We're delighted to announce the recipients of the 2026 Keep it Fringe fund. This important initiative was launched in 2023 by Fringe Society honorary President Phoebe Waller-Bridge and supports artists who may face financial barriers in bringing work to the festival. This year, 402 applications were received for an initial £30,000 of available support. Following the launch announcement, further donations have increased the funding available to £40,000.
In 2026 the Fringe Society has been delighted to receive donations from actress Miriam Margolyes, the Williamson family, and James Seabright, who pledged support in 2024 for new theatre in recognition of 25 years of producing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We are also grateful to Cheez-It for its donation via a fundraising partnership with the Co-op. The Keep it Fringe fund has gained significant interest since its inception and is now in need of further financial support to ensure the Fringe Society is able to sustain it in future years.
The shows that have received Keep it Fringe funding explore a range of topics, including club culture, nostalgia, PTSD, declining seaside towns, moving back in with your parents, hypnosis, eating disorders, declining journalistic standards and growing up in the shadow of the British Empire, with companies and artists spanning the cabaret, comedy, musical, spoken word and theatre categories in the Fringe programme. 43% of the successful applicants identify as disabled or have a health condition, and more than 30% come from a working-class background.
Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘We recognise the significance of the Keep it Fringe fund and the number of applications this year demonstrates how important it has become. We know that bringing work to Edinburgh comes at significant cost, and Keep it Fringe goes a long way to helping artists bridge the gap.
We are extremely grateful to Miriam, James, the Williamson family and Cheez-It for their kind donations to this year’s fund. We are busy working on fundraising to ensure Keep it Fringe continues in 2027 and beyond and would encourage anyone able to support us in this work to reach out to us.'
The Fringe Society hopes to continue the Keep it Fringe fund for as long as possible and is actively seeking new funding and donations to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fund. Donations can be made here, and updates will be provided as the project progresses.
The successful recipients of the Keep it Fringe Fund 2026 are these shows (alphabetical):
- Abbie Edwards: Knee Touch
- Crush
- Ele McKenzie: Bringing It All Back Home
- Fantasy World Adventures Mega Park! The Musical
- Giraffe
- Half-Time
- hame. teeth. CLUB
- The Hypnotist & Mind Reader Live
- Mothman: A Romance Musical
- One Dog One Nutter – PTSD to Pleasure
- paywall
- The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness
- A Simply Beastly Murder
- SLAY
- Target Audience
- The Wreck
As wider show information becomes available, full information will be listed on our website.
