Fringe organisers say the millionth ticket was sold at 10.01pm last night, with the final tally coming in at 1,000,916

The total box office value was $25.17 million, with $23.9 million to be paid out to artists and venues across the event featuring 1280 shows, more than 6000 artists and over 1900 sold-out performances.

The Fringe recorded more than three million attendances across the season, with the average for a sold house landing at just under 43 per cent.

Adelaide Fringe Director and CEO Heather Croall said organisers were “thrilled to have had the season we’ve just witnessed, selling one million tickets in a national first at any event or festival is an accolade that South Australians can proudly claim”.

“I’d like to thank the Adelaide Fringe team who have worked tirelessly this season to make Fringe happen,” she said.

“I must also extend a massive thanks to our generous partners, our incredible volunteers and every single person who attended Fringe and made it the record-breaking season it was.”

The 2023 season also saw the introduction of Donation Day, where the first $20,000 raised on March 1 through donations to the Adelaide Fringe Foundation were matched by Lumo Energy SA and Novatech Creative Technologies.

The fundraiser surpassed its goal of $40,000, raising $41,412 to help artists present their work, buy tickets for communities who experience disadvantage and to make Fringe experiences as welcoming and accessible as possible.

London Calling received the 2023 “Pick of the Fringe” award. Photo: supplied.

Adelaide Fringe shows were judged by a panel of arts industry leaders with awards being allocated each week within a range of categories. The overall seasonal winners were announced on March 17, with London Calling receiving the 2023 ‘Pick of the Fringe’ award.

Arts minister Andrea Micheals said South Australia had again proven itself one of the world’s greatest festival cities.

“The Adelaide Fringe is iconic and the second largest arts festival in the world and now, for it to become the first Australian event to ever sell one million tickets, well and truly cements our reputation as the arts capital of Australia,” she said.

“This is an incredible accolade for our state as well as for the Adelaide Fringe and I congratulate Heather and her team as well as all of the artists for smashing their box office record.”