New Fringe Central Gives Edinburgh Fringe a Permanent Home
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has revealed the first look at Fringe Central, its new permanent home at 6 Infirmary Street.
The former schoolhouse has been refurbished over the last 12 months and will now act as a year-round base for the Fringe Society team, as well as a support hub for artists, media, arts industry workers, and others involved in the Fringe.
Fringe Central will open to media and arts industry delegates from Wednesday, 5 August 2026, before opening to artists from Friday, 7 August 2026.
What Is Fringe Central?
Fringe Central is the new permanent home for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe community.
The name was previously used for the temporary artist, media, and industry hub that appeared during August. As of June 2026, it refers to a permanent building in the Old Town.
The new base gives the Fringe Society a fixed home after years of using temporary spaces during festival season.
Key Details At A Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Name | Fringe Central |
| Address | 6 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh |
| Opening to media and industry | Wednesday 5 August 2026 |
| Opening to artists | Friday 7 August 2026 |
| Building | Former schoolhouse |
| Main use | Fringe Society base and support hub |
| New features | Lift, Changing Places toilet, air source heat pumps |
What Has Changed?
The building has undergone a 12-month refurbishment, with the Fringe Society highlighting access and sustainability as two of its main priorities.
New features include:
- A new lift
- An accessible Changing Places toilet
- Air source heat pumps
- Updated spaces for Fringe participants and staff
- Refurbishment work designed to preserve the building’s character
The Fringe Society says it has also worked with nearby schools and community groups during the process, including Royal Mile Primary School, Sciennes Primary School, James Gillespie’s High School, Canongate Youth, and LGBT Youth Scotland.
Why It Matters For Edinburgh
This is more than an office move.
For years, Fringe Central was a temporary August-only setup. A permanent base gives the Fringe Society somewhere to support artists, venues, producers, media, and industry workers beyond the busiest weeks of the year.
That matters in a city where the Fringe is a huge part of August life, but also a year-round operation for many people working behind the scenes.
The location is also notable. Infirmary Street sits close to the Royal Mile, South Bridge, and several major Fringe areas, putting the new base within easy reach of many city centre venues.
Funding And Council Support
The project has received funding support from the UK Government through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund, and the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund.
The City of Edinburgh Council has also supported the project through a 99-year lease for the building.
Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said the move gives the Fringe a “welcoming space” for artists, producers, venues, residents, and other city stakeholders.
Our Take
This feels like a sensible move for the Fringe.
Edinburgh’s festival season can sometimes look effortless from the outside, but it relies on a huge amount of support work, planning, artist services, and industry coordination. Giving that work a permanent base in the Old Town makes sense.
The access upgrades are also worth noting. A Changing Places toilet and new lift are practical improvements, not token gestures, and they should make the building more usable for a wider range of people.
Source
More details are available from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society:
- First look of new Fringe Central (EdFringe.com)