Today, 07 August 2026, is the official start of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which will run until Monday 31 August. The Edinburgh Fringe has a vision to give anyone a stage and everyone a seat, and in 2026, 4,206 shows await audiences across 299 venues. With continued international interest and engagement in the world's most important cultural event, 74 countries, 14 country showcases, and four spotlight projects will be represented across the festival. Since the launch of the printed programme on 04 June, a further 553 shows have been registered and are discoverable on edfringe.com and in the official Fringe app.
With affordability an ongoing topical issue across the UK, this year the average ticket price at the Edinburgh Fringe is £13, in additional to models which include 440 free shows and 813 pay-what-you-want or pay-what-you-can shows, allowing audiences a variety of ways to experience the festival. Across the 4,206 shows, artists will undertake over 60,000 performances across the month.
The Fringe Street Events programme will run daily until 30 August from 11:00 across the Royal Mile and Mound Precinct, with world-class performers showcasing something for everyone throughout the day. Street Events audiences will have the opportunity to sample snacks from Official Snack Partner, Cheez-It, as well as enjoy a wider food and beverage offering within the Mound.
The Fringe Society will be supporting artists from Fringe Central, the new permanent home for the Festival Fringe, which opens officially on 07 August. Located on 6 Infirmary Street in the heart of the Old Town, artists will be able to access a packed programme tailored to help performers at any stage of their career. There will be a range of one-to-one support services, such as media and marketing advice, and free mental health and wellbeing support with Health in Mind.
To date, over 1,600 arts industry and media from 53 countries have formally accredited with the Fringe Society, including reviewers, editors, broadcasters and those seeking shows for onward touring, TV and film adaptation opportunities.
Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ‘I want to say a massive thank you to everyone in the Fringe Community – artists, venues, producers, promoters and the wider teams – who have worked tirelessly to bring this year’s Edinburgh Fringe to life. Without your creativity and commitment, the Fringe simply would not be what it is today.
'To everyone taking part, the key message is to enjoy this unique experience. The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the greatest spectacles of performing arts and culture, and you are the heart of it. This year we encourage audiences to Mix It Up and full jump into the kaleidoscopic variety of performances on offer. The best way to support all artists – from established names to those making their Fringe debut – is to buy a ticket and attend a show.’
We're grateful to the many partners, supporters, funders and sponsors this year. We would like to thank Cheez-It, The Magnum Ice Cream Company, Edinburgh Gin, Baillie Gifford, Cirrus Logic, Apex Bars & Events, Binks Trust, Bloomberg Philanthropies, PPL, EventScotland, VisitScotland, and Young Start – The National Lottery Community Fund.
We would also like to thank the UK Government, Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks and the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund for their support of Fringe Central. The Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council for strategic funding support, the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund support for the Made in Scotland programme; and Screen Scotland for supporting Screen Fringe.
The Fringe Society works with accommodation partners who provide much-needed affordable accommodation to artists – they would like to thank Queen Margaret University, the University of Edinburgh and Theatre Digs Booker.
Below is a small representative sample of shows and unique venues that have been registered since the launch of the Edinburgh Fringe programme on 04 June 2026. The full list of shows at this year’s festival can be found at edfringe.com.
New show additions
At the Parliament Arms by Good Egg Comedy, audiences with ‘big bairns’ can see ‘local comedians performing top quality material’ in Bring Yer (Big) Bairn Comedy Show. Also at The Parliament Arms, Mathew Hayhow is on a ‘one-man mission to put a stop to disabled people’ being seen as ‘brave, inspirational role models,' in Matthew Hayhow: Bring Out The Gimp.
Within ‘an immersive theatre experience spanning six decades of one man’s life’, audiences can enjoy CAI – Cadence of Altered Illusions at the University of Edinburgh Informatics Forum.
Meanwhile, audiences can 'wake up dancing' by enjoying 7am Oboe Rave at Santu Coffee Roastery which will feature ‘baroque oboes, modern oboes, maybe even the odd crumhorn, colliding with huge EDM drops.’ Alternatively, teams of audience members can take part in Murder on the Mile at The Castle Rock Cafe, an interactive performance to ‘learn about eight of the Fringe's biggest venues, whilst solving a fun and exciting murder.’
In other unique venues such as The Baking Room at The Bakery, a former bakery and ice-cream workshop, will host BENCHES, a ‘disabled-led exhibition’. Over at the Exhibition Hall in Edinburgh Central Mosque, The Islam Festival Edinburgh returns to the Edinburgh Fringe to encourage audiences to ask 'burning questions about Islam'. Also Deaf Action at Blackwood Bar hosts a range of performances, such as Pray For Me, in which Sara Adedeji explores 'faith, Deafness and identity.' Also available through Deaf Action is Sign Slam, a 'variety and improvisation show that interacts with the audience' through 'creative contest challenges,' and The Librarians, in which 'Miss Book and Mr Page' uncover 'adventures hidden in their library of old books.'
In Leith at PBH's Free Fringe @ Central Youth Hostel, The Small Bright Things invites families to slow down and invites ‘little ones to crawl, explore and discover at their own pace through light, movement, puppetry and sound.’ The Flight of the Teddy Bears, also at PBH's Free Fringe @ Central Youth Hostel, invites the whole family into ‘a giant teddy bear fight adventure’. And over at Laughing Horse @ Brass Monkey Leith, audiences can enjoy a ‘handpicked selection of the best comedians’ in Leith Laughs – Pick of the Fringe.
