OffFest 2026 nominations announced, spotlighting UK festival theatre beyond London
OffWestEnd has announced the 2026 OffFest nominations, recognising standout theatre productions first presented at fringe festivals across the UK. The awards will be presented alongside the OffWestEnd Awards on 30 March at Central Hall, Westminster.
Established in 2019, OffFest operates as the festival arm of the OffWestEnd Awards, addressing a structural gap in theatre recognition. While the Offies focus on productions staged in London, OffFest acknowledges work that premieres at festivals, where runs are often short, budgets limited and visibility fleeting, despite the artistic ambition involved.
This year’s nominations draw from the Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Camden Fringe and Voila! Festival. Together they reflect a wide spectrum of practice, from established organisations such as the National Theatre of Scotland and Handspring Puppet Company to early-career artists developing new work within festival conditions.
The range of nominated productions underlines the role festivals continue to play as testing grounds for form, scale and subject matter. Many shows recognised through OffFest have previously gone on to extended lives in OffWestEnd venues, national touring circuits and, in some cases, the West End.
Including Voila! Festival again allows OffFest to acknowledge work made by international artists and productions presented in languages other than English, expanding the geographical and cultural reach of the awards beyond UK borders.
The OffFest winners will be announced as part of the main OffWestEnd Awards ceremony on 30 March at Central Hall, Westminster, hosted by Divina De Campo. The event brings together recognition for London-based independent theatre and work that begins its life elsewhere, reinforcing the idea that the sector’s ecology stretches far beyond the capital.
A full list of OffFest 2026 nominees, grouped by festival, is available here.
Elena Leo is the Culture & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.
