Submissions for the Adelaide Fringe 2026 Poster Competition Now Open
The winning poster not only serves as the festival’s visual signature, but also pockets the designer a cool $10,000.
Image Carl Vester
Submissions are now open for the annual Adelaide Fringe 2026 poster competition.
Artists across all disciplines are invited to take part in the famed Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition (enter here), which has been running since 1974.
Not only will the winning design serve as the festival’s visual signature and be seen across the state and nation, but the artist will pocket a cool $10,000 cash prize thanks to sponsor Lumo Energy.
This year’s theme is “The Simple Pleasures”, with organisers asking artists to celebrate the small things that make the Fringe great. As the press release states, this could be “a ticket to something you’ve never heard of before. A backstreet, a goosebump, a bit of glitter that lingers longer than expected. The simple, serendipitous, sometimes sparkly pleasures that swirl together to create something bigger than a festival.”
While the cash prize is no doubt an incentive, the winning artist also receives free registration to host their own exhibition at Adelaide Fringe 2026.
This is a great opportunity for emerging or established artists to exhibit their work while also having their winning design emblazoned across South Australia on everything from posters and Fringe merch to Adelaide trams and all over the Fringe website.
This year’s winner will join a long list of respected local artists, including Mali Ward, Pro Hart, Michael Atchison and Driller Jet Armstrong.
Director and CEO of Adelaide Fringe, Heather Croall AM, said, “The Poster Competition is a deeply loved tradition at Adelaide Fringe. It represents more than just an image—it captures the heart of the festival. This year’s theme, ‘The Simple Pleasures’, celebrates the unexpected moments that build into extraordinary memories. We look forward to seeing how artists around the world interpret that spirit in their work.”
Submissions for this year’s Adelaide Fringe Poster Competition close at 11:59pm local time on Saturday 17 August. Artists can find out more details and enter the competition via adelaidefringe.com.au.
