Sydney Fringe Festival Awards 2025

Photographer: Paul McMillan

Every year we work to secure ways for our artists to tour their work, ensuring productions have a life beyond our festival. Our awards program highlights exceptional performances and extends professional growth opportunities, propelling artists onto the global stage.

TOURING PARTNERSHIP AWARDS:

Exchange award programs with Fringe Festivals around Australia and the world offer our independent artists touring possibilities with financial and logistical support, as well as bringing stand-out independent work to Sydney that may otherwise not have the means to tour here.
Our award partnerships include:

  • New Zealand Fringe Tour Ready Award
  • The Melbourne Fringe Touring Award
  • San Diego International Fringe Tour Ready Award
  • Hollywood Fringe Tour Ready Award
  • Fringe World Perth Tour Ready Award

 

BEST IN THE FESTIVAL AWARD:

The Best in the Festival Award at Sydney Fringe celebrates exceptional creativity and artistic excellence in independent performance.

 

SPIRIT OF FRINGE AWARD:

The Spirit of Fringe Award at Sydney Fringe celebrates performances that embody the festival’s essence of inclusivity, creativity, and fearless exploration of diverse perspectives.

 

EMERGING ARTIST AWARD:

This is to acknowledge the incredible work and potential of an Emerging Artist across our festival.

 

BEST EMERGING PRODUCER:

The Emerging Producer Award at Sydney Fringe recognises and supports new talent in production, highlighting innovative approaches and fresh perspectives in the performing arts. Presented by

 

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:

The Artist Spotlight Award at Sydney Fringe honours artists who are not only exceptional in their craft but also a joy to collaborate with, reflecting the festival’s commitment to positive creative partnerships. Presented and sponsored by the incredible Charley Sanders.

BEST IN CATEGORY:

Every year we award a best in the following categories for excellence in their genre.

  • Best In Comedy
  • Best In Spoken Word & Storytelling
  • Best In Dance
  • Best In Circus
  • Best In Fringe Kids
  • Best In Immersive
  • Best In Musical Theatre & Cabaret
  • Best In Theatre
  • Best In Variety

 2025 FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS

Best in the Festival Award

Winner

Traffic Light Party

Emerging Awards

Emerging Producer Supported by Arts on Tour

Behind Closed Doors Theatre for “And What Will People Say?”

Emerging Artist
  • Jo Bradley for “Gia Ophelia”
  • Jess Turner for “Spectrum”
  • Fletcher Scully for “Stop the Heart”
  • Natasha Sturgis for “The Land of Her//Bruce”
  • Ella Watson-Heath for “Still Fall”
Artist Spotlight Award presented by Charley Sanders

Eliza Fury for “Something Wicked”

Spirit of Fringe

Mike Williams & Alex McClintock for “24 Hours in King’s Cross”

Fringe First Nations Award Residency Supported by Brand X

Australia’s Least Wanted

Commitment and Innovation in Access Supported by Accessible Arts

Dean Nash for “Dean, Don’t Dance”

LGBTQIA+ Storytelling Award Supported by QTOPIA Sydney

Train of Thought

Audience Choice Award Supported by Ferve Tickets

Jeromaia Detto: When I Grow Up

Kerri Glasscock Legacy Award

Robbi James

Best in Awards

Best in Cabaret & Musical Theatre
  • Confessions of a Drama Queen (Winner)
  • Burlesque with Evana de Lune
  • A Succulent Chinese Musical
  • Dean, Don’t Dance
  • My Precious! The Cabaret
Best in Circus
  • Elixir Revived (Winner)
  • The Ghana Road Show
  • Circus & Other Time Wasters
Best in Comedy
  • Nun Slut (Winner)
  • Jeromaia Detto: When I Grow Up
  • The Premiere
  • Freya Morton- Jamie Oliver Wants Me To Kill My Cat
Best in Dance
  • Mass Effect
  • Triptych (Winner)
  • For You to Know and Me to Find Out
  • Superposition
  • The Land of Her// Bruce
  • Still Fall
Best in Immersive & Interactive
  • The Juliet Cycle
  • Piss Be With You (Winner)
Best in Spoken Word & Storytelling
  • Takatāpui
  • And What Will People Say? (Winner)
Best in Theatre
  • Gia Opehlia
  • Twenty Million Thousand Leagues Under the Seas
  • King
  • Shit Theatre: Or Whats  Left of Us
  • Spectrum
  • The Cardinal Rules (Winner)
  • I Watched Someone Die On TikTok
Best in Variety
  • Lash Out (Winner)
  • Trippin’
Best in Fringe Kids
  • The Gagliardies (Winner)
  • A Bee Story
  • Camp Culture
  • A One Man Circus
  • Mr. Snotbottom 

Tour Ready Awards

Melbourne Fringe Tour Ready Award

Let’s Unpack That

New Zealand Fringe Tour Ready Award

The Cardinal Rules

Hollywood Fringe Tour Ready Award

Nun Slut

San Diego International Fringe Tour Ready Award

My Precious! The Cabaret

Fringe World Tour Ready Award

Stop the Heart

Adelaide Fringe Tour Ready Award

Takatāpui