Dublin Fringe Festival Awards 2026: And the Winners Are

20 September 2026

For 16 days and nights, artists have made the city theirs. They’ve taken over theatres, pubs, streets, stages and unexpected corners of Dublin. They’ve made us laugh, dance, think, stay out late and see our city differently. Audiences have filled rooms, followed artists across Dublin and made the Festival their own.

Now, as Dublin Fringe Festival 2026 heads into its final day, it’s time to celebrate the extraordinary artists and work that have made this year’s festival what it is. Our Festival Judges have spent the past two weeks seeing work across the programme, deliberating, debating and championing the moments that stayed with them. We are pleased to now announce the nominees and winners for this year's awards, which recognise just some of the extraordinary skill and creativity on display, acknowledging some of the standouts in this year’s festival.

We’re delighted to announce the nominees and winners for the Dublin Fringe Festival Awards 2026. 

BEST PRODUCTION

For the show that has it all! Presented to the show, production or event displaying excellence across production, design, performance, concept and execution. This award acknowledges the enormous work and talent poured into presenting work at the festival and honours the comprehensive production.

NOMINEES:

  • CRISIS ACTOR by Eoghan Carrick + Lauren Jones
  • GRETEL by TAN & JWY
  • Ratling by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman
  • SLUGS by Creepy Boys
  • THE FAR AWAY SUN by KT HONAN

WINNER: GRETEL by TAN & JWY

 

GORILLA DESIGN’S BEST DESIGN AWARD

The Gorilla Design’s Best Design Award is presented for outstanding overall design.

NOMINEES:

  • Clash at the Quays! III: Oh, You Didn’t Know?! by Ahmed, With Love.
    • Killian Taylor – Sound Engineer
    • Ben Phelan – Lighting Tech
    • Craig Chiko – Creative Director
    • Lara Fagherazzi – Graphic Designer
  • Kafka's Doll by Theatre Lovett
    • Jamie Vartan – Set Designer
    • Sarah Jane Shiels – Lighting Designer
    • Cormac O'Connor – AV Design
    • Nicole Clifford – Costume Design
    • Carl Kennedy – Sound Designer
    • Siofra Nic Liam – Chief LX
    • Jake Lawrence – Chief LX
  • Mourning is a Muscle by Barry Fitzgerald
    • John Gunning – LX Designer
    • Rūta Irbīte – Set & Costume Designer
    • Tadhg Kinsella – Sound Composer
    • Mainara Santos – Costume Supervisor
  • Ratling by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman
    • Cameron MacAuley – Sound Designer
    • Zia Bergin Holly – Set and Lighting Design
    • Saileóg O'Halloran – Costume Designer
    • Ellen Hodgers – Chief LX
  • THE FAR AWAY SUN by KT HONAN
    • Carl Kennedy – Sound Design
    • John Gunning – LX Design
    • Deirdre Dwyer – Set & Costume Design

WINNER: Ratling by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman

  • Cameron MacAuley – Sound Designer
  • Zia Bergin Holly – Set and Lighting Design
  • Saileóg O'Halloran – Costume Designer
  • Ellen Hodgers – Chief LX

 

BEST PERFORMERS

This award celebrates performance in all its forms across the festival. Two of the festival’s best performers will take home this much sought-after accolade. 

NOMINEES:

  • Annie McIlwaine, Growing Pains
  • Desmond Eastwood, MERCURIAL
  • Genevieve Hulme-Beaman, Ratling
  • John Spillane, Johnny Hollywood
  • Kate Finegan, West Meath Gothic
  • Rosaleen Cox, MERCURIAL
  • Róisín Harten, Welcome to Traumatraum
  • Rowan Finken, THE FAR AWAY SUN
  • Tanya Bridgeman, GRETEL
  • Úna Kavanagh, Miss You

WINNERS: Genevieve Hulme-Beaman, Ratling and Tanya Bridgeman, GRETEL

 

BEST ENSEMBLE

This award recognises the ensemble as the standout – the heartbeat of a show.

NOMINEES:

  • AFRONAUTS by Circus Zambia & Wake The Beast: Ephraim Phiri, Musa Zulu, Angel Phiri, Belinda Kaputula, Bergus Syatubotu, Charles Malama, Hassan Gwai and John Mputu
  • A Recurrence by D'Girlos Theatre Company: Sophie O'Toole, Erin Murray Boyne and Ciara Byrne
  • Chronically Hopeful by Musici Ireland: Beth McNinch, Ali Clarke, Eleanor Walsh, Safire Hikari, Jane Hackett, Ioana Petcu Colan and Katie Tertell 
  • Mam and Love and Woo by Liam McCarthy: Joan Sheehy, Liam Heslin and Martha Dunlea
  • SAOIRSE by An Taibhdhearc: Aidan Byrne, Lesley Conroy, Ciara Cox, Juliette Crosbie, Ursula Earley, Síofra Ní Éilí, Colm Mac Gearailt, Evanne Kilgallon, Callum Maxwell and Elliot Nolan

WINNER: AFRONAUTS by Circus Zambia & Wake The Beast: Ephraim Phiri, Musa Zulu, Angel Phiri, Belinda Kaputula, Bergus Syatubotu, Charles Malama, Hassan Gwai and John Mputu

 

SOLAS NUA NEW VOICES AWARD

The Solas Nua New Voices Award is an international partnership with Solas Nua in Washington D.C. It gives one playwright in the festival the opportunity to have a reading of their play performed at Solas Nua in Washington and recognises a writer with a singular voice whose work speaks to contemporary social, political or cultural issues in Ireland.

NOMINEES:

  • BUTCH by Hannah Bevan
  • DADDY ISSUES by Brigid Leahy
  • Muster by Dagogo Hart
  • SOAK: The Perfect Man by Samuel Yakura
  • SUPLEX by Ois O’Donoghue

WINNER: SUPLEX by Ois O’Donoghue

 

FISHAMBLE NEW WRITING AWARD

Awarded to an Irish or Ireland-based writer for a new play premiered at Dublin Fringe Festival. The award includes a targeted package of dramaturgical supports for the writer from Fishamble: The New Play Company.

NOMINEES:

  • Growing Pains by Carley Magee
  • Mam and Love and Woo by Liam McCarthy
  • Muster by Dagogo Hart
  • Ratling by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman
  • Saving for a Helicopter by Gráinne Curistan

WINNER: Mam and Love and Woo by Liam McCarthy

 

THE COISCÉIM DANCE THEATRE MOVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to a spectacular production in dance or physical language. The CoisCéim Dance Theatre Movement Award supports the research and development of new work for the authoring artists through a two-week studio residency and four mentorship sessions. In association with Two Pups.

NOMINEES:

  • The Boxes by Yves Lorrhan & Inner Man Community
  • Trolley Boy by Diarmuid Armstrong Mayock
  • Welcome to Traumatraum by Speckintime
  • West Meath Gothic by Kate Finegan
  • Wit & Whimsy; Yin & Collapse by Orla McCarthy & Majon van der Schot

WINNER: The Boxes by Yves Lorrhan & Inner Man Community

 

BEWLEY’S CAFÉ THEATRE LITTLE GEM AWARD

Bewley’s Café Theatre is Ireland’s foremost presenter of lunchtime theatre and proudly continues to sponsor the Little Gem Award for the most exciting show presented at this year’s festival under 60 minutes. The winning production earns a two-week run at Bewley’s Café Theatre, with €3,000 available to the company to remount the production.

NOMINEES:

  • GaelMaxxing by Síomha Hennessy
  • Gleek of the Week by Conor Burke
  • Growing Pains by Carley Magee
  • MERCURIAL by Rosaleen Cox, Serpentine Productions & 19th Street Productions
  • Saving for a Helicopter by Gráinne Curistan

WINNER: Saving for a Helicopter by Gráinne Curistan

 

FIRST FORTNIGHT AWARD

Since its inception in 2009, First Fortnight’s key aim has been to challenge stigma and prejudice around mental health through the creative arts. This award recognises excellence in a Fringe show that does just that, inviting it back for an encore run at First Fortnight in January 2027.

NOMINEES:

  • Chronically Hopeful by Musici Ireland
  • GRETEL by TAN & JWY
  • Mam and Love and Woo by Liam McCarthy
  • Muster by Belema Art House
  • THE FAR AWAY SUN by KT HONAN

WINNER: Muster by Belema Art House

 

THEATRE LOVETT ALWAYS READY AWARD

This award recognises the theatre artist who boldly plays in performance for their audience. The recipient receives a place on Theatre Lovett’s Playing for Your Audience training course, as well as two bespoke mentorship sessions with Theatre Lovett throughout the year.

NOMINEES:

  • Barry Fitzgerald, Mourning is a Muscle
  • Chisom Princess George, SOAK: The Perfect Man
  • Darren Yorke, Novel Ideas
  • Emily Terndrup, CRISIS ACTOR
  • Tanya Bridgeman, GRETEL

WINNER: Chisom Princess George, SOAK: The Perfect Man

 

SPIRIT OF WIT: MOIRA BRADY AVERILL AWARD

For a unique artist willing to take risks and whose work defies categorisation with bold and unconventional material. In memory of Moira Brady Averill, who had the power to transform space and thought through alchemical wit. 

NOMINEES:

  • Cast of Miss Powder Vacuum 2026
  • Creepy Boys, SLUGS
  • Hannah Bevan and Niamhie Mullarkey, BUTCH
  • Kate Moylan, Kate Moylan vs The World, HO’CIAL CLUB and Clash at the Quays! III: Oh, You Didn’t Know?!
  • Philip Connaughton, Bobbi Byrne and Ben Sullivan, The Act of Existing

WINNER: Creepy Boys, SLUGS

 

MAKING IT HAPPEN AWARD

Awarded to a techie who made magic happen, celebrating the boundless innovation and tireless hard work of the production staff. In memory of our dearly departed colleague, Marcus Costello, a person who always made the impossible happen.

  • Alison O’Shea - Stage Manager, The Boxes 
  • Ben Bix - Sound Engineer, West Meath Gothic 
  • Eloise Hickey - Production Manager, Mam and Love and Woo 
  • Izzy Hamilton - Set Designer and Stage Manager, Across the Fence, Dead In Here and SUPLEX 
  • Jess Fitzsimons Kane - Chief LX, West Meath Gothic

WINNER: Izzy Hamilton - Set Designer and Stage Manager, Across the Fence, Dead In Here and SUPLEX

 

RADICAL SPIRIT AWARD

Co-presented by Dublin Fringe Festival and Project Arts Centre. This presentation award is for an Irish artist dedicated to making bold, contemporary work which embodies the radical spirit of both Dublin Fringe and Project. They will receive a guarantee of €3000 and a week's run in Project Arts Centre 2027. 

NOMINEES:

  • A Recurrence by D'Girlos Theatre Company 
  • Hard Mouth Show & Tell by Ella de Búrca, Hugh Hick & Elaine McCague 
  • Mourning is a Muscle by Barry Fitzgerald 
  • Muster by Belema Art House 
  • SOAK: The Perfect Man by Samuel Yakura & +353 
  • SUPLEX by Jaxbanded Theatre

WINNER: SOAK: The Perfect Man by Samuel Yakura & +353

 

THE VISIONARY AWARD

A new award selected by Dublin Fringe Festival's Festival Director and Programme Manager, that celebrates work and artists who are breaking boundaries and paving new paths forward. This award celebrates those who defy categorisation within their work. 

  • Black Transmission by Clodagh Assata Boyce
  • Clash at the Quays! III: Oh, You Didn’t Know?! by Ahmed, With Love.  
  • Kate Moylan vs The World by Kate Moylan
  • Mourning is a Muscle by Barry Fitzgerald 
  • TRACES OF A WORLD-TO-BE by Hana Laine Flamm & Emma Hurson
  • West Meath Gothic by Kate Finegan

WINNER: Mourning is a Muscle by Barry Fitzgerald

 

JUDGES’ CHOICE AWARDS

Three Awards chosen by the judging panel to honour things that defy categorisation but must be recognised for their brilliance.  

WINNER: an cailligh rua by Megan Luddy O'Leary: for a  breadth of modern and traditional craft, and the masterful melding of the two together and for giving voice to the women behind the histories of hunger, labour, food control, and survival.

WINNER: Arborlogues: A Botanical Recital Performed for One Tree by Ofo Theater: for inviting the audience themselves to speak to nature, and so listen to themselves. In these times, nature is asking us just who we will be. The writer Herman Hesse wrote "Whoever has learned how to listen to trees no longer wants to be a tree. He wants to be nothing except what he is." 

WINNER: HO'CIAL CLUB by Red Umbrella Éireann: for welcoming its audience in to a moment of genuine joy and resistance, for the skill and artistry of its performers, and for conveying its message to decriminalize sex work so clearly.

 

THE NEXT STAGE WILD CARD

Dublin Fringe awards a bursary to an artist who has been part of the festival, enabling them to participate in the Next Stage – an artist development programme run by Dublin Theatre Festival in partnership with Performing Arts Forum.  

WINNER: Aesha Tandy, Producer of Muster by Belema Art House

 

Congratulations to every artist nominated, and to every artist, performer, designer, producer, technician and maker who made the city theirs with us this September.