WE ARE DURHAM FRINGE CIC

A not-for-profit and volunteer-led organisation, with an ambition to develop an internationally acclaimed, accessible arts festival for our city and region.

KEY DATES IN 2026

  • By Wednesday 8 April, provide all outstanding information via Eventotron. If you’ve missed this deadline, please don’t panic. Head to the ‘Eventotron Advice’ section below to find out exactly what we need from you and why.
  • Programme goes live Friday 1 May at 5pm GMT
  • By Friday 8 May, please ensure you submit details about you and anyone involved in your company in order to receive a Durham Fringe 2026 pass. Not only does this help us keep everyone across our 11 venues safe, it also enables you and your crew to see other Fringe shows for free (if not sold out) and access discounts at local restaurants, bars, shops and cafes. By this date, we also ask you to upload to Eventotron or email your PLI confirmation and PAT equipment you intend to bring on site (if relevant).
  • From mid-May, we will begin scheduling technical rehearsals, if you have requested one. We’ll contact you directly with your allotted slot.
  • Around the end of June, we’ll share a link a media upload link. If your show uses any media, be that QLab, tracks, slides or anything else, you can send it to us in advance to ensure the technicians at your venue have them ready for your technical rehearsal.
  • Around the start of July, we’ll send you a venue guide about your allocated venue. This will offer advice specific to your space, whether that’s how to unload or anything else it might be helpful for you to know.

YOUR TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Durham Fringe is designed to provide a supportive environment for all artists and performers, whether they’re seasoned professionals or joining us for their first ever show. With this in mind, we build our technical provision based on our shows needs. During application, show provide an overview of what they are aiming to achieve and we match them to what we feel is the most suitable venue.

Once assigned to a venue, we will work towards meeting the needs you specify, bringing in the kit you need to bring your show to the stage. However, you will share a stage with numerous other productions so our accommodations will have some limits. That being said, as long as you’ve communicated your needs clearly, we can prepare to help you. If there are any issues or concerns, we will communicate that with you directly.

Please only contact Durham Fringe Festival with technical/venue related questions NOT the venues. We are essentially external hires in our venues so they will not be able to answer any questions relating to your performances with us. We do not generally provide full venue technical specifications in advance of the festival.

We welcome and encourage you to bring technician to run/support your show. Please let us know if this is your plan in advance. However, we will have a number of paid technicians and volunteer technicians on site at all times.

Get in / Get out Time

Unless pre-agreed and started in your contract, most shows at Durham Fringe 2026 will have a 15-minute get in and 5 minute get out. 

PRS & PPL EXPLAINED

HOW TO USE EVENTOTRON FOR DURHAM FRINGE

Once logged into Eventotron, open ‘Events’ in the top navigation and select ‘My Events’. Find the show relating to Durham Fringe 2026 (if you’ve applied for multiple shows via Eventotron, including for other festivals, they will appear here). Once in the correct show registration area, ensure you’re looking at your 2026 entry (if you’ve joined us in previous years, these will be visible as tabs).

Complete all required sections

Depending on the device you’re using, the menu may look different to the photo above.

You are required to complete all displayed sections in order to be fully registered with us. Most sections were completed during your application, however additional sections appeared once your show was accepted. You can make edits to the fields you completed during application, if required, until you finalise your show. It’s important they are correct, especially if anything relating to your show has changed. We import various fields from your Eventotron into our website and printed programme and reference the information to plan our logistics and generally run the festival. It’s your responsibility to keep everything updated to help us prepare for your time at Durham Fringe.

Track sales & manage tickets 

To check on your sales once tickets go live, click the block which displays your venue’s title (shown in the screenshot above). You can see tickets sold for each performance here. You can also issue comp tickets from here.

Passes

You must request passes for you and your crew by 8 May. Click the pink button titled ‘Passes’ and fill in the information as required. If you do not complete this step for each individual, they will not be given a festival pass. This means they won’t be able to see other shows at the Fringe for free – a huge perk of participating in Durham Fringe.

PLEASE NOTE: In partnership with Gala Durham, Harriet Kemsley will be performing on Saturday 1 August as part of Durham Fringe 2026. We are unable to issue complimentary tickets for this show and you will not be able to use your free pass to access this performance. 

MARKETING YOUR SHOW

A reminder that tickets go on sale 1st May 2026. This is when we launch our marketing campaign and start promoting individual shows. We will continue to update the information and advice in this section as we are closer the ticket launch date.

We believe it’s our responsibility to market the festival as a whole, to get the word out about the vibrant Fringe that we’re growing here in Durham to local, regional and national audiences. We simply haven’t got the capacity to market the 70+ individual shows that will be on offer. We will, of course, use any resources our artists and performers provide to highlight what’s on offer. Check back here soon for more info on that.

We have a marketing and communications plan and use recognised channels for marketing. We’re supported by the tourism board Visit County Durham, and Durham County Council also supports us with a profile in Durham County News, which goes to all homes in the county. We have an active presence across social media, and pay for promotion targeted at the North East and those interested in Fringe and all genres of performance. We use every opportunity to engage broadcast and digital media, and secured a feature on Tyne Tees news at the start of the festival last year. What works well is a partnership – we do our bit, and expect you to take responsibility, and do everything you can to market your show, too. 

Using Durham Fringe Festival assets

When to use our logos

Please use the Durham Fringe logo your posters and flyers, if you have them. You can also use them on social graphics and alongside any promotion you do about your events. 

How to use our logos

First, view our brand guidelines and the download this year’s logos.

Make sure the background behind doesn’t conflict with the text in the logo. There are various versions of our logos. In general, versions intended for dark backgrounds have white text that can only be seen when in place. For areas of image with light backgrounds the converse logo is required. Don’t crop, change the colour of or stretch the logo, or add any extra text to the logo. Use the 2025 logos available on this page, rather than older logos from previous years.

Accommodation Advice

For those visiting from outside the region, we’ve compiled a list of city centre accommodation to help you plan your stay. Please be aware that accommodation prices frequently fluctuate so our starting prices are subject to change. Carrying out your own research is always recommended.

Places to stay