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Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2026

Edinburgh Fringe

  • Start date

    August 7, 2026 9:00 am

  • End date

    August 31, 2026

At venues across Edinburgh
🎟️ Tickets and listings via edfringe.com

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Every August, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe transforms the city into the world’s biggest celebration of arts and performance. For three vibrant weeks, thousands of artists from around the globe fill theatres, pubs, streets and pop-up venues with comedy, theatre, music, cabaret, circus, dance, improv, children’s shows and everything in-between.

“The Fringe is open-access, meaning anyone can take part — which gives the festival its unmatched energy and unpredictability. From household names and TV favourites to breakthrough talent and experimental newcomers, the programme spans every genre and every taste.”

Edinburgh Fringe Key Info & Box Office

  • Website: https://www.edfringe.com
  • X Account: https://x.com/edfringe
  • Box Office Phone: +44 (0)131 226 0026
  • Email: info@edfringe.com
  • Info Centre: Fringe Box Office & Shop, 180 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1QS
  • Tickets: Available online, via the Fringe App, in person, or at self-service ticket hubs across the city.

Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Shows To Have On Your Radar

The full Edinburgh Fringe programme runs to thousands of shows, so this isn’t a complete list. Think of it as a quick starting point if you want a few bigger names, returning favourites and useful first picks before digging through the full guide.

ShowTypeVenue / PromoterDate(s)Why It Stands Out
Wanging On: Live with Graham and MariaLive podcast / comedyKing’s Theatre7 August 2026Graham Norton and Maria McErlane bring their podcast to the stage for one night at the Fringe.
Jack Dee: Jack’s Joke ShowComedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026Jack Dee returns with a show built around 40 years of jokes, stories and stand-up.
David O’Doherty: At This StageComedy / musicAssembly FestivalAugust 2026Songs, chatter and low-key chaos from one of the Fringe’s most familiar comedy names.
Mike Wozniak: The BenchComedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026A new stand-up show from the Taskmaster and Three Bean Salad regular.
Jason Byrne: 30 Years of Stand-UpComedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026A Fringe regular marking three decades of live comedy.
Making Love with David MagidoffImprov / musical comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026Live interviews with guests turned into an improvised musical. Listed guests include Fran Healy and Rosie Jones.
StamptownComedy / clowning / cabaretAssembly FestivalAugust 2026An anarchic late-night show led by Zach Zucker, mixing clowning, cabaret and comedy.
YUCK Circus: NaughtiesCircus / comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026High-energy circus with a 2000s pop theme, from a returning Fringe favourite.
Margaret Thatcher Queen of HollywoodDrag musical / comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026A new show from the team behind Margaret Thatcher Queen of Soho.
Brian BilstonSpoken word / comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026The popular comic poet brings a new show about reading, writing and poetry.
SwamplesqueBurlesque / drag / comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026A returning Fringe show inspired by a very familiar green ogre.
Lady Boys of Bangkok: Full Moon TourCabaret / varietyTheatre Big TopAugust 2026A long-running Fringe favourite with cabaret, choreography and comedy.
Cray Cray CabaretCabaret / comedy / circusThe Voodoo RoomsAugust 2026Hosted by Phil Nichol and David Tims, with stand-up, music and circus.
Edinburgh Comedy AllstarsMixed-bill comedyUnderbellyFridays and SaturdaysA late-night mixed bill featuring different comedians across the Fringe.
Best of the FestMixed-bill comedyAssembly FestivalAugust 2026A simple way to see several comedy acts in one sitting.

Audiences can browse the latest EdFringe shows across hundreds of Edinburgh venues, including

  • The Pleasance
  • Underbelly
  • Gilded Balloon
  • Assembly
  • Summerhall
  • The Stand
  • and dozens of smaller spaces hidden throughout the city.

Whether you’re after late-night comedy, critically-acclaimed theatre, bold spoken-word, family shows, or street performers on the Royal Mile, the Edinburgh Fringe festival offers something every day, at every hour.

Key EdFringe Programme Areas:

  • Comedy: Stand-up, sketch, satire, and big-name comics test new material.
  • Theatre: New writing, classic adaptations, contemporary experimental works.
  • Cabaret & Variety: Burlesque, drag, circus, magic, cabaret and physical performance.
  • Music: Singer-songwriters, jazz, folk, classical, world music and late-night gigs.
  • Children & Family: Interactive shows, workshops, storytelling and daytime theatre.
  • Dance, Circus & Physical Theatre: Acrobatics, contemporary dance and movement-based work.
  • Free Fringe: Dozens of shows daily on a pay-what-you-want basis.

Notable Fringe Names Past & Present

  • Daniel Sloss
  • Fern Brady
  • The Lady Boys of Bangkok
  • Myra Dubois
  • Austentatious
  • Showstopper! The Improvised Musical
  • Sh!t-Faced Shakespeare
  • The Magnets
  • Frank Skinner
  • Lee Evans
  • Steve Coogan


burlesqueCabaretDancingEdFringeFolk Music in EdinburghJazzStand-up Comedy in Edinburghstorytellingworkshops