Delft, Sunday 8 June - For the past two weeks, the whole of Delft has been transformed into a stage. From windmill to living room and from boulder hall to yoga studio. At 30 locations in the city, 28 makers played their performances. From surprising premieres to moving performances and wonderful encounters: we enjoyed ourselves. On Sunday 8 June, the Delft Fringe Festival closed with the presentation of the audience award. Visitors left their votes and chose the winner: Clé Delphi and Isa Zwart of Collective Teder with the performance Cornflakes, No Pornflakes!
Cornflakes, no pornflakes
Collective Tender makes feminist musical theatre. Their performance Cornflakes, No Pornflakes explores the taboos surrounding sexuality and pleasure: "We push the boundaries of the discussable and expose the impact of sexual taboos." Tamara Griffioen, artistic director Delft Fringe Festival: "Collective Teder manages to approach personal and vulnerable themes in a disarming way, discussing taboo topics with humour and accessibility. Their strong musicality, humour and sincere storytelling power took the audience effortlessly into their message."
The experiment gets a voice
Griffioen: "What is striking about the performances at this year's festival is that they often began with a question as a starting point, rather than a fixed observation: "We are all so busy, but why is that?", "I don't really feel like sex, what does that say about me?", or "I grew up without a father, where do I stand in the world?" The makers deliberately sought vulnerability and developed their performances based on thorough research. They delved into their own family history, asked taboo-breaking questions and drew inspiration from their own experiences, memories and struggles in life."
Farewell festival director
On the eve of this festival edition director Roel Funcken announced that this will be his last festival. He will hand over his position at the end of December 2025: "It is with pride that I look back on the 14th edition of the Delft Fringe Festival. In all respects, the festival has grown again this year, with plenty of space for makers with the most current and urgent themes and audiences who had plenty to talk to each other to give words to what they saw. I could not have wished for a nicer final edition. With enormous confidence in the team, I am handing over the Delft Fringe Festival later this year.
Winner Delft Chamber Music Festival Award
Besides the audience award, the Delft Chamber Music Festival Award was also traditionally presented. This year, this jury prize for young musical talent went to Jasperina Verheij with the performance The Bubbles of Babel, full of Babylonian confusions of speech, bursting bubbles and bubbling misunderstandings. Jeroen Walta, business director Delft Chamber Music Festival: "Jasperina's performance is intensely musical, has a tremendously high quality and gives everyone in the audience a different experience." Jasperina can be seen next year at the Delft Chamber Music Festival 2026.
Big themes, but recognisable
The makers at this year's Delft Fringe Festival did not shy away from big themes, such as loss, mourning, adoption, transgressive behaviour, mental health and polarisation. Themes that have been discussed in theatre for centuries, but on the other hand are still topical. The makers made the themes manageable with heart and soul without making it heavy. By enlarging it or making it very small, they ensured that the audience felt recognition despite the intense themes. It made for wonderful encounters and open conversations.
About Delft Fringe Festival
Delft Fringe Festival is a unique kickstarter in the artistic careers of new artists. For 15 years, the festival has been bursting into the city just before summer and for a fortnight you can enjoy cabaret, dance, music and more in living rooms, galleries, monuments and cafés. Anchored in the city, the festival brings together new creators and audiences in unexpected locations, using the city of Delft as a stage.
Edition 2026: 27 May to 7 June
Put it in your diary: the opening of the 15th edition of Delft Fringe Festival will take place on Wednesday 27 May 2026, at 7.30 pm, in Theater de Veste. Ticket sales for the opening will start on Wednesday 11 June at 18.00.
