Cork Fringe Festival Returns With Open Call for Artists
Cork Fringe Festival returns to Cork City from May 7th - 9th, 2027, bringing another weekend of experimental performances, visual art, and unconventional creative work to venues across the city. Applications are now open to artists working across all creative disciplines, with a closing date of 26 November 2026.
Returning for its third edition, Cork Fringe continues to provide a platform for emerging and established artists to experiment, take creative risks and present work outside traditional arts programming.
The 2027 festival will feature a mix of Cork-based and Irish artists alongside international productions discovered at fringe festivals across Europe. Audiences can expect a varied programme celebrating new ideas, unusual performances and alternative approaches to art.
In a new approach to programming, organisers will also introduce a lottery system for 2027. While part of the festival programme will be curated through the usual selection process, a number of places will be allocated entirely by lottery, offering artists an alternative route into the festival.
Cork Fringe 2027 Open Call
Applications opened on October 8th 2026 and will remain open until 7 pm on Thursday 26 November 2026.
The open call welcomes proposals from artists across all creative disciplines, with opportunities for both emerging and established practitioners.
Following the application deadline, organisers will review submissions and select part of the programme, with the remaining designated places decided through a lottery. Applicants can expect to hear the outcome in early January 2027.
Artist Information Sessions
Cork Fringe will host a series of in-person and online information sessions throughout the application period, allowing prospective applicants to learn more about the festival and ask questions.
The first two sessions are:
Thursday 15 October, 6.30pm: In-person information session at The Liberty Bar, Cork.
Monday 19 October, 7.30pm: Online information session via Zoom.
Additional sessions are expected to take place during the application window.
Visual Artists Invited to Apply for The Vaults Programme at Lavit Gallery
Cork Fringe is also renewing its partnership with Lavit Gallery for The Vaults Programme, a paid opportunity for visual artists to exhibit work during May 2027.
The programme makes use of two distinctive vault spaces within the gallery, particularly suited to video, sound, sculpture and installation-based artwork.
With concrete floors, wooden display ledges and adjustable lighting, the spaces offer artists an opportunity to create work responding to an unusual exhibition environment. As the building is a protected structure, wall-hanging options are limited.
The exhibition will run from 7th–29th May 2027, extending beyond the festival weekend.
Key dates for participating artists include:
5th-6th May: Installation
7th May: Exhibition opens to the public
8th May: Optional artist talk or event
29th May: Exhibition closes, with deinstallation from 4 pm
Visual artists must apply through a separate application form for The Vaults Programme.
How to Apply
Artists interested in participating in Cork Fringe 2027 can find application forms, guidelines and further festival information through the official Cork Fringe website.
Questions about the application process can be directed to info@corkfringe.com.
Applications close November 7th, 2026
Cork Fringe 2027 takes place across Cork City from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th May 2027.
Photo credits:
Of: Paxsea (at SCRATCH! with Cork Theatre Collective)
by: Erin Plaice
