IMPACT REPORT 2025
Adelaide Fringe recognises Kaurna Miyurna Yarta (Adelaide Plains people’s Land) and all First Nations people and their ancestral lands and waterways on which Fringe lives, operates and learns. The lands were never ceded and remain as important to the living Kaurna people today. Adelaide Fringe also takes place across many traditional language, social and nation groups throughout South Australia. We pay respect to the traditional owners of these lands and acknowledge their Elders past and present.
First Nations stories
FIRST NATIONS CULTURAL TOURS
Back for the 2nd year at Adelaide Botanic Gardens, more than 338 participants were in attendance to learn more about the spiritual and cultural connection to Country of First Nations people in Australia. An Auslan, audio description, and tactile tour was also provided at this event.
ADELAIDE FRINGE STAFF CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE AT WARRIPARINGA
Staff and board members were invited to go on a guided walk through the Warriparinga Wetlands and participate in an introduction to Aboriginal Art Class and the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre on Friday 6 June, with catering provided by Something Wild.
84 FIRST NATIONS SHOWS in 2025 Fringe Program (5.4% of the program)
$151,518 IN GRANTS SUPPORTED FIRST NATIONS SHOWS (13.94% of all grants awarded)
Dusty Feet Mob
Photo:KyhamRoss,2025.
Congratulations to Dusty Feet Mob for winning the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Award!
East End Photo: Samuel Graves, 2025 .
1,066,515
5,634,575
tiCKET ing
The 2025 Fringe delivered another phenomenal result, with ticket sales exceeding 1 million for the 3rd year in a row. The box office total paid directly to artists & venues reached $26.7 million — a vital stream of income that supports thousands of creatives to keep making and sharing their work.
1,066,515
SHOWS BY PRICE
In line with our mission to be the most inclusive festival in the world, this graph shows the range of full price tickets offered - including free and low-cost options to keep the festival accessible to all.
26.7M
ecoNoMi C iMPacT
Adelaide Fringe delivered exceptional return on investment year on year, and this is possible due to the valuable support and funding provided from the State Government, Partners, Donors and supporters.
16,128 DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS were created during Adelaide Fringe 2025
VISITORS
Adelaide Fringe continues to be a flagship event on Australia’s cultural calendar, drawing more visitors to South Australia each year and generating significant economic impact for the state.
$144.2M NEW MONEY TO SA (has grown 7-fold over 10 years)
TOTAL EXPENDITURE GENERATED TO SA $197.7M
AVERAGE SPEND PER VISITOR TO SA (has grown 8-fold over 10 years) $4,825
7.5
AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY (has almost quadrupled over 10 years)
OUr ProgrAM
ARTISTS & SHOWS
1,532 shows
744 SA
959 PremierEs
SHOW ORIGIN: Including 390 world premieres
490 INTERSTATE
298 INTERNATIONAL
Shows with indigenous performers/ creatives 6%
PROGRAM DIVERSITY
Shows with LGBTQIA+ performers or creatives 31%
Shows with performers/ creatives from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds
Shows with more than 50% female involvement 40%
Shows with performers / creatives with accessibility requirements 13%
225
1145 SHOWS
Source: AEDA
21.57% OF VENUES 234
547 SHOWS
124
198 SHOWS
Photo: Samuel Graves, 2025
HoneY PoT o neY
Our trade fair for the arts, a professional marketplace connecting Fringe artists with local and international industry.
Over 550 touring deals were generated in 2025, worth more than $6M. Programmers and buyers descended on Adelaide from 37 countries globally, Mexico, India, Chile, Canada, Belgium, Ireland, China, Japan, France, Iceland, Malaysia, and Korea to name just a few.
REPRESENTATION OF DEALS DONE BY S.A COMPANIES
ArTs uNliMITed
THE ADELAIDE FRINGE FOUNDATION
$1,251,781 total funds raised $1,153,238 worth of grants distributed to artists, venues and producer $261,769 worth of tickets purchased for communities and school groups who would otherwise not be able to attend Fringe.
10,485 people supported with tickets from Community Fund 251 shows supported
Our vision is to make Adelaide Fringe the most inclusive festival in the world. We raise money to distribute Fringe tickets to communities experiencing disadvantage and provide grant opportunities for artists, producers and venues to reduce barriers for all to participate.
With these opportunities, we aim to elevate diverse voices, and support all forms of expression, which enrich our festival offering. This has been made possible thanks to donations from our Donor Circle, our Giving Day Partners, support from the SA Government, and the generosity of our Fringe community.
“A client of Catherine House shared that attending The Soweto Gospel Choir helped her to safely experience tears for the first time in many years. She told me that seeing the show helped her to feel and express joy.”
- Tam Coste, Catherine House, 2025 Community Fund Recipient
Honey Pot was supported by The Department of Premier and Cabinet through CreateSA.
Honey Pot HIVE at Adelaide Convention Centre. Photo: Razan Fakhouri, 2025.
Awards at FriNge
Total prize money awarded $260K of cash and in-kind value
Thanks to our Award Partners
Partn eRsHiPS
At Adelaide Fringe, our 48 Partners are more than supporters, they’re collaborators who help shape a more inclusive, vibrant, and impactful festival. Each partnership is driven by a shared vision and aligned with one or more of our core goals: raising the money, drawing the crowds, shouting out story, supporting artists and venues, and living our Fringe culture.
In 2025, we marked 20-year milestones with Principal Partner BankSA and Visualcom - both joining City of Adelaide and the Government of South Australia in the 20+ bracket, proof that longevity and shared values build real impact. Partnerships are built on trust, planning, and shared success.
ACHIEVED AN AVERAGE PARTNER SATISFACTION RATING
2025 PARTNER COLLABORATION SNAPSHOT
From ticketing initiatives and philanthropic support, to access programs, every collaboration supports the Fringe ecosystem.
• BankSA 48,308 price type tickets sold; ‘Pick of the Fringe’ Award and MyFringe Planner supported
• NRMA Insurance: Matching Partner for At Cart and Pay it Forward donations
• Lumo Energy 10,835 subsidised Flash Sale tickets sold for artists; $10,000 poster competition prize; $40,000 in bricks and mortar venue grants
• Foodland 120,000 guides distributed; co-branded tote-bags raised funds for Arts Unlimited
• Novatech $100,000 in innovation grants for venues
• Visualcom, Hither & Yon, Flagship Distillery, Cucina Classica Donations through co-branded products and award sponsorships
• SACare Carers Lounge hosted 186 visitors with accessibility needs
• Accenture, Robert Walters, UniSA, University of Adelaide Insights, internships, and social impact reporting
These initiatives help Adelaide Fringe flourish while creating value for our Partners; through financial returns, social impact, and enhanced community presence.
NRMA Insurance team at Fringe Opening Weekend Event. Photo: Razan Fakhouri, 2025.
Scan for 2025 Adelaide Fringe Award Winners’
$170.7M MEDIA VALUE
224.8M MEDIA REACH WEBSITE
5.7M WEBsITe sESsioNs
2.67M UNiQue WEBsITe ViSITOrS
1.3M
118,500 FOLLOWERS
128,200
10,796 FOLLOWERS
4,075
63,300 FOLLOWERS
573,800
84.8K
1,611 FOLLOWERS
KEY SOCIAL IMPACT ACHIEVEMENTS 2025
1,531
New migrants received Fringe memberships in collaboration with Local Government
3,918
Companion card bookings
2,500
Accessibility guides distributed
186
Visitors to SACare Lounge
For the first time this year, the State Government through the Department for Education provided a $30,000 contribution to the Adelaide Fringe Schools Program to support the equity ticket scheme. This additional funding meant that even more students in Category 1 - 4 schools were able to access meaningful arts experiences at Fringe.
Income within the Adelaide Fringe ecosystem is generated through the following key streams:
125 Shows with Accessibility provisions
4,217
Volunteer hours contributed
78 Organisations supported
100 Schools supported with equity tickets
NEW ACCESSIBILITY INITIATIVES
Distributed
100 SENSORY BACKPACKS
Ear defenders rental Complimentary delivery of Adelaide Fringe Accessibility Guide to patrons Auslan interpreters at Fringe Corner Box Office
Audio Description and Visual Story for Sleeps Hill Tunnel
To learn more about our accessibility initiatives visit adelaidefringe.com.au/accessibility
The above activity was made possible by the contribution of our Disability, Access and Inclusion External Advisory Committee, Accessibility Partners and Multicultural Inclusion External Advisory Committee. *this
Celebrating 20 years
Principal Partner
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNERS
Our Partners share our values, and with their continued support we are able to pursue our mission of being the most inclusive arts festival in the world.
PRESENTING PARTNER
COMMUNITY PARTNER
MEDIA PARTNERS ICT PARTNER
INNOVATION PARTNER
FESTIVAL PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
ACCESSIBILITY PARTNERS
PHILANTHROPY PARTNERS
THANK YOU TO OUR AWARDS PARTNERS Adelaide Comedy, Adelaide Critics Circle, Adelaide Festival Centre, Arts South Australia, Australian Refugee Association, BankSA, Fiji Fringe, Frank Ford AM Bequest, FRINGE WORLD Festival, Graham F Smith Peace Foundation, Guildhouse, Hither & Yon, Holden Street Theatres, Hollywood Fringe, House of Oz - Georgie Black, Inspiring South Australia, KOJO, KWP+Partners, Leslie Thompson, Lumo Energy, Mary Walker OAM & John Walker, Matt Tarrant, Melbourne Fringe, MILKE, mindshare, Musicorp Australia, NZ Fringe Festival, Office of the Mental Health Commissioner of South Australia, Ray and Conrad Henley-Calvert, Sarah Rohrsheim, Svigos
& Dimond Families, Sydney Fringe Festival, TAFE SA, The List, Theatre Network Australia.