District Fringe is proud to announce the artists and shows for its 2nd annual festival, running July 10-26 at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). This year, District Fringe received 87 submissions — 56% more than last year — representing a variety of different ideas from clown t o classics, mysteries to musicals. From this brilliant work, District Fringe chose nine (9) productions for full multi-night runs, with an additional three (3) selected for one to two night-only performances,  District Fringe is excited to launch a new program for the 2026 festival: its new play development series, Spark. Four (4) shows were submitted for staged readings this year, and District Fringe decided to create a space for them to present and receive feedback from the audience. These are shows from promising local playwrights, some of whom are debuting their work for the first time. Plays cannot be developed in a vacuum. On the page, a play is just words. To truly become successful scripts, plays require actors to read them out loud and audiences to listen and react. District Fringe is honored to bring these diverse voices into being and support the next generation of playwrights. “We are thrilled with the final lineup selected by our dedicated volunteer reading team from a diligent adjudication that took place over four weeks and allowed for each individual application to be reviewed by at least two of our readers,” shares District Fringe Literary Producer Sophia Menconi. “We treasure the projects proposed by each of our applicants, and are absolutely thrilled with the diverse array of performances selected for production. This year, District Fringe will feature two different programming options for Young Audiences, intentionally inviting young audiences into the Festival for the first time. Additionally, our programming includes emerging artists from across the DMV alongside beloved local stalwarts – from new plays written by recent UMD and AU alums to a solo show developed by Rex Daugherty, Artistic Director of Theatre for Solas Nua. Every beloved, famous play was a new play once, and District Fringe is committed to building spaces for performing artists at all stages of their career to be able to experiment and share new work with DMV audiences.” 2026 DISTRICT FRINGE LINEUP Phoenix – Main Stage Performances  Bitch Eat Dog / Mel CarterHow to Die in Japan / MiyoPlease Clap! / The Moon GirlsSwallowing My Shout / TvinityThe Hardest Words to Say / MX. NOIR Creative StudiosThe Well / Rex DaughertyThis is a Play About God / Pen and Pebble ProductionsWhen I Was / MaKayla Baker PaxtonWho Did It? An Improvised Murder Mystery / ABComedy Lab Flash – Limited Run Performances Aye Aye / Sage O’Silver, Pirate FiddlerCupboard’s Cabaret / Cupboard’s CabaretTall Tale of a Wolfman / Radical Joy Theatre Spark – New Play Reading Series Define “Black” / N. A. ProductionsOne and the Same / Papillon ProductionsSpeed Skating Sloth / The Emerson TwinsThe River / TransMission Theatre Project In its second year, District Fringe will continue its partnerships with Van Ness Main Street and The University of the District of Columbia (UDC). These successful partnerships include access to and use of venues as well as sponsorship support. The 2026 festival will take place over three weekends from July 10 to 26, 2026, with performances Wednesday to Sunday. The festival will activate spaces at the UDC Music School Recital Hall and the outdoor amphitheater, plus additional spaces around Van Ness Main Street, including the return of the Flicker Bar, a pop-up bar/community gathering space where patrons can purchase drinks, snacks, and hang out and connect with other patrons and District Fringe artists. There will be a District Fringe Opening Night Party on July 10 starting at 9pm at the Flicker Bar. “We are overwhelmed by the success of our first festival. We sold over 2,000 tickets and entertained hundreds of people in both our ticketed and free programs,” says District Fringe Producer Karen Lange. “This was beyond our wildest dreams and allowed us to do things like increase the ticket revenue percentage for our participating artists – essentially flipping the split from in favor of the festival to in favor of the artists. Two of the shows, The H Twins and The Pit, were picked up for full runs and workshops by other theater companies, receiving praise and a Helen Hayes recommendation. I mean it when we say that there is a bubbling cauldron of talent in this region, just waiting to get a chance to showcase their productions. We are proud we gave them a chance and look forward to giving that opportunity to a new crop of artists.” Full details of all shows will go live in early May at www.districtfringe.com/ About District Fringe  District Fringe was created by artists for artists to promote and propel the strong independent theater tradition in the DC area. At a time when the arts community is under direct threat from the current administration, District Fringe unapologetically stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion as they work to create an open, egalitarian space for artists to produce work that challenges, entertains, and inspires. District Fringe was founded by area artistic leaders Tracey Erbacher, Karen Lange, Sophia Menconi, Aubri O’Connor, Samba Pathak, and Sarah Wilson. ...read more read less