Performance highlights announced for Ballina Fringe Festival 2025

Ballina Fringe Festival returns from October 3 to 12, bringing a surge of performance spectacle and community spirit to the town.

This year’s line-up of live shows promises to spark conversation, laughter and wonder, with three standout productions on the programme.

The festival opens on Friday, October 3, when The Dirty Circus takeover transforms The Cot & Cobble into a late-night cabaret lounge, with local drag queen Neon Love returning for another Ballina performance. Expect a riot of burlesque, comedy and music in what has become one of Ireland’s most daring, hilarious and unmissable nights out.

Meanwhile, Welcome to Megalithomania (Saturday, October 4) is set to capture imaginations with its playful, interactive exploration of north Mayo’s ancient stones and myths. Mixing performance, installation and audience participation, it invites audiences to see heritage in an entirely new way.

Musical act Sailing Stones, fresh from support for Gemma Hayes Live, plays a free, family friendly, daytime gig on Saturday, October 11, at Ballina Library. An evocative performer, her music is described as a blend of folk, indie-pop, and ethereal soundscapes, with influences ranging from Laurel Canyon folk, to electronic artists like Vangelis.

Festival director Susan Heffernan said: “These shows reflect what the Fringe is all about - bringing fresh ideas, new experience and exciting events you won’t find at other times of the year. We’re proud to stage them here in Ballina, where the festival always draws a strong and loyal audience that lifts the work.”

With venues across Ballina buzzing during the nine days of Fringe, the festival is set to draw audiences from across Mayo and beyond. Tickets are available now by visiting here.