“That allows us to go to people where they live,” says Kennedy. “We have to serve audiences where they are with the products that they want.”

Nearly 3000 artists will take part in this year’s festival.

Unlike its older cousin, the Sydney Festival, which has a curated program, Sydney Fringe is mostly open access, meaning any artist can apply to put on a show.

“I’d say 75 per cent of our product is open access,” says Kennedy. “We are here to facilitate a conversation between the artist and a venue. We do that work.”

Headline acts this year include When Night Comes, an immersive theatre show from Broad Encounters at the Union Bond Store in The Rocks, and UK storytelling duo Wright & Grainger, who will present a trio of acclaimed shows.

Eternity Playhouse will feature a range of shows from cabaret to dance, including Triptych, from Australian choreographer Lewis Major, returning from a triumphant world tour, and The Ghana Road Show, a vibrant fusion of circus, music and dance.

Loading

Fringe attendance rose from 75,000 in 2023 to 100,000 last year, but Kennedy says success should be judged on more than raw numbers.

“For us, growth isn’t about being the biggest or flashiest,” he says. “It’s about serving our audiences with meaningful content and getting them out to explore more of Sydney. Every ticket is an invitation: take a risk, discover new voices, be surprised. And occasionally there is chaos. That’s the excitement.

“Our average ticket price this year is around $25 so it’s a risk we hope people will think is worth taking.”