Hollywood Fringe Festival 2026: 10 shows to check out

The Hollywood Fringe Festival returns from June 11 through June 28, and over 2,000 performances will go down throughout Hollywood. From clown shows to one-person shows, there’s something for everyone. We showcase 10 exciting shows worth catching at this massive event. More information about Hollywood Fringe Festival can be found here.

Don't Ask Don't Tell (tickets) 18+

McCadden Theatre (Main Space) - 1157 N McCadden Place

(preview) Saturday June 6 2026, 4:00 PM

Saturday June 13 2026, 8:30 PM

Saturday June 20 2026, 4:30 PM

Sunday June 21 2026, 12:30 PM

Clowns of Color will bring their Don't Ask Don't Tell show to Hollywood Fringe. Formed by former vets DeShawn Ball (USMC) and Jamonté Williams (U.S. Army), Clowns of Color dive into their military past to deliver a show filled with antics at every turn. Clowns of Color recently performed during Netflix Is A Joke Festival.

Comics Reading Comics (tickets) 21+

Three Clubs (Three Clubs Stage Room), 1123 N Vine St.

(preview) Sunday June 7 2026, 7:30 PM

Sunday June 14 2026, 7:30 PM

Monday June 22 2026, 9:30 PM

Co-hosted by Nick Malis (Tosh.0, Avatar: The Last Airbender) and Shoshanna Green (Pack Theater, UCB), Comics Reading Comics brings some of your favorite comic book scenes to life with the help of some stand-up and sketch comics. Dana Gould and Dan Mintz (Tina on Bob's Burgers) are among the special guests for these shows.

Kickball: The Musical (tickets) 16+

The Stray Theater (Main Space) - 4319 Melrose Ave

Saturday June 20 2026, 5:00 PM

Thursday June 25 2026, 9:00 PM

Saturday June 27 2026, 7:00 PM

Pack Theater sketch team Kickball will bring Kickball: The Musical to The Stray Theater for Hollywood Fringe. The one-hour show follows the hijinks of a high-school kickball team. Kickball debuted the musical at Pack Theater back in February.

The Body (tickets) 18+

The Hobgoblin Playhouse on Gardner (Main Stage) - 1516 N. Gardner St.

Sunday June 7 2026, 4:30 PM

Sunday June 14 2026, 3:00 PM

Saturday June 20 2026, 8:30 PM

Wednesday June 24 2026, 8:30 PM

Sunday June 28 2026, 2:30 PM

The Body feature four short plays surrounding a haunting death in an apartment building. The collection of short plays will take audiences through four different genres (rom-com, thriller, dramedy, and satire). The cast of The Body includes Allen Barstow, Alyssa Berkowitz, Leah Frires, Dom Johnson, Kara O’Connor, Genah Redding, and Peter Schiavelli. Flashing lights will be used during the show.

The Smokeout: A Comedy Rap Battle and Variety Show (tickets) 18+

The Cats Crawl (Main Space) - 660 N Heliotrope Dr.

Thursday June 11 2026, 10:30 PM | 90 mins

Friday June 12 2026, 11:30 PM | 90 mins

Saturday June 20 2026, 11:30 PM | 90 mins

Tuesday June 23 2026, 9:30 PM | 90 mins

Saturday June 27 2026, 11:55 PM | 90 mins

32 fictional characters will compete to see who'll be the rap battle champion at The Smokeout. The tournament will begin with opening weekend (June 11 and June 12) before heading into elimination rounds on June 20 and June 23. The best of the best will make their way to the midnight grand finale on June 27. The audience decides who moves on and who walks away a loser.

Country Girl Makes Do (tickets) 18+

The Stray Theater (Main Space) - 4319 Melrose Ave

Saturday June 13 2026, 5:00 PM

Wednesday June 17 2026, 7:00 PM

Friday June 19 2026, 9:00 PM

Friday June 26 2026, 7:00 PM

Sunday June 28 2026, 9:00 PM

Country Girl Makes Do is a one-woman clown show based on the life of country girl Ham. Learn what it’s really like in Mississippi with this 40-minute show. The show is the brainchild of Sam G, who won Hollywood Fringe Festival’s Planner’s Pick last year.

About Last Night: Dating Disasters Live On Stage (tickets) 21+

Three Clubs (Three Clubs Stage Room) - 1123 N Vine St.

(preview) Friday June 5 2026, 7:30 PM

Saturday June 13 2026, 9:30 PM

Sunday June 14 2026, 5:15 PM

Monday June 15 2026, 7:15 PM

Tuesday June 16 2026, 9:30 PM

About Last Night: Dating Disasters Live On Stage has been entertaining audiences across the country with bad dating stories for a decade. Various individuals will share their horror stories in dating accompanied by live music from Jimmy Berry for your amusement. More information on About Last Night can be found here.

Best Possible Death (tickets) 18+

Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre (SFS Theatre mainstage) - 5636 Melrose Ave.

(preview) Monday June 8 2026, 8:30 PM

Monday June 15 2026, 7:00 PM

Thursday June 18 2026, 5:30 PM

Sunday June 21 2026, 3:00 PM

Saturday June 27 2026, 1:00 PM

Written and directed by Angela McLafferty, Best Possible Death follows a deceased woman trying to get one more chance to live. It's not to be with her family and friends again. She wants to die in a beautiful manner instead of dying in a compromising position. Be warned: depictions of self-harm will be included in the story.

Test Pilots (tickets) 18+

Second Place Studios (Studio Two) - 6560 Hollywood Blvd.

19 performances starting on Thursday June 11

Test Pilots is an interactive show that puts the audience in a fake TV studio to check out new programming. Audience members will change things up by selecting decisions via the remote control. Some members will be able to be part of a show. There are a whopping 19 performances going down throughout Hollywood Fringe Festival.

2026 Salem Witch Trial (tickets) 16+

The Broadwater (Black Box) - 6322 Santa Monica Blvd.

(preview) Monday June 8 2026, 11:00 PM

Friday June 12 2026, 5:00 PM

Sunday June 14 2026, 7:30 PM

Wednesday June 17 2026, 9:30 PM

Thursday June 18 2026, 5:00 PM

Gretchen Wylder brings an updated version of her one-woman show Salem Witch Trial, which is based on her life as a tarot-reading lesbian. The show, which debuted last year, won for Best Solo Show in the horror category at Edinburgh Fringe 2025.