewed on Voice during the Fringe and mentioned on social media
- Offered interviews where possible
- Be able to request assets stating your nomination to the shortlist
The winner will:
- Have your work featured on Voice Magazine.
- Be awarded Voice’s Brighton Fringe Best Newcomer Award in the closing ceremony
- Profiled throughout the year (up to four times), to follow your progress.
Eligible events will be emailed the application form individually.
Deadline for applications: 23:59 Wednesday 17 April 2019
The FringeReview Outstanding Theatre Award
The Gemini Print & Brighton Fringe Design for Print Award
Open to all performers, art directors, designers and venues. It could be the design for your postcards, leaflets, flyers, posters, brochures, invitations, banners, A Boards... whatever superb creativity you are planning to print to promote your events and performances.Judges will be on the lookout for:
- EYE-CATCHING: the immediate appeal of the artwork, including impact, originality and style.
- INFORMATIVE: the quality and design of the information presented on the artwork.
- MARKETABLE: the overall marketing effect of the artwork – why does it make me want to see this show?
It’s easy to gain the opportunity to win £500 of printing! Simply email your details and artwork PDF (up to five per entry) for printed promotion to designaward@gemini-print.co.uk.
Deadline for all entries: Friday 26 April 2019
The ONCA Green Curtain Award
the ONCA Green Curtain Award 2019 will go to the Brighton Fringe project that best manifests ONCA’s mission of supporting artists and audiences to engage with environmental and social challenges.
The winner will receive support in the form of mentoring, time in the gallery and/or offices, and space on our online platforms. Please email [javascript protected email address] with dates and information if you would like to nominate a show for the award.
Deadline for nominations: 5pm Tuesday 30 April 2019
Previous Green Curtain winners are Jamal Harewood’s The Privileged and Subira.
The Brighton Fringe International Touring Bursary in Association with The Pebble Trust
This award is for participants who are resident in Brighton & Hove, East Sussex or West Sussex only. The prize will enable you to tour to an international festival and includes up to £2,500 towards travel, accommodation and other related touring costs, to be used within 18 months of Brighton Fringe 2019 finishing. Judges from The Pebble Trust and the World Fringe Alliance will select the shows based on an application process.
Deadline: 5pm Monday 8 April
New Writing South Best New Play Award
New Writing South, in partnership with Brighton Fringe, is running the Best New Play Award 2019. This award is presented to a playwright in recognition of an outstanding, original theatre script produced at Brighton Fringe.
The criteria for entering is:
- An original scripted piece of work
- Written within the last 12 months
- Maximum of 10 previous performances
- Be at least 40 minutes long in performance time
Note: New translations of foreign language scripts will be considered if they meet the criteria above
The winner of the New Writing South Best New Play Award 2019 will receive a cheque for £250 and free registration to next year’s Fringe.
If you would like to submit your script for consideration, please send a PDF copy, along with details of the venue and performance dates and times to: hello@newwritingsouth.com. Please put NWS BEST NEW PLAY AWARD in the subject line of the email. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah at [javascript protected email address].
Deadline for Applications: 23:59 Sunday 7 April 2019
The International Youth Arts Festival Best of Brighton Fringe Awards
The International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) takes place every year in Kingston Upon Thames. The festival aims to present the greatest work by creatives and performers aged 26 and under and give a low-risk platform to the stars of tomorrow. There will be 1 winner selected from each of the following categories:
- Children & Families
- Comedy
- Theatre
The winner in each category will be given a free performance slot at IYAF in July 2019 (please see the slots below) and will have their performance photographed by one of the IYAF photographers.
Best of Brighton Fringe Children & Families: Sunday 7 July
Best of Brighton Fringe Comedy: Saturday 6 July
Best of Brighton Fringe Theatre: Saturday 13 July
To be eligible for the award a lead creator (writer, director, performer) must be 26 or under, the show must be no longer than 60 minutes in duration.
Deadline for applications: Monday 15 April
Apply here
Please only apply if you can perform on the date of the relevant category.
The South East Dance Brighton Fringe Award
We are looking for work that surprises, challenges and excites us. You don’t have to be listed in the Dance section but your work must have movement and choreography at its heart.The winner will receive:
- Two mentoring sessions with the SED programming team
- A bottle of bubbly
- A week of free rehearsal space at South East Dance’s brand new Dance Space in Spring 2020. Be among the first artists to develop work in this new high spec, purpose built facility. Accommodation for up to three artists will be included.
Apply here
Deadline for applications: 5pm Wednesday 17 April
Audience Choice Award
It’s the public, not the critics, who’ll choose the winner! Anyone can vote for their favourite Brighton Fringe 2019 event through the Brighton Fringe App or website.
Best Brighton Fringe Venue Award
Anyone who has attended a Brighton Fringe event is eligible to vote for their favourite venue via the Brighton Fringe website or App, both large and small venues will have an equal opportunity to win.
Spirit of the Fringe Award
Awarded to the person or organisation that best captures or embodies the spirit of Brighton Fringe!