Melbourne Fringe is on the hunt for volunteers to power its 2026 Festival, with applications open until mid-August.
More than 250 volunteers keep Melbourne Fringe running every year, and the Festival is again looking for people to help bring the whole thing to life. Free training is on offer, so whether you fancy yourself a natural host, a reliable all-rounder or an advocate for accessibility, there’s a way in for you.
The roles on the table include front of house attendants, Fringe Greeters looking after audiences, Fringe Champions spreading the word, and all-rounders who muck in wherever they’re needed.
Volunteers give 15 to 25 hours across the season, with bump-in shifts opening from 21 September for anyone keen to get a head start.
Melbourne Fringe 2026
- Volunteer applications close 11:59pm, 18 August
- Bump-in shifts available from 21 September
- Festival runs 29 September to 18 October
- Festival Hubs at Trades Hall and Meat Market, Carlton, plus Curated Program venues across Melbourne
Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around Melbourne here.
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In return, volunteers pick up show tickets and a volunteer pass, free training, and hands-on experience in festival and event work. There’s also the chance to meet artists, producers and fellow arts-lovers, join a community of like-minded people, and see one of Australia’s most loved independent arts festivals come together from the inside.
You’ll need to be over 18 to take part, with most shifts based at the Festival Hubs at Trades Hall and Meat Market in Carlton. A handful of others land at Curated Program venues scattered around Melbourne.
Applications and role summaries are open now, and the volunteer window shuts at 11:59pm on 18 August. Melbourne Fringe itself runs 29 September to 18 October, and any questions can go to Hana Kanzaki at [email protected].
For more information, head here.
