While debate rages about the Sydney’s future as an culture-friendly city, The Sydney Fringe Festival, New South Wales’ largest independent arts festival, kicks off this week, promising a month-long celebration of creativity with over 400 events and 12 festival hubs across the city.

Running until 30 September, the festival brings together an array of performances spanning theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual art, circus, and cabaret.

The festival’s launch is marked by a series of shows at the Spiegeltent Festival Garden and the newly expanded Village Green Festival Garden. A one-night-only live concert at Sydney Place featuring South Korean underground sensation MEMI kicks off the event.

At the Village Green Festival Garden in Darling Quarter, audiences can enjoy four full weeks of comedy, drag, and circus performances. Noteworthy acts include the musical comedy duo Otto & Astrid, and Something Wicked, a burlesque show featuring death-defying acts by international and award-winning artists.

Meanwhile, the Spiegeltent Festival Garden at the Entertainment Quarter hosts triple Grammy award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir and the all-new concert Hope, celebrating South African freedom songs.