History of the Fringe

The Ventnor Fringe was launched in 2010 by a team of students to give a platform to the increasing number of creatives moving to the town and has since grown into one of the Island’s most exciting events. Now entering its tenth anniversary year the Festival has hosted emerging and established artists spanning music, theatre, spoken word and film as well as cabaret, visual art, debates, comedy, dance and everything in between.

In 2014 the Ventnor Fringe team opened a new arts centre, Ventnor Exchange, which is open year round. In 2018 the organisations were merged under the Ventnor Exchange banner. Ventnor Exchange is a social enterprise, registered as a community interest company.

With well over 400 artists now taking part every year, the Ventnor Fringe is one of the fastest growing and most exciting Fringe Festivals in the UK. Combined with its unique location on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight, with stunning beaches and dramatic countryside all around you, it’s the perfect place to be inspired and inspire others.

Our new July dates are designed to offer the perfect space for Edinburgh previews or fit in with tours around the UK’s summer music festivals.