It feels like only yesterday I was buried in the 2025 Fringe World guide and somehow, it’s Perth Fringe season again. So, armed with a diary, laptop and a glass (or two) of wine it was time to work my way through the 2026 program.
Trimming the list to a humanly possible number and locking in a schedule that doesn’t involve pitching a tent in Northbridge for thirty-one days takes ruthless cuts, bold choices, and a little creative calendar bending. And with such a large and diverse number of events it has meant committing to see two and sometimes three shows in one day!
FRINGE WORLD 2026 will see over three thousand artists perform six hundred and seventy events across one hundred and ten venues in the CBD and around Perth. Of these, two hundred and twenty two shows will have their world premieres and one hundred and ten their Western Australian premieres.
With some seventy three cabaret and variety shows, forty two children’s events, eighteen magic and illusion shows and eighteen circus’ amongst the program, there is bound to be something to whet the Fringe appetite.
So, after a few more wines and several hours of searching online through the program, here are my Perth Fringe World’s top picks for 2026.
Skank Sinatra: The Name on Everybody’s Lips
Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent at The Pleasure Garden: 21 – 25 January
Broadway’s greatest hits explode in a glittering cabaret spectacular as award-winning diva Skank Sinatra struts into the spotlight with powerhouse vocals, biting comedy, and lashings of sequinned charm. Two-time winner of Best Cabaret at Adelaide Fringe, Skank Sinatra joins forces with musical maestro Joe Louis Robinson for a brand-new show bursting with electrifying live vocals and camp big-band bangers. Broadway’s biggest hits, reimagined with wit, sparkle, and style. Expect razzle-dazzle, satire sharper than a Patti LuPone glare, and vocals big enough to bring down the Phantom chandelier.
Ron v The Queen
The Studio at The Blue Room Theatre: 22 – 24 January
Two middle-aged men. Both balding, tall, lean – sort of. Here’s the thing… they’re the punchline. This is a story about a poof, his dad, the men who love him, his friend Ron, and a gold sequinned dress – not all at once and not in that order. Both men grew up in a time when the country made laws denying who they were as men. These are their stories.
Soweto Gospel Choir
The Rechabite Hall at The Rechabite: 27 January – 15 February
With their new concert, the multi-Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning Soweto Gospel Choir perform a joyful and powerful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals and some classics. This inspirational concert will feature spirited music from Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Cynthia Erivo, Stevie Wonder and the one-and-only Aretha Franklin. Heralded by Nelson Mandela & Desmond Tutu, the critically acclaimed, Soweto Gospel Choir excites audiences worldwide, uplifting the soul and spreading joy through its earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit. It’s perfect for the entire family! A concert that will fill your heart with joy.
Club D’Amour: Encore
ICF: WAREHOUSE at Ice Cream Factory: 21 January – 1 March
After a two-year hiatus, the doors to Club D’amour swing open once again! Welcome back to the award-winning, hedonistic, hilarious, and heart-thumping world of Club D’amour – where nothing is sacred, everything is sensual, and too much is never enough. Through a flirtatious fusion of circus, drag, burlesque, and live vocals, Club D’amour: Encore delivers the ultimate climax in a glitter-soaked and champagne-drenched celebration of desire, decadence, and delight. This brand-new spectacle is dirtier, debaucherous, and more delicious than ever before — blending outrageous new delights with a line-up of fan favourite acts, reimagined and juicier than ever. Prepare to blush, be gagged, and surrender to the night. This is not just another cabaret – it’s the final fling of Club D’amour.
London Calling
ICF: OUTDOORS at Ice Cream Factory: 27 January – 8 February
London Calling comes to Perth for the first time! Marvel at the astonishing talents of Cirque du Soleil stars, laugh with The Illusionists, and be mesmerised by acts from La Clique! Join host and tour guide Paul Dabek as he showcases cabaret royalty with his signature brit-wit – from hilarious stunts to stunning aerials, hypnotic hula hooping, and jaw-dropping juggling. Fresh from a sell-out Adelaide season, London Calling is a breathtaking fusion of magic, circus, comedy, and cabaret with an all-star line-up of elite performers from across the globe.
MARVELous: A Risque Parody
ICF: OUTDOORS at Ice Cream Factory: 27 January – 7 February
Featuring aerials, live vocals, dance, stunts, and a risqué edge – MARVELous is an outrageously hilarious parody of Marvel heroes, and beloved films like Dirty Dancing, Magic Mike, Flashdance, and The Greatest Showman, packed with references everyone will love. Comedy & satire reign supreme as Deadpool reads the audience a raunchy bedtime story – transforming familiar film scenes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe into comedic & raunchy spectacles, guaranteeing a laugh-out-loud night out!
PYRATES! The Musical
Sailing Fringe Club Rockingham: 28 January – 1 February
The Royale Theatre at Planet Royale: 29 – 31 January
PYRATES! a musical like no other, a storm of passion, sword fights, and dangerous desire on the high seas. Cast out of England, John Husk is hurled into a world of violence when his ship is torn apart by pirates. Faced with death, he chooses life under the black flag, drawn to the fierce Barbary pirate Badas. Will steel cut deeper than loyalty? The Captain’s wife, Eliza Power, discovers John and Badas’s love and seizes her chance for freedom. With mutiny in the air and blades flashing, hearts and throats are on the line. Will love survive, or will fate carve its own brutal ending? Inspired by the true(ish) story of John Husk, who fought alongside Blackbeard.
Glitch
Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent at The Pleasure Garden: 28 January – 1 February
Step into a futuristic world where technology reigns and perfection is the only norm.. until a spark of human unpredictability breaks through the system. FRINGE WORLD favourites Kinetica are back with jaw-dropping aerials, innovative tech, non-stop action and a stretch of human capabilities that moves from mechanical precision into wild artistic expression. As flawless synchronisation fractures into courageous individuality, witness the stunning rebellion of human spirit – illuminated by cutting-edge circus and a thumping electronic beat. Glitch is a visually spectacular celebration of creativity finding freedom, even in a world that tries to control it.
Charlie Caper – The Future
Lotterywest De Parel Spiegeltent at The Pleasure Garden: 21 January – 1 February
Winner of Sweden’s Got Talent, Charlie Caper returns with The Future – a dazzling collision of illusion, laughter, and cutting-edge robotics. Step into a world where logic bends, robots learn comedy, and technology becomes pure magic. Years in the making, The Future is high-tech, hilarious, and strangely human – a glimpse of tomorrow wrapped in wonder. Last year’s Robot Magic has received an upgrade and has come back as The Future.
Primal
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of WA: 22 January – 1 February
From the creators of Rouge comes Primal: sexy, funny, thrilling circus for grown ups featuring Australia’s most exciting circus and cabaret artists. Inspired by the raw energy of the animal kingdom and the complexities of human relationships, this nonstop spectacle explores identity, sexuality, and perception. With a mesmerizing mix of aerial artistry, fire performances, burlesque, and song, Primal is set to follow in the footsteps of the award-winning Rouge, delivering jaw-dropping acts with a cheeky twist.
Dragged through the Desert – A Priscilla Celebration
Big Top at The Pleasure Garden: 21 January – 1 February
Buckle up for a fabulous, full-throttle tribute to Priscilla, Queen of the Desert! This glitter-drenched spectacular celebrates the iconic Aussie story with electrifying drag performances, dazzling costumes, and the anthems you know and love. Hosted by award-winning drag sensation Dean Misdale (star of Priscilla The Musical at Crown Theatre), Dragged Through The Desert is a high-octane homage to Priscilla, bursting with show-stopping moments, outrageous glamour, and non-stop entertainment. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or discovering the magic for the first time, this is your chance to hit the road and party in the desert – Fringe-style!
Temptation
Air Nightclub, Northbridge: 23 January – 14 February
A seductive collision of masculine and feminine power, Temptation is Perth’s hottest new adult revue. It’s dangerously hot. Think himbos, vixens, no-rules, all-thrills, where suits come off, heels go high, and every fantasy takes the stage. Expect chiselled abs, slow grinds, bold lips, and no apologies. It’s part burlesque, part chaos, and all about what happens when temptation wins. This isn’t just a show, it’s foreplay in lighting cues.
Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin
Performing at six venues: 1 – 15 February
A one man physical comedy show created and performed by Marcel Cole. After a sold out run in Edinburgh, the award-winning fringe sensation about the life of Charlie Chaplin returns to Perth for FRINGE WORLD 2026! Winner of The LIST Edinburgh Festival Award for ‘Best Fringe Show From Adelaide’, this is a physical comedy not to be missed.
Why I Stuck a Flare up my Arse for England
Rehearsal Room 1 at State Theatre Centre of WA: 4 – 15 February
Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England is a smash-hit play by Alex Hill, that lit up the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 and went on to tour the UK and play internationally, picking up lots of awards including the Best Theatre & Physical Theatre Award at Adelaide Fringe 2024 along the way. This award-winning one-man show is a football love letter – funny, heartfelt and explosive – diving into fandom, masculinity and mental health. Follow Billy as he recounts the events in his life that led him to sticking a flare up his bum at England’s Euro 2020 Final against Italy.
The Ladyboys of Bangkok
The Aurora Spiegeltent at The Pleasure Garden: 21 January – 15 February
Prepare for a night you’ll talk about for years with The Lady Boys of Bangkok as they flirt, tease and tempt! You will laugh, rejoice and sing your heart out at a party with hundreds of friends you’ve yet to meet! Deliciously naughty… risqué but never risky… no-one leaves without a smile on their face and a song in their heart. With a glamorous cast direct from Thailand, it’s packed with the biggest floor fillers and performed by the biggest showbiz divas in the world! An outrageously funny production, with more glitz and star-spangled sassiness than you can squeeze into any of your party nights out!
The 2026 FRINGE WORLD Festival takes place across Perth from 21 January – 15 February. For more information and full program, visit: www.fringeworld.com.au for details.
Images: Skank Sinatra – photo by TNS Studios | Ron v The Queen – photo by Apurva Gupta | Soweto Gospel Choir – photo by Will Bucquoy | Club D’amour: Encore (supplied) | London Calling (supplied) | MARVELous: A Risque Parody (supplied) | PYRATES! The Musical (supplied) | Glitch – courtesy of Kinetica | Charlie Caper – The Future (supplied) | Primal – courtesy of Highwire Entertainment | Dragged through the Desert – A Priscilla Celebration (supplied) | Temptation – courtesy of Sinista Entertainment | Smile: The Story of Charlie Chaplin (supplied) | Alex Hill in Why I Stuck a Flare Up My Arse for England – photo by Rah Petherbridge | The Lady Boys of Bangkok (supplied)
Compilation: Craig Dalglish