Mumbai is heating up this March, both literally and figuratively. After eight decades of rebellious festivities, the Fringe Festival is set to make its debut in India this March. With a lineup of stand-up comedy, poetry, storytelling, and experimental theatre, Mumbai Fringe Festival is heating the city’s live performance scene from March 10 to March 15 2026. With over six days and 45 performances featuring the country’s biggest prodigal entertainers, the world’s largest open-access art festival is making its way across four venues in Mumbai’s cultural circuit. So, make sure to mark your calendars and ready your laugh bags, because the show is about to begin.
Mumbai Fringe Festival
With its not-so-humble beginnings in 1947, on the fringes of the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe has grown into a global art movement. After over 300 successful variations around the world, including Edinburgh, Prague, and Adelaide, the Fringe Festival is making its very first landfall in Mumbai. Unfolding across the city’s creative circuit, the iconic Tata Theatre in NCPA, Khar Comedy Club, 3 Art House, and Indifferent @ Gharonda, the festival is set to transform neighbourhoods into a cultural melting pot. Here, audiences can move between venues and experience comedy, theatre, and storytelling like no other.
The Grand Premier
According to the co-founder of the festival and the founder of UnErase Poetry, Simar Singh, “The Fringe gives artists complete freedom, a space for new voices and unexpected ideas to meet the audience directly. It’s not just a festival for the city but a platform for artists across India to think bigger”. Thus, with that begins the premiere and the official opening of the Mumbai Fringe Festival at Tata Theatre, NCPA on March 11. Headlining the night are Varun Grover and Kanan Gill with their witty and hilarious bits. Joining them on stage are Australian comics, Michelle Ahern and David Hoskin, along with Shreeja Chaturvedi & host Sapan Verma. You can book the premier night tickets here.
The Nights That Follow
The days that follow continue to the grad, along with leading Indian voices and International productions. For those interested in comedy, the Mumbai Fringe Festival will feature artists like Rohan Joshi, Aakash Gupta, Urooj Ashfaq, Tarang Hardikar, Saikaran, and Amit Tandon. Moreover, for a knack of improv and rainbow comedy, Queer Rated Comedy, 3 of a Kind, Medium Sized Improv, and more. Looking for a side of seriousness, the theatre sets have got it all planned with acclaimed global works of Nigel Thomas’ Sherlock Holmes: The Last Act, and a striking solo adaptation of Macbeth by The Shakespeare Edit. David Hoskin’s Haunted House further brings a blend of mime, comedy, and theatrics that keeps the programme inventive and unafraid.
Additionally, for the romantics and literati, the Mumbai Fringe has a poetic lineup too. With the murmurs of Amandeep Khayal‘s prose, Priya Malik‘s heart on pen, and Uncle Tim’s War, the evening is looking rather sizzling. And for a dose of illusions, Suhani Shah is coming live with her Pandora’s box of magic.
Expect to discover the unknown, feel the strange, and be dazed in the experimentations. The format may be new, but it is sure to surprise, delight, and sometimes even surprise you in the best possible way. Do take a look at their lineup and schedule for the specifics here. Indifferent Bandra has also put out a schedule and lineup taking place at its venue, check it out here.
Key Information
đź“ŤMultiple (Look up the specifics of the show you want to view)
đź“…Tuesday, March 10 – Sunday, March 15
đź’¸ â‚ą499/- onwards
🎟️Book your tickets here