Jagmeeta Joy

The Adelaide Fringe, one of the largest and most celebrated arts festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, has officially crossed the 1,600-show mark this year.

It’s a staggering reminder of how big the festival has grown. But beyond the numbers, something else is shifting: the cultural mix on stage.

At a recent meet-and-greet with Indian artistes performing at Adelaide Fringe 2026, one thing was clear — representation from the Indian subcontinent is expanding.

From stand-up comedy to theatre and music, Indian performers are claiming space in a festival that increasingly reflects the multicultural city it serves.

“It’s our biggest program yet, with over 1,600 shows across 500 venues and increased accessibility through a multilingual website,” said Tara MacLeod, who has stepped into the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the 2026 season.

Ms MacLeod was interacting with local media and guests at a special preview event hosted by Dana Wortley MP and the Hon. Russell Wortley MLC at Parliament House earlier this week.

“With so many Indian themed shows now a part of the Fringe, we realised we needed to get the message across to the community. So, we decided to host this event to help get the information out there,” said Ms Wortley.

This year’s edition of the Fringe, which kicked off on February 20 and runs until March 22, features a strong line-up of performances that promise festival-goers a vibrant showcase of not just India’s rich cultural heritage but contemporary artistic talent as well.

A festival reflecting its audience

At the media preview event, there was an easy hum of familiarity in the room — animated conversations in English and Hindi, familiar accents, stories of sold-out seasons, and ambitious new works landing in Adelaide for the first time.

For many Indian artistes, the Adelaide Fringe is not just another stop on the circuit. It’s an opportunity to connect with a fast-growing multicultural audience that sees itself reflected in the line-up.

Among them is Bengaluru-based performing artist Vibhinna Ramdev, who has spent over two decades in dance, theatre, and film.

Ms Ramdev, who debuted her solo dance-theatre show Why English? at the festival last year, is excited to be showcasing it again. “I had a great response last year, and I have made some updates to the show for this year,” said Ms Ramdev over a Zoom call during the event.

Then there’s Kushi Venkatesh, a comedian and content creator with over 50 million views online, who will present her show Still Happy, while Adi Parmar, a queer Indian-Dutch comedian based in Amsterdam, is set to present Sunny Boy.

“Sunny Boy is about cultural identity and the societal pressures one faces no matter where you go. It’s a subject I think many of us would relate to,” said Mr Parmar.

Kommune, India’s largest storytelling collective, will showcase a unique collaborative work of poetry titled We Belong. “It is a poetic duet and features Dakota Feirer from Australia and Aleena, a poet from Kerala,” said the show’s creative producer, Tess Joseph.

She added, “The poetry connects countries; it acts as a bridge. We are presenting poetry as a story.”

With Adelaide’s multicultural population on the rise, its appetite for diverse programming has increased as well. Ms MacLeod acknowledged the increase in multicultural audiences, noting that the festival’s growth is not only about scale but also about inclusion.

“Adelaide Fringe is committed to cultural diversity and inclusivity in all areas of what we do. From supporting emerging artists to drawing in new audiences, we want to see the diversity of South Australia reflected in the Adelaide Fringe program and audiences each year,” she said.

Incidentally, last year’s edition of the Adelaide Fringe saw over five million total attendances across its five-week run.

“2026 has our biggest program from India. We have artistes who have been performing for many years, as well as those who will be showcasing for the very first time. We encourage all multicultural events and artistes to register to be part of Adelaide Fringe,” said Adelaide Fringe’s Executive Director, Programs & Development, Jo O’Callaghan.

Ms O’Callaghan, who visited India last year, said she was pleased to see many of the shows she encountered now making their way to Adelaide.

“I had a memorable trip to India, and I loved the collision of the past and the contemporary. I am so happy to see so many of the shows coming to Adelaide. It gives our non-Indian audiences the opportunity to experience Indian culture as well,” she said.

The meet-and-greet event was also attended by board members of the Fringe as well as Clare Dallimore, Acting Dean of Foundation Skills TAFE SA, Lisa Krinas, Educational Manager (AMEP) TAFE SA and Zuzanna Gamrat, Community Coordinator (AMEP), TAFE SA.

Adelaide Fringe has been showcasing events at TAFE SA’s Adelaide City campus and roving at their Regency campus.

“This is a good opportunity to spread word around about the Fringe shows amongst the multicultural community in SA,” remarked Monika Kumar, member of the Fringe’s Multicultural Inclusion External Advisory Committee (MIEAC).

MIEAC is made up of artists, community members and arts organisations with a shared commitment towards multicultural inclusion.

The Fringe’s website also has a dedicated section titled ‘Indian Shows’ for those looking for content by Indian artistes. Click here to view the lineup.