The Pleasance has stood proudly at the centre of the Fringe community for 35 years and exists to champion great voices, ideas and experiences – an ethos that remains unchanged. Committed to supporting artists, the Pleasance will be refunding any deposits and marketing fees already paid by companies. As part of the communication with existing ticket holders, the Pleasance will be giving audiences the option to convert their tickets into donations that will be shared between the venue and performing company.

Anthony Alderson, Director of the Pleasance, says, Our primary concern is for public safety. In light of the current risk to public health, and with so much uncertainty about future risk, we firmly believe there is no alternative but to suspend any plans. We also want to avoid the significant financial liabilities that performers and visiting companies could have by going forward. I sincerely thank and congratulate all of those artists that have spent so long creating such incredible work. We truly hope that it has not been in vain. Our programme is curated with works that excite and challenge us – this remains the case. These artists continue to be part of the Pleasance family and, whether it is in London or Edinburgh, we would be delighted to continue discussing future opportunities. In time, when restrictions are lifted and life returns to a new kind of normality, we will reopen and once again capture that undefinable Fringe spirit that embodies all those who perform with us, work with us and visit us. Our London theatre’s doors will open as soon as we’re able and we will return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe galvanised within a renewed purpose. We will establish new ways to support artists and even better routes to help audiences discover them. We will thrill, amaze, provoke and entertain. We will persevere. We hope we can do this together."

The Underbelly statement: "For the past few weeks, in conjunction with the Fringe Society and all our festival partners, we’ve been working hard to explore all avenues to put on this summer’s festival. 

However, due to the continuing spread of the Coronavirus, the increasing threat to people’s health, and the potential need for an extended period of social distancing, we have taken the collective decision to suspend our 2020 programme as it stands.  

This means that as of today we will be taking shows off sale and automatically refunding any ticket purchases made for Underbelly at the Edinburgh Fringe 2020 less booking fees and charitable donations.

Whilst we are suspending our 2020 plans and fully supporting our artists’ withdrawal from this year’s Fringe, please be assured that we remain committed to returning fully in 2021. Underbelly has provided a stage for new and established artists at the world’s greatest arts festival for more than 20 years and we plan to do whatever we can to continue to do this in the future. 

We are very sad to have had to make this decision – particularly for the artists who have made such great work and for all those people for whom the festival is so important. 

We’ll be in touch once we have more news but for now, stay safe and look out for each other."

Free Festival Director Alex Petty has said this: "Here at Free Festival, we are also going to be cancelling all shows planned for August 2020, with most of these shows moving through to 2021.

I believe that is absolutely the best course of action to take for everyone, given the current situation with coronavirus and the way it looks like things are developing in the country and world. Trying to put shows on as soon as August in any great numbers would be wrong, being potentially harmful to the health of performers, staff and audiences. 

If social distancing rules are relaxed later in the year, be it in August or in the months beyond that Free Festival will then look at putting shows on in smaller numbers, if we and our venues feel that is what we should be doing - but that will depend entirely on where the county is with the virus and if we think it's safe to do so.

We've certainly got performers raring to go at short notice, and the full support of all of our Edinburgh Venues if it is safe to put on any performances.

In the meantime, Free Festival is in the process of taking some of our shows online, and we hope to be launching the online Free Festival around Easter time, with performers collecting donations online just like they would do in Edinburgh.

I do hope everyone stays safe and well over the coming months, and we look forward to Fringing again in 2021."

Nica Burns, director of Dave's Edinburgh Comedy Awards has also issued a statement: "Heartbreaking as it is, the announcement today of the cancellation of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2020 is carefully considered and responsible. Our health comes first.

The Dave’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards prides itself on discovering up and coming comedy talent at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In 2019 we judged over 650 different comedy shows. Many of our winners and nominees have gone onto achieve extraordinary heights on Stage, Radio, TV and Film.  

Standing alongside the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, we are hitting the pause button for 2020 and look forward to celebrating our 40th Awards in 2021 in what we believe will be a bumper year for comedy. 

During this unprecedented period of lockdown as you stay safely in your homes, you can still enjoy the very best talent Edinburgh has created as you find our nominees and winners online, on podcasts, on radio, on TV and of course on Dave.

Never have we needed laughter as much as we do today."