The 2026 IndyFringe Festival presented by Everwise Credit Union concluded Sunday, Aug. 23, following another successful celebration of creativity, experimentation and live performance in the Mass Ave Cultural Arts District.

More than 10,600 guests attended this year’s festival, experiencing 63 genre-defying productions featuring exceptional talent, original work and inventive storytelling from Indianapolis and around the world. Together, the performances reinforced the city’s reputation as the beating heart of Central Indiana’s performing arts community.

Now in its 21st year, IndyFringe continues to provide a platform where artists can take risks, test new ideas and connect with audiences through theater, dance, comedy, music and other forms of performance.

“Our 21st year brings together an astounding collection of artists whose talent and imagination touch every genre of performance,” said Paul Daily, executive director of IndyFringe. “Bringing awards back to the IndyFringe Festival allows us to shine a light on the bold risks our performers take on stage every single night, while formally honoring the pioneers who built the foundation of our vibrant arts community.”

Following careful consideration, organizers revived the festival’s awards program to recognize the originality, ambition and distinctive artistic vision demonstrated by this year’s performers.

The 2026 awards slate introduced two premier honors celebrating artistic excellence, innovation and the influential people who helped shape Indianapolis’ cultural landscape.

The new Rita Kohn Award for Excellence in Dance recognizes outstanding achievement in dance. The award is named in honor of Rita Kohn, the revered arts journalist, playwright and longtime champion of Indiana culture.

The festival also welcomed the return of the Quirky Award, presented in honor of former IndyFringe Executive Director Pauline Moffatt. A favorite from previous festivals, the award celebrates the year’s most delightfully unexpected, offbeat and inventive production.

Award recipients were selected through a combination of audience voting and evaluations by an independent panel of local artists. The honors were presented during a special closing celebration, bringing the 2026 festival to a fitting conclusion while recognizing both the artists shaping its future and the cultural pioneers who helped build its legacy.

For more information on the festival visit www.indyfringe.org/Festival

Award Winners

RITA KOHN AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DANCE PERFORMANCE

Team Laya | Margām – The Path in Bharatanāțyam

MOST PROMISING NEWCOMER

Theo Renée | Ready Yet? A Dance Variety Show

STAFF PICK

A New World Coming | Produced by Stage Quest Indy

VOLUNTEER PICK

Cowboy Meg’s Saturday Morning Roundup | Produced by Meg McLane

ARTIST PICK

Fear and Love with Band Practice | Produced by Band Practice Duo

BEST ENDING

The Keeper | Produced by Richard Bowman

BEST STUDENT PRODUCTION

Carmel High School Theatre and Film | Cicada by Jerre Dye

Most Innovative Use of Sound/Music

Cecil Blutcher | The Perfect Rap Show

Most Innovative Use of Projections

Samie Jo Johnson | MASHA

Most Innovative Use of Properties

Betty Rage Productions | Unalived and Low Key Forgotten

Most Innovative Use of Costumes

Stage Quest Indy | A New World Coming

Excellence in Music Performance

The Indianapolis Men’s Chorus | Fleet Week

Best Narrative (Any Genre)

The World of Billie Jane | Then, Eve

What the Fringe Award

(Awarded to an exceptionally “fringey” performance that celebrates the artists taking risks on innovative, shocking, or delightfully absurd theatrical moments.)

Todd Sullivan | Maniac

Best Ensemble

Defiance Comedy | Scouts’ Honor

The Pauline Moffat Quirky Award

Meg McClane | Cowboy Meg’s Saturday Morning Roundup

The Fringe First Award

(Awarded to an excellent script debuting in the 2026 IndyFringe Festival presented by Everwise Credit Union)

MK Productions/Mary Karty | Rideshare to Elsewhere

The Momentum Award

(Awarded to an artist or organization that has demonstrated tremendous growth between two Festivals)

Diopra Arts Theatre | The Phantom of Diopra, IL

Best Production of a Solo Show

Adam Henze | Call of the Void

Best Cabaret or Variety Show

PsyWrn Simone | PsyWrn Simone’s Black Thread: Songs that Nina Taught Me

Outstanding Individual Performance

• Elle Tyler | “Female Troubles”

• Taylor Mermoud | “Resonance: A Sound Healing Experience”

• Matt Kraft | “Matt Kraft Comedy Hour’

• Meg McLane | “Cowboy Meg’s Saturday Morning Roundup”

• Cara Wilson | “All You Can Eat”

• Lexie Palmer | “Cicada”

• Hannah Elizabeth Boswell | “A New World Coming”

Spirit of Fringe

(Awarded to shows that demonstrated both artistic excellence and creative ingenuity)

• The Matt Kraft Comedy Hour

• Fear and Love with Band Practice