2026 was an amazing year for talent within SD Fringe: Dramatic monologues, over-the-top cabarets, clowns, dancers, artists, and even singing bards with blades – we had it all! Take a look at our outstanding winners from SD Fringe ’26. Thank you to everyone who joined us to support the arts, and thank you to all the performers for sharing your magical imaginations with San Diego!

TOP HONORS

Don Toberman: Ping-Pong Champ
Moonlight Theater Company

Winner of:

Best of the Fest

Artists’ Pick

Outstanding Comedy

Fringe Italia Tour Ready Award (Italy)

Lagos Fringe Tour Ready Award (Nigeria)!

Outstanding Production

Oops
Olivia Rain Atwood

Audience Favorite

Bards with Blades
Poway Shakespeare

Critics’ Pick

My Precious! The Cabaret
Morgan Palmer

Beth Accomando’s Fringe Geek Show Pick

MAN.
Party Favor Productions

Fringe of the Fringe

SIMMER
Golden Corpse

Category Awards

Outstanding Comedy
Don Toberman: Ping-Pong Champ
Moonlight Theater Company

Outstanding Drama
Alisha’s Light – Forever 57
Alisha Richard

Outstanding Dance Performance
Anaadi – The Eternal Flow
Abinaya Arts Academy

Outstanding Musical Performance
Life is a Drag
Dean Misdale

Outstanding World Premiere
The Fairy Tale Monologues
Riot Productions

Outstanding Storytelling
Searching for Robert Hennessey
Michael-Shaun Hennessey

Performance awards

Outstanding Actor
Morgan Palmer
My Precious! The Cabaret

Outstanding Solo Performance
The Wickie
Richie Whitehead

Outstanding Ensemble Performance
Re:Re:Reincarnation
Theatre Group GUMBO

Tour Ready Awards

Fringe Italia Tour Ready Award (Italy)
Don Toberman: Ping-Pong Champ
Moonlight Theater Company

Sydney Fringe Tour Ready Award (Australia)
Theater Group GUMBO

Fringe World Tour Ready Award (Perth, Australia)

Just To Be Close To You
Lagos Fringe Tour Ready Award (Nigeria)
Don Toberman: Ping-Pong Champ