A Variety Show for Humans,
with Robots
Robot Fringe 2026 is the opportunity to explore experimental, bold and creative ideas at the Internal Conference on Social Robotics ICSR+ART 2026. We welcome experimental performances, particularly as they relate to human, robot, and cyborg relationships.
Robot Fringe is inspired by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival that includes theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, musicals, opera, music, or spoken word, and which was established in 1947 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Edinburgh Fringe gave rise to a worldwide tradition of “fringe” or “off” festivals, promoting small-scale, experimental and non-traditional performances.
The word robot originates in Karel Čapek’s 1920 theatre play R.U.R. Rossum’s Universal Robots, so it was time to establish a Robot Fringe Festival.
We invite artists, roboticists, and interdisciplinary practitioners to present their performance work with robots. We welcome your submissions for short sets (3 min to 25 min) of comedy, cabaret, dance, musical, theatre or interactive installations, and of course, featuring robots in any capacity. We will curate the program of a variety show.
Submissions close on 15 March 2026.
The program will be announced on 15 April 2026.
About the Organisers
Dr. Heather Knight
Dr. Piotr Mirowski
Robot Fringe 2026 will take place at the Senate House, part of the University of London, in the heart of central London. The performances take place in the Main Conference Hall (Beveridge Hall).
The venue is within walking distance of many of the city’s main attractions and stations. Russell Square, Goodge Street, Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Euston Square, and Warren Street stations are all nearby, providing connections by Underground, bus, and national rail services, including Euston and King’s Cross St Pancras.