the first batch of shows to be staged at the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been revealed. All shows will be available to view on edfringe.com from noon today.
The 351 shows span every genre of the Fringe programme, including theatre, circus, cabaret and variety, comedy, physical theatre, dance, children’s shows, music, musicals and spoken word. The shows announced today collectively hail from 24 countries and will take place at 70 venues across the city.
More shows will be announced on Wednesday 01 April and Wednesday 06 May, while the official programme launch takes place on Thursday 04 June.
More shows than ever are going on sale this February, and audience members are encouraged to start compiling their favourite shows and book early to support artists in the run-up to this year’s festival.
Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: ’The first show reveal is such an exciting moment in the Fringe calendar, especially in the tail-end of a cold, dark Scottish winter – it’s such a joy to remember that we have this incredible festival to look forward to!
‘I feel tremendously energised by the variety of work that’s on offer at this early stage, and I’d like to encourage everyone who loves the Fringe to browse through today’s shows and book one thing, immediately, that excites you. I promise, it’ll give the next few months an added buzz of anticipation.’
Below is a small representative sample of shows available to book from today. The full list of shows so far can be found at edfringe.com from 12:00.
Cabaret
Sexy Circus Sideshow 3.0 at Assembly features ‘exotic acts that connect the underbelly of circus with the dark arts of fetish, burlesque and cabaret performance’, while Hot Flush – A Bold, We’re Old(ish) Burlesque Show (The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club) is a ‘bold, unapologetic burlesque show [that] celebrates performers aged 40+ reclaiming space, visibility and power.’
‘In the elegant surroundings of George Street’s Le Monde venue, singer and award-winning writer Angela Jackson explores the highs and lows of romantic love, through the sublime songs of Julie London, the wisdom of history’s greatest thinkers, and the wit of iconic screenwriting legend Nora Ephron’ in When Harry Met Sally Met Julie Met Jazz Met Kierkegaard Met Jung Met Lovely Johnny Marr. Meanwhile, Arthur Hull’s FLOP! The Best Songs From The Worst Musicals is at Gilded Balloon, featuring ‘a motley assortment of the misunderstood, critically panned and financially catastrophic musical misfires, including forgotten gems and pleas for redemption!’
An Insomniac's Dreams is ‘a comedic storytelling and variety hour by a psycho grunge babe’ at Greenside – expect ‘silly songs, dances, slideshows, characters and sketches, paired with costumes, impressions and an explosion of sexual awakenings, audience participation, absurd stories and a sprinkle of Irish dancing.’
‘Drawing on his own experiences of growing up with autism and ADHD, Angus finds new ways – and new tricks – to show us how we spend so much of our life hiding who we really are and how “dropping the mask” can often make us feel better’ in Unmasked – The Magic of Angus Baskerville (theSpaceUK). Britain’s Got Talent alum Arron Jones stages his #1 Greatest Hit Rock'n'Roll Magic Show at PBH's Free Fringe, ‘performing a trick so face-meltingly good that it soars to #1 in the official UK singles chart’. Over at Pleasance, Fringe veteran Colin Cloud blends ‘jaw-dropping mentalism with sharp psychological insight’ in Colin Cloud: Hoax. And mind reader Max Davidson brings his show Strangers to Just the Tonic, performing feats ‘from guessing your phone passwords and your childhood memories, to stopping his own heart beat – each night is its own unique creation, because it's made up of the audience's thoughts.’
Children’s shows
‘Back by poop-ular demand! Fringe family favourites since 2008, The Listies return [to Assembly] with 110% Ready – a comedy disaster movie about the morning routine.’
The SEND Bubble Show (Just the Tonic) by Ray Bubbles promises ‘a whirlwind of excitement as Ray uses various gases to craft stunning bubble sculptures, effects and magical displays’. The show is ‘inspired by Ray's work with special schools and... suitable for children, and adults, with additional needs’.
‘Packed with great songs, big energy, and barrels of fun,’ A Pirate Adventure! at theSpaceUK is a ‘brand-new family show... perfect for little pirates at the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe!’
Comedy
Sounds Queer to Me (Greenside) is ‘a hybrid between stand-up comedy and musical theatre [that’s] filled with dramatic irony, humorous coincidence and poignant introspection’. Alastair Clark: On The Record is at PBH's Free Fringe, sharing ‘stories from a near decade working behind the counter of an independent record shop’ – and performed in an actual independent record shop. In Golden Child at Just the Tonic, Irene Woo ‘explores the golden handcuffs of the tech world, the cultural whiplash of being a French-Chinese woman in America and the baffling logic of modern relationships’.
Cabaret character Frank Sanazi brings two shows to Le Monde this year: A Little Bit of History Re-Putin is ‘a full-on comedy attack to Edinburgh's front line through witty songs and comic banter, while Unleashed promises ‘rarely performed tracks from his albums and outrageous dark cabaret guest acts’.
Richard Pulsford brings two shows to this year’s Fringe: Gold Fashioned Jokes at Scottish Comedy Festival promises ‘quality one-liners, puns and light-hearted jokes’, while Yorkshire Dad, Immigrant Mum at Hoots is ‘a nostalgic dive into his parents’ past as he tries to understand what made them who they were, and therefore discover who he is’.
Further flying the flag for Scottish talent at the Fringe are Susie McCabe: Coming of Rage (Assembly), Connor Burns: FLOW (Playhouse and Just the Tonic), Daniel Sloss: BITTER (Playhouse) and Craig Hill: You're Not Even Safe Up the Back! (Just the Tonic).
Other familiar Fringe faces include Christopher Hall: Pizazz (Gilded Balloon); Ania Magliano: Peach Fuzz (pictured), Sofie Hagen: I Think Some Of This Is My Fault and Lara Ricote: INKLING (all Monkey Barrel Comedy); Rosie Jones: I Can't Tell What She's Saying and Sophie Duker: Hot Beef Injection (both Pleasance); and Geoff Norcott: Basic Bloke 2 – There's No Bloke Without Fire and Jack Rooke: Good Grief (both Underbelly).
Dance, physical theatre and circus
SAND at Summerhall follows ‘Dylan and Heather as they navigate the complexities of living with dementia’ in ‘a non-verbal circus theatre show that blends acrobatic skill with meticulously crafted storytelling’.
‘Dance Base’s two in-house companies PRIME (for over 60s) and Lothian Youth Dance Company (for 14–21-year-olds) come together to explore the pressures we all face’ in Common Ground (Assembly @ Dance Base).
‘Using only visual storytelling, dance and acrobatics,’ Box [M] at theSpaceUK ‘explores the experience of growing up transgender in an Asian American immigrant household, and the connection between siblings each navigating their own relationship to gender’.
‘Set in a smoky train station and driven by an unforgettable rock’n’roll soundtrack,’ Black Blues Brothers: Let's Twist Again! returns to Underbelly, promising ‘jaw-dropping acrobatics, towering human pyramids and gravity-defying stunts’.
At Ceilidhs (Scottish Dancing) at St Cuthbert's Church, Fringe-goers can expect ‘an authentic Scottish experience in a historic church, with dance teacher and caller Ken Gourlay, and a ceilidh band’.
Flamenco performer Daniel Martinez presents two shows in two different genres at YOTEL Edinburgh this year. In the Dance section, Flamenco Fringe features Daniel alongside ‘sensational singers, Inma Montero and Danielo Olivera; skilful percussionist Julian Ticotico, and three spectacular dancers: Gabriela Pouso, Jara Perez and Maria Insa’...
Music
... while in the Music section, Daniel Martinez – The Best of My Music (YOTEL Edinburgh) ‘showcases music from his acclaimed productions, alongside never-before-heard pieces from his forthcoming album Al Compás del Querer’.
Fringe-goers are invited to ‘boogie through time with 100% BANGERS from 1970-2026’ in Hot Dub Time Machine Presents House Party (Assembly).
Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret (theSpaceUK) is ‘an award-winning hour of lost wartime knitting songs’, originally created during the World Wars as women knitted for the soldiers.
Head to Dynamic Earth for Cabaret with Pitchcraft, ‘an a cappella choir renowned for our original arrangements and engaging performances,’ and get involved in directing the setlist in real time.
Claude Bourbon – Progressive Blues is at The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club, 'a breathtaking acoustic fusion of blues, classical and Spanish guitar from a stunning guitar virtuoso' (Altadena News).
Jazz at Lunchtime (Novotel) promises a ‘saxophone and piano duo playing high-quality melodic jazz in a comfortable, intimate jazz club setting’.
Edinburgh’s churches once again host a wide variety of music performances at the Fringe. ‘Gerry Magee and Dave Sim, two Scottish guitarists at the top of their game, [bring] their virtuoso playing to the Edinburgh Fringe’ in Solea – An Afternoon of Guitar at St Vincent's. In The Song of the Ice at artSpace@StMarks, ‘climate signals, ice quakes and earth history from leading scientists [inspire] innovative music, stunning animation and beautiful images of Antarctica's ice sheet – a personal response to polar history and environmental change’. Marchmont Music (Blackford and Grange Church) is ‘a series of free concerts from up-and-coming musicians at the Marchmont Hub of on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm throughout the Fringe’. New Zealand pianist Charles Whitehead performs two shows at Edinburgh New Town Church: Piano Masterworks 2026 ‘presents a fascinating, new programme of Romantic and early 20th-century solo works,’ while Swingin' Solo Jazz Piano 2026 promises ‘a unique mix of standards and styles with a distinctive musical voice’. Voices of Lions (Old Saint Paul's Church) ‘is an outstanding male voice choir of 60 young singers... They have a wide repertoire and present music from many different genres, including show tunes, spirituals, traditional songs and barbershop’. And I Am a Pilgrim: The Story of American Gospel Music (Ps & Gs Church) is an ‘enlightening and soul-stirring performance [featuring] members of the Wallace State Community College Fine and Performing Arts Department in Hanceville, Alabama’.
There are also a wide range of tribute shows across the festival, including Stevie Nicks – The Gypsy That I Was (Frankenstein Pub), ABBA Odyssey – The Live Concert! (Greyfriars Hall at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh), Amy – Tears Dry on Their Own (Le Monde), The Rising – A Tribute to Springsteen and The E Street Band (The Liquid Room) and Material Girl: Madonna The Icon (theSpaceUK).
Musicals and opera
‘Inspired by personal experiences with bipolar disorder, Bipolarcoaster (theSpaceUK) is a one-woman play about finding freedom on the other side of uncomfortable self-awareness.’
Following ‘a brand-new girl band, a hotshot manager and a struggling songwriter, GIRLZ (Gilded Balloon) unfolds over one tumultuous year, [exploring] the personal struggles and agonising choices faced in pursuit of success’.
‘Watch the prince as he faces a genie, princesses and his own self-aggrandisement as he must come to terms with what it really means to be a Charming prince’ in Charming! The Musical at Just the Tonic.
Possessive! The Musical! (St Vincent's) is ‘a demonic possession pop-punk comedy musical about learning to value the family you have, rather than the ‘perfect’ one you want’.
‘Inspired by the works of Horrible Histories (but for adults) using song, parody and real historical fact,’ Burke'n'Hare: Let The Bodies Hit The Floor is at PBH's Free Fringe.
‘Where fairy godfathers rule and happy endings come at a cost, this hilarious, razor-sharp tale rewrites the concept of happily ever after’ – it’s Bliss at Pleasance.
At Assembly, a revival of Dear Evan Hansen makes its Fringe debut, following ‘a teenager whose small lie spirals into something life-changing’.
Spoken word
‘Join Eileen as she rummages through a hundred years’ worth of possessions that have accumulated in her loft’ in Loft Clearance at theSpaceUK.
Theatre
Shotgunned (Assembly) ‘is a relatable and intimate piece of theatre about how the people we lose can shape who we become’.
JOSIAH (theSpaceUK) is ‘based on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, [he endured] 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada.’
The Yellow Wallpaper (Greenside) is a psychological thriller that ‘follows Jane, a 19th-century woman suffering from postpartum depression, and her husband John, who prescribes her “the rest cure”, the era’s leading treatment for “female hysteria”’.
‘Based on the life of Simon Wiesenthal, who survived the Holocaust and devoted the rest of his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice,’ Wiesenthal is at Gilded Balloon.
Trainspotting Live returns to Pleasance at EICC for its tenth Fringe season, inviting audiences to become ‘part of the action, including the notorious “worst toilet in Scotland” scene’.
‘From illicit distilling and family enterprise to innovation and global success,’ The Grants of Glen Grant (Braw Venues @ Hill Street) is ‘a lively musical play telling the true story of the Grant family of Rothes, founders of the world-renowned Glen Grant distillery’.
‘Comedians Carly Anna Billings (The Second City Toronto) and Cecilia O'Grady will take you back in time as the Wolf Sisters, two founders of American Spiritualism on the road, sharing their gifts of spirit and sisterhood when everything goes awry’ in A Seance Spectacular with the Mystical Medium Wolf Sisters from the Great White North (Just the Tonic).
At St Ninian's Hall, ‘Cluedo is brought to life in this fast-moving stage whodunnit packed with secrets, suspicion and dark humour!’
‘Part ceilidh, part storytelling, and a good night out, Tether (Summerhall) is a bold new collaboration between Scotland's Wonder Fools and South Korea's Theatre SAN. Spanning 60 years and three generations, the piece weaves folk songs, love letters and war stories into a shared experience of music and memory.’
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from 07 – 31 August 2026. Tickets from noon at edfringe.com
