Say the name Milan, and what might immediately come to mind is one of the most important fashion centres in the world. If you are a football fan, you may think of the iconic San Siro stadium, home to sporting giants Inter Milan and AC Milan. Alternatively, the city-centre delights of the cathedral, galleries and La Scala opera house may not be too far from your thoughts.

Well, while all the above are true, Milan is home to so much more, of course. In the Navigli canal district there is a bustle of trattoria, bars, craft beer, aperitivo, marketplaces and art. A short stroll down Via Dante from the cathedral will lead you to a beautiful castle complex. Set aside the obvious culinary attractions: world-class red and white wines are made a short distance away. If you think Italian sparkling wine starts and ends with prosecco, sample the quite excellent and locally made franciacorta on offer. And then there’s the Milan Fringe.

Readers will be familiar with the gargantuan Edinburgh Fringe. They may have attended other large fringe festivals, such as Adelaide or Brighton. But Milan? Well, founded in 2016, it is now firmly established on the World Fringe circuit. While there is plenty for home audiences to enjoy, acts come from all around the planet. This year’s offering includes production companies from the USA, United Kingdom, India, Taiwan, France and Greece, lending it a truly international flavour.

Milan Fringe has its organisational epicentre at Mercato Isola but this year hosted shows at around 20 venues spread around the city. It is, of course, a large metropolis, and the distances involved in travelling from one point to another can be greater than at other fringes. However, Milan’s impressive network of metro, buses and trams – including its simply beautiful wooden trams – more than makes amends for any qualms.

The venues themselves have a quintessentially fringe dimension to them: amongst others, you encounter an art gallery, a school and a humanitarian society. It feels like a throwback to the roots and origins of fringe festivals and is quite charming.

Francesca Vitale and Renato Lombardo also organise the Catania Fringe (running until 26 October), a stone’s throw from the shores of the Mediterranean in Sicily. Already important and established events, the organisers’ stated ambition is to have them become truly international fringes.

Milan Fringe will celebrate its 10th anniversary in October 2026: stick it in your diary now.

Roger Kay, October 2025