On Wednesday, May 27, the Delft Fringe Festival 2026 was festively opened at Theater de Veste. Hosted by multidisciplinary maker in architecture, film, theater, and Old Delft Fringer Oudail el Omari, the evening took us through many personal stories about beauty ideals, identity, and the history of war. It was immediately palpable why this festival is so special: it revolves around encounter, innovation, and collaboration. Every year, together with partners, the festival transforms the city into a stage for the up-and-coming talent of the future. Through June 7, 23 performances can be seen at more than 30 unique locations. The city is buzzing again. The Delft Fringe Festival 2026 has truly begun.

Giving young makers a platform 

Tamara Griffioen, Interim Artistic Director of the Delft Fringe Festival: “We kicked off the Delft Fringe Festival with performances by three powerful theatre makers featuring relevant stories about beauty ideals, feeling at home, and being confronted with a violent past. These performances were the start of two weeks filled with relatable, hilarious, and moving shows by a new generation of makers who are eager to confront you with how they see and experience the world. What I find special is how we can give these stories a platform by and for all of Delft, from Kabeldistrict to the city center, in a restaurant, a historic monument, or in someone’s living room. The Delft Fringe Festival creates a connection between the city, organizations, the public, and the maker: valuable connections that yield an honest conversation and a good climate for experimentation.” 

Three opening performances 

Isa Zwart and Clé Delphi of Collectief Teder addressed the harsh reality of beauty ideals in their humorous performance Pretty Privilege . With harmonies, saxophone, electronic beats, and personal stories, they create a critical, playful, and simultaneously tender music theatre performance. 

In her self-created *Pulling the Trigger*, Daria Titova takes us along with the story of a soldier (performed by Marko Šakić) who is confronted with his own past, unable to fully face it or escape it. An intense solo performance at the intersection of dance and physical theatre. 

Janne Groen took us along on her quest for recognition of her Indonesian identity. Traveling to the other side of the world in the hope of filling an inner void by connecting with her father’s birthplace, does reality live up to her expectations? Accompanied on saxophone by Wytze Minne de Swart, Janne blends dance, spoken word, and live music. 

Connection to the city 

Frank van Vliet, Alderman for Climate, Culture, and Public Space of the Municipality of Delft, emphasized on stage the importance of subsidies and having a platform for young makers. He also reflected on how the performances at the Delft Fringe Festival enable people to meet, talk about things together, laugh, and exchange ideas, thereby being important to the city. “It offers an opportunity to look at the world from a different perspective.”

The creators also perform their shows at unique locations in Delft. As a result, the audience is not only theatrically surprised, but truly embarks on a journey of discovery through the city center. Discover personal stories in locations ranging from a 17th-century windmill to the special acoustics of a historic church. Through the festival, discover the city’s gems that breathe their own stories. 

The Delft Fringe Festival 2026 runs until Sunday, June 7. All information and tickets can be found at www.delftfringefestival.nl