MARK YOUR CALENDARS

BORDERLIGHT RETURNS
July 8-11, 2026!

Join us  in the Playhouse Square District for four unforgettable days of innovative performances and vibrant community celebrations. Stay tuned for exciting announcements.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

BORDERLIGHT RETURNS
July 8-11, 2026!

Join us  in the Playhouse Square District for four unforgettable days of innovative performances and vibrant community celebrations. Stay tuned for exciting announcements.

BorderLight Festival 2026

The Unexpected Takes Center Stage

July 8 - 11, 2026 - Tickets on sale NOW

Get ready for four exhilarating days of bold, original, and unforgettable performance. At its core, BorderLight is Fringe—unfiltered, unconventional, and full of discovery—alongside a select international program. With 40+ productions across 15 stages in the Playhouse Square neighborhood, you’ll binge on theatre, explore new ideas, and connect with artists from Cleveland, the U.S., and around the world.

From comedy and drama to storytelling, immersive works, and experimental gems, Fringe is the heart of BorderLight.

Special Events & International Plaza

More than a festival- it's a celebration!

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Fringe Unleashed

Wednesday, July 8

7-9:30 PM

Opening night previews, pop ups, and live performances.

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Linedance is My Therapy

Friday, July 10

7:30-11 PM

Free community celebration with music & movement at Playhouse Square Plaza.

Free

No Registration Required

Polynesian Dance Performance: BorderLight International Theatre + Fringe Festival 2022 - Photo © Bob Perkoski, www.Perkoski.com
The International Plaza

Wednesday July 8-

Saturday July 11th

Free performances and cultural celebrations at Playhouse Square Plaza.

Free

No Registration Required

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Fringe Finale

Saturday, July 11

9-11:30 PM

Close out the festival with artists, awards, and a final celebration.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested. 

2026 SHOWS

Learn more about all the great shows you can see at BorderLight 2026 and buy your tickets online!

EXPLORE SHOWS WITH THESE FILTERS

Search

Performance Date(s)

Show Type

Spotlights

Genre

Age Suggestion

Price

Venue

Venue Features

Accessibility

Gr33n Hamzies & Eggoes

Explore a childhood classic, but scrambled. "Gr33n Hamzies & Eggoes" invites audiences of all ages to enter a sensory world of whim and whimsy. Designed to be a low-fi calming space, families are encouraged to gently explore together.

Improvsburg

Improvised Game show from your suggestions!

Le Tournesol

Planet Metalioisis, full of scrap metals and industrial materials. An enormous egg sits perched on the little planet. Crack. A mask appears and takes in the tiny planet, the night sky spreading above, and its new form. And as the mask looks up, it sees a shower of meteor light, streaking across the sky. And one streaks closer and closer and closer and crashes into the little planet. It's a little seed, stretching its fresh leaves in the starlight. The next morning, the seed has shot up, up into the sky with an enormous sunflower stalk. Past the clouds, past the stars, past the moon, disappearing into the distance. With metal scrap, the mask builds a ladder and begins its journey up, up, up.....

Peace (co)Lab

The Peace (co)Lab: Tiny Play Experience. Listen to an immersive story under the ribbon umbrella and have a tiny play written especially for you.

Tales From the Bard

Everyday heroes walk among us, but their tales have yet to be told. Using song, audience participation, and the ancient bardic tradition, The Bard will elevate one person’s success into an epic tale worthy of remembrance.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Touring Version)

Talespinner Children’s Theatre presents a two-actor adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, bringing Narnia to life through inventive storytelling and movement while exploring courage, kindness, and the triumph of good over evil.

Well-Balanced Dads

Using physical comedy, partner acrobatics, and dad humor, Dick and Dale take the audience on a camping adventure complete with car games, dance numbers, a cheese stick fight, and plenty of unthreatening audience participation.
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Plan your week with ease. Starting in June, pick up a free 2026 Festival Guide at select locations across Cleveland or during festival days in the Playhouse Square District.

Inside, you’ll find schedules, maps, show details, and everything you need to navigate the festival.

2026 PRICING

Whether you join us for every show or just one, there's something for everyone...
and every budget!

Prices shown include all required fees. No additional charges will be added at checkout.

All performances list age recommendations, and some include content warnings.

Fringe Shows

Fringe tickets are priced to keep the festival accessible while supporting artists. The majority of ticket revenue goes directly to the artists, with the remainder helping cover festival production, venues, and staffing.

Standard

$16.50

Special Pricing

Students, Veterans, Seniors (65+)

$15.00

Youth

Ages 6 - 14

$11.50

*Children ages 5 and under may attend for free if they are able to sit on a parent or guardian’s lap. If a separate seat is needed, a Youth ticket should be purchased.

International Ticket Pricing

These are invited international productions presented as part of BorderLight’s International Program.

Standard

$38.00

Special Pricing

Students, Veterans, Seniors (65+)

$34.00

Binge on Fringe Packages

Binge-on-fringe packs are flexible! Use packs however you like—see multiple shows, share with friends, or spread them across days. Ticket packs offer up to 20% savings per ticket and are valid for Fringe performances only.

4-Pack

$60.00

8-Pack

$112.00

12-Pack

$156.00

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BOX OFFICE

Online

Explore this season’s shows above and purchase tickets or ticket packs online in advance. After ordering, you’ll receive an email confirmation with your electronic tickets, which can be shown at the door on your phone or as a printed copy.

By Phone

Box office support will be available May 6 – July 11 by leaving a message at
216-356-6485.

In-Person

From July 8-11, tickets can be purchased
at our main box office at the City Club of Cleveland (1317 Euclid Ave, 44115)

Hours:
Wed. 7/8 | 2:00 - 9:00 PM
Thu. 7/9 | 3:00 - 9:45 PM
Fri. 7/10 | 3:00 - 9:45 PM
Sat. 7/11 | 12:00 PM - 8:45 PM

Additional Box office notes:

The following venues will also be available for ticket sales one hour before show times:

The Hermit Club at 1629 Dodge Court and the Theatre & Arts Building at CSU at 1901 E. 13th Street.

 

Free Shows: Most free performances that are inside a venue require advance registration due to limited seating. Check the show page to see if registration is required. Walk-up seating may be available, but registered guests are admitted first.