Wolverhampton Fringe Festival Set to Return

A festival described as bringing “a bit of Edinburgh magic” to the Midlands is set to return to Wolverhampton.

The first Midlands Fringe festival was held last year and, after securing new funding, the organisers said it would take place again in July.

Plans include 30 shows in venues across the city centre over two weekends, with a further three headline events at the city’s Arena Theatre.

The festival will open on 17 July and run until 26 July.

It is organised by Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists, a collective of Black Country poets, writers and performers, including Emma Purshouse, Dave Pitt and Steve Pottinger.

Purshouse said: “The quality of acts we attracted in 2025, as well as the feedback we got from them and from audiences who came along to enjoy their shows, made the first Midlands Fringe really exciting and positive.

“We’re looking forward to making this year’s festival even better, and bringing the best in Fringe theatre and comedy to Wolverhampton.”

This year the festival has expanded from 15 shows to 30

Emma told the magazine, “A lot of the venues will be cafes/pubs etc. Some shows will be at Arena Theatre in Wolves. Many of the events are unticketed so folk turn up until the venue is full (like it is on the Edinburgh free fringe), and then it’s pay-as-you-feel so folk who can’t afford to pay aren’t excluded. The shows at main house Arena theatre will be their normal ticket prices though.”

Last year’s festival was funded by just under £9,000 from Arts Council England, and the team has once again been awarded public funding by the National Lottery.

For more news on this event, including announcements on acts, shows and venues, visit; www.midlandsfringe.co.uk/