Guide to the Edinburgh Fringe

Hi everyone, Isabel here!

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the most famous cultural events in the world. Edinburgh festivals contributed more than £850m to Scottish economy in 2025.

However, its size may be intimidating for newcomers.

That’s why I asked Emma, the founder of FullHouse—whom I met at the Roundhouse Creative Business Accelerator—to create this handy guide, as she is an expert on the topic!

In the past editions of our roundups, we tried to include jobs and opportunities to freelance and volunteer with the festival as well. This guide is a gold-mine for all performing arts lovers (and those working within it).

• An intro to FullHouse: they know Fringe

• What to book right now, straight from the FullHouse team

• The venues and companies to know

• What started here, from Fleabag to Baby Reindeer

• Where to eat, drink, and sit down between shows

• What else to do in the city the other festivals on film, books etc

• Three tips before you go

• A space for you to find other friends attending, add recommendations and ask questions

There is truly nothing like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Every August, for three weeks the performing arts industry descends on the Scottish capital to perform in a whole manner of venues, big and small - traditional spaces and very much untraditional theatre spaces from university lecture halls, hotel conference spaces, backrooms of pubs, temporary circus tents to open air performances all over the city.

With more than 3,600 shows scheduled for 2026, here is a brief guide from the team at FullHouse on how to make the most of it…

FullHouse is a new website for theatre lovers - think IMDb meets Letterboxd for theatre. Part interactive digital programme, part diary, part archive. Track every show you see, leave reviews, explore full production credits, and follow the artists and venues you can’t wait to see again.

Created by big-time theatre nerds Emma Wiltshire, Molly Hands and Ellie Burbeary, who were tired of forgetting the names of artists they’d loved, losing track of shows they’d meant to recommend, and wishing there was somewhere to keep it all.

Every production builds a permanent record of who made it, what audiences thought, and where it goes next. Artists and audiences alike can view and contribute to the database, and discover what’s coming next in their city.

We’ll be at the Edinburgh Fringe for the whole month partnering with our favourite venue Summerhall. Come say hi or sign-up today at fullhouse.me

Naughty Cabaret, Friesian at Underbelly, Bristo Square

We are a bit (very) obsessed with this show. Two Norwegian clowns host a queer feminist cabaret, with a new line up of some of the best and weirdest acts every night. It’s one of our favourite shows every year and a great way to find more acts to go see the next day.

TO BE FRANK, Bunker Three at Pleasance Courtyard

Created and performed by our friend Michael Hockey, you’ll love Frank if you love comedy, wacky creatures (or even just like reading classics). We’d put our money on this becoming one of the shows everyone’s talking about - and we haven’t been wrong yet.

The Subplot: A Hyperfixation on the Titan Submersible, Former Womens Locker Room at Summerhall

If you, like us, were glued to social media and the news whilst this was happening we think this show may be for you. Exploring how far is too far when it comes to a hyperfixation, we think you will enjoy this if you have a dark and somewhat morbid sense of humour!

FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT, Studio Two at Assembly George Square Gardens

Four performers in drag take to the stage as the world’s biggest boyband on their last ever tour. It’s a satire of toxic dating culture with music bangers throughout, and we’re sitting front row. You don’t understand mum, he loves me!

See You Tomorrow, Sprout Studio at Greenside @ George Street

A dark story, based on true events, that explores the justice system when the unthinkable happens. The Fringe is known for artists turning their real lives into powerful art, and we think this show is a great example of this.

Glass Child, Old Lab at Summerhall

There’s so much more than comedy and stand-up at Fringe, and it’s worth exploring the dance & physical theatre programme at Summerhall. Glass Child tells an important, undertold story about how society perceives children with disabilities, following the relationship between Kayah (who has Down syndrome) and Maitreyah.

Since 1947 the Fringe has operated to the side of the Edinburgh International Festival. It started somewhat as a protest by 8 theatre companies turning up uninvited to the International Festival, but making the most of the ready-made theatre audiences already in the city.

There is no selection committee, meaning anyone can bring any kind of show and perform, finding their audiences as they go.

In terms of global ticketed events, the combination of the Edinburgh International festival and the Edinburgh Fringe is only beaten by the World Cup and the Olympics. If it wasn’t for The World Cup, it would be the biggest event this year.

While the festival has over 300 venues all given a number for ease in the brochure and venue map. Over the nearly 80 years of the fringe festival, the “Big Four” companies have emerged: Assembly, Underbelly, Pleasance & Gilded Balloon.

These are multi-venue companies that are some of the most recognisable parts of the fringe (for example - the bright purple cow-shaped tent of Underbelly). These venues host some huge names in the comedy and theatre worlds as well as showcasing newcomers and platforming them towards success.

Another venue known for its high quality and often London-transferred shows, is Summerhall. Formerly the University of Edinburgh’s Veterinary School and where you will find us from FullHouse - come say hi!

Other multi-space venues operate across the city, such as C Venues and theSpaceUK - who often host a much larger number of shows than the Big Four.

There are plenty of independent venues, and for those looking to save a few pounds there is PBH’s Free Fringe which has operated since 1996, and who gets the title of the biggest producer at the fringe. There is no charge for tickets at these shows, with the venues making money from high bar sales and the individual acts able to make money by shaking a bucket at the end of their shows.

For something a bit different, check out Shedinburgh. The Fringe is known for its unconventional performance spaces, and this purpose-built shed is returning for its second year, based out of Assembly Checkpoint before relocating to the Young Vic in London post-festival.

Think again. Many huge theatre and TV shows had their humble beginnings at the Fringe, and continue to prove that it is a hotbed for creativity.

Fleabag

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one woman play turned award winning television series premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013. Waller-Bridge became the first President of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society in 2021.

Baby Reindeer

Possibly the most recent success story, Richard Gadd’s autobiographical and immensely successful Netflix series was developed from his one-man show which started at the Fringe in 2019, before transferring to the Bush Theatre in London the same year.

Taskmaster

The comedy panel show has been running for the last 11 years, invented by Alex Horne and presented by Greg Davies, was created for the 2010 Fringe Festival. It has gone on to be replicated for TV all over the world.

Six: The Musical

The Musical based on the six wives of Henry the 8th was written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss for the 2017 festival whilst in their final year at Cambridge University, with the show being performed by their fellow students. It first transferred to the West End in 2017, and has been performed consistently on the West End (minus covid) since 2019. It has gone on to have multiple international tours and a Broadway transfer which has run since 2021.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

An older example, this absurdist play by Tom Stoppard debuted at the 1966 festival, with a transfer to The Old Vic the following year. It has since been revived several times in London and on Broadway as well as in the format of a radio play. It was later developed into a 1990 film starring Gary Oldman and Tim Roth.

Why I stuck a flare up my arse for England

A play Ellie saw by accident during my time in Edinburgh last year, and it was one of my favourites out of the 40+ shows I saw the whole month. A 2023 Fringe premiere by Alex Hill which beautifully explores the toxic masculinity and tribalism of British football culture. It went on to have runs in London, Manchester, Adelaide and Off-Broadway.

Assembly, George Square Gardens

Surrounded by performance spaces, this street food hub hosted by Assembly provides a central meeting place with many food and drink options.

Underbelly, George Square & Underbelly, Bristo Square

This time hosted by Underbelly, two spots full of different street food vendors, and surrounded by Underbelly venues and both a short walk from the city centre.

Pleasance Courtyard

The main Pleasance venue hosts street food vendors and a late night coffee spot - so you can stay awake for those late show start times!

The Meadows

One of the host venues for the Edinburgh Fringe and where you will find some of the circus tents, this public park is a gorgeous place for a picnic or a sit down between shows

Whilst you’re in the city, you would be silly to not make the most of everything else going on - it truly is a cultural hub.

Edinburgh International Festival

The festival that the Edinburgh Fringe festival was ‘on the fringe of’, has also operated since 1947 with music, performing arts, talks and workshops on offer. It will operate alongside the Fringe 7-30 August this year.

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The EIBF operates for 2 weeks in August (this year 15-30 August) and hosts talks and debates as well as a Children’s event programme. It will take place at the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Edinburgh International Film Festival

The EIFF originated as a documentary-specific film festival and remains the world’s oldest continually running film festival. It highlights both Scottish heritage and international creativity. It will be running 13-19 August.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Something a bit different, this military display of fireworks and music is performed each weekday evening and twice on Saturdays throughout August on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. Make sure to book in advance as it sells out!

The Royal Mile

Running between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace and is (almost) exactly a mile long. A great place to catch buskers and live performances during the Fringe, and of course it is part of the Fringe experience to have people come up to you and try to get you to see their show!

Arthur’s Seat

It is somewhat of a tradition to climb Arthur’s Seat, the tallest peak in Holyrood park, during your trip to Edinburgh, providing panoramic views of the city. The 1-2 hour round trip hike should definitely be on your to-do list.

1. Keep gaps in your days and don’t over schedule ahead of time. There will always be a show that you hadn’t heard of that becomes a MUST see. Sometimes the shows you go to last-minute to fill a gap are the best things you see.

2. The front-of-house teams are your friends. They know what’s going on and what to see - make sure you chat to them and ask for recommendations (when they aren’t super busy, please!)

3. Sign up to FullHouse to keep a diary of the shows you’ve seen and follow the artists and venues you love. You can read reviews, learn more about your favourite shows, and see what the artists are doing next.