Gilded Balloon is delighted to announce Verona Verbakel as the winner of the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award for her outstanding solo performance in Only Fans for Therapy at Zoo Playground.
The Filipa Bragança Award recognises an exceptional lead solo performance by an emerging female, female-identifying or non-binary actor in a theatre production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Established in 2017 in memory of the gifted actor Filipa Bragança, the award celebrates the extraordinary talent of performers working at the Fringe and honours Filipa’s own remarkable contribution to the festival.
Filipa delivered defining performances in critically acclaimed Gilded Balloon productions including Echoes and Angel before her untimely death in 2016, aged just 25.
Uniquely, the award considers eligible solo performances from across the entire Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with judges independently scouting work across venues throughout August.
Following weeks of intensive viewing by the judging panel, this year’s shortlist reflected an exceptionally strong field of solo theatre. Judges highlighted the outstanding standard of writing, characterisation and performance across this year’s Fringe, with Verona Verbakel ultimately standing out for the depth, originality and sheer commitment of her performance in Only Fans for Therapy.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: “Filipa was an extraordinary young actor whose talent, generosity and presence made a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of seeing her work.
“It is incredibly important to us that this award continues to celebrate the kind of bold, brilliant and distinctive solo performance that Filipa herself represented.
“Verona’s performance this year was completely compelling ,she commands the stage with remarkable skill and vulnerability, and we are thrilled to recognise her with the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award.
“Every year, the standard of work considered for the Filipa Bragança Award makes the judging incredibly difficult, and this year was no exception. We saw an extraordinary range of solo performances from artists working across the Fringe, but Verona’s work stayed with us.
“Only Fans for Therapy is fearless, uncomfortable and deeply human, and Verona gives an extraordinary performance at its centre. We are delighted to celebrate her achievement and to continue Filipa’s legacy through an award that champions emerging performers and the power of solo storytelling.”
The winner of the 2026 Filipa Bragança Award was presented on Friday at The Scotsman Awards.
EH, KY, FK and G postcode residents can enjoy more than 200 Edinburgh Fringe performances for just £6
Gilded Balloon is inviting its neighbours to experience this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe for less with an extension of Postcode Pals – a special ticket initiative offering £6 tickets to local audiences.
Running from 00.01 am on Sunday 30th August until 23.59pm on Monday 31 August, the limited-time offer is available exclusively to residents with EH, KY, FK and G postcodes, giving them access to more than 200 performances taking place between 30-31 August, while availability lasts.
ensuring local communities can continue to enjoy the last performances of the Fringe on their doorstep.
Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon, said:“We have decided to extend Postcode Pals for our final two days of our fantastic Fringe programme.
“We want to say thank you to our local audiences and the communities that support us year-round and give them a chance to enjoy our last shows of the 2026 Fringe”
The offer covers an exciting cross-section of Gilded Balloon’s 2026 programme, including Gilded Balloon co-productions and visiting companies with more than 200 comedy, theatre, music, family and spoken word performances taking part in the promotion.
How to claim the offer:
Residents with EH, KY, FK or G postcodes can:
Log in to their Gilded Balloon account.
Ensure the billing address on their account includes a valid eligible postcode.
Hundreds of Asian artists from dozens of Fringe shows gathered at the City Chambers this week for the Asian Art Awards 2026.
With so much international talent on the Fringe programme it was no surprise that 2026 was another vintage year and, with the majority of winners still in town to collect their awards in person, there is still time to see most of them. The awards were presented by Richard Lewis, Chair of the Asian Art Fund Scotland and Chris Snow, Head of Artist Services at the Fringe, in partnership with WU Asia Pacific.
The irresistible “2Shoulderpads: Galaxy Train” from Japan (pictured above) won Outstanding Show for their zany poetic musical based on Japanese classical literature. Their only costume is … two shoulder pads each. “The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half” (pictured) were one of the runners up, winning over the reviewing team with their talent, upbeat attitude and message of Peace.
It was also a strong year for Scottish representation. The Outstanding Youth Show award was won by Our Town Needs a Nando’s with the all-Scottish and all-female cast bringing tremendous energy and fun to the stage.
Scottish Tamil actress Lovely Selwyn burst into tears on receiving her award, exclaiming “this is our Oscar”! Outstanding Drama award was won by Tether with a cast from Scotland and Korea while the Outstanding Children’s Show award was won by “Shhh! (A Wordless Comedy)” from Vietnam but with one of the three cast members originally from Scotland.
Finally, a Highly Commended award was received in the Youth category by the Edinburgh-based Nikkan Dance Academy for their show “Kahi: The Inner Us – Explore the Soul”, bringing traditional Indian dance to the Fringe.
Japanese Grandma Funeral starring Japanese American Kento Morita won best comedy, while the Outstanding Individual Performance was won by Cheeyang Ng from Singapore with Legendary, a musical seamlessly blending Chinese mythology and queer legacy. Outstanding Dance Show was won by Samurai and Oiran of Japan.
The Asian Arts Special Award was won by The Lady Prince Consort, a classic Chinese opera about a young wife who disguises herself as a man (Mulan-style) to save her husband, with (almost) tragic consequences. Although performed in Mandarin with subtitles, it was both beautiful and hilariously funny, and sadly only played for one night at the Queens Hall.
The Asian Art Awards at the Edinburgh Fringe have been running since 2014 with a vision of bringing Asian artists together to celebrate and promote their talents. At a time of rising tensions between east and west, art plays a vital role in bringing nations and communities together.
The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half, Underbelly and The Palestinian Circus with Medical Aid for Palestine (Palestine)
YOAH, Underbelly, Cirquework and Cluster Arts (Japan)
Outstanding Musical or Comedy Show
Winner: Japanese Grandma Funeral, Kento Morita. (USA)
Highly Commended:
Hater, Brava Guava, UK
Olivia Xing: Baby of Colour., Olivia Xing. (China)
Outstanding Dance Show
Winner: Samurai and Oiran, Asakusa Kaguwa (Japan)
Highly Commended:
Strange Tales from Liaozhai, Yuerge Dance Theatre / Shanghai International Dance Center Theater. (China)
Outstanding Drama
Winner: Tether, Wonder Fools and Theatre SAN (Scotland/Republic of Korea)
Highly Commended:
LANDSFRAU, Doris Crea Collective (Performed by Mariann Yar) (Germany)
Olympic Hopefuls, in vivo Productions (USA)
Why English?, Vibhinna Ramdev (India)
Outstanding Youth Show
Winner: Our Town Needs a Nando’s, Hot Mess Productions (Scotland)
Highly Commended:
Kahi, The Inner Us – Explore the Soul, Nikkan Dance Academy, (India/Scotland)
Outstanding Children’s Show
Winner: Shhh! (A Wordless Comedy), Lang Spot Vietnam (Vietnam)
Outstanding Individual Performance
Winner: Cheeyang Ng, Legendary(Singapore)
Highly Commended:
Seonju Jang, The Renaissance of Spring: Samsara and Shroop Directed and Choreographed by Yu-mi Kim. Jajack Movement and the Art Support & Incubation Dept., GGCF (Republic of Korea)
Emma Tsoi, He Wants Kids, She Doesn’t, BF Productions. (Hong Kong)
Aarushi Agni, EMOJI: The Hieroglyphs Of Our Time…. (USA)
Asian Arts Special Award
Winner: The Lady Prince Consort Anqing Zaifen Huangmei Opera Theatre (China)
Highly Commended:
R/evolution(s), Dance Base Yokohama/Conan Amok (Japan)
Also shortlisted was The Princess Gives Her Lover a Sword by Guangdong Chao Opera Institute (China)
For further information please contact organiser Asha Trivedy of Asian Art Fund Scotland via contact@asianartfundscotland.org and 07511209053 or trustee Jim Orr on 07718 666452.
Collective Gala is a free family-friendly day of celebration with creative activities for all ages. Explore newly commissioned artworks and performance by Scottish artists, join behind-the-scenes tours, shop with local makers, and enjoy creative play sessions for children.
The day will culminate in a celebratory procession inspired by Gala traditions. Saturday, 5th of September, from 11 am to 4.30 pm. FREE ENTRY!
Princes Street is set to fully reopen on Saturday (29 August), following a major fire at the former Debenham’s building last month.
Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams are working to resume services, with pedestrian access restored between Castle and Frederick Street for the first time since 9 July.
Subject to successful testing overnight on Friday, trams will run to their full route from the Airport to Newhaven and all city centre bus diversions will end.
Passengers are being encouraged to continue planning ahead and checking for the latest travel updates and information on the Council’s website. Operators will publish updated timetabling information ahead of the weekend.
The three eastbound bus stops between Castle Street and Frederick Street will remain closed, with westbound bus stops unaffected.
Remedial work on the site will continue, which requires the pavement on the north side of Princes Street to remain closed. One lane of the eastbound carriageway will be used as a temporary pedestrian walkway.
Significant work has been carried out over the past seven weeks to make the building safe, including:
The front façade of the building has now been fully stabilised with supporting steel beams
The eastern gable of the building has been secured and made safe. This involved reducing it in height by approximately two metres and supporting it with scaffolding
Several tonnes of bricks and unsafe stonework – some weighing as much as 850kg – from the upper levels of the façade have been carefully removed and stored for reuse
Several tonnes of debris and dangerous materials have been removed from the building.
The closure has had a significant effect on the city, particularly on businesses on the northern section of the tram route, including Newhaven, Leith and The Shore. Ongoing work to support these businesses includes:
The development of a promotional campaign More By The Shore to drive footfall to businesses in the area
The campaign will involve special offers, a voucher scheme, events and more – with more details to follow in the coming weeks
Direct Engagement and Communications – officers will continue speaking directly to businesses in the area over the next few weeks, holding online briefings and issuing information and other advice.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“The reopening of Princes Street is a significant step in the city’s recovery from, what was, a devastating fire – and I’m sure it will come as a great relief to many.
“This has been an incredibly difficult few weeks for the city, not least given the timing, and I’m pleased that we can now turn our attention to getting Edinburgh back to normal as well as helping those businesses most affected to get back on their feet.
“A great deal of effort has gone on behind the scenes to make this possible – and my thanks go to our council teams and engineers who have carried out painstaking work to make the building secure as quickly and safely as possible.
“I also want to thank Lothian Buses, and their drivers, for keeping the city moving and our residents and visitors for their patience.
“I think it’s fair to say that this period has further underlined the critical importance and popularity of our tram network, not just to the north of the city but to the whole of Edinburgh.
With that in mind, I’m pleased that our business support campaign ‘More by the Shore’ is taking shape – and will soon be encouraging more residents and visitors to explore Leith, the Shore and Newhaven, and visit the fantastic local businesses there. This activity is planned to run well beyond the reopening of Princes Street, over the festive period and into the new year.”
Sarah Boyd, Chief Executive for Lothian and Edinburgh Trams said: “We welcome the news that Princes Street is due to reopen on Saturday 29 August.
“Our teams are now focused on reinstating bus and tram services along one of the city’s most important transport corridors and we encourage customers to check the latest service updates and allow extra time for travel.
“I would like to thank our customers for their patience, understanding and support throughout this period of continued disruption. We are also grateful to our colleagues, whose professionalism, flexibility and commitment continued to keep Edinburgh moving during a particularly challenging time.
“Finally, we would like to acknowledge the close collaboration of our partners, including the emergency services, the City of Edinburgh Council and other agencies involved in responding to this incident.
“Their collective efforts have helped ensure services can begin to return safely and efficiently for the benefit of Edinburgh’s residents, visitors and businesses.”
For a one-week, special engagement, the award-winning, off-Broadway, country rock musical, OIL & WHISKEY, will make its way to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe ahead of a 3-week Off West End London run.
OIL & WHISKEY will perform at The Nightclub at The Street as part of PBH’s Free Fringe, Sunday 23 – Sunday 30 August.
‘The Last Five Years’ meets Nashville Honky Tonk; Oil & Whiskey is a dramedy about two ex-lovers who meet for a drink and relive their entire relationship over a couple of rounds of whiskey.
You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and by the end you will remember why: you don’t text your ex. At the forefront of the recent Americana resurgence in Edinburgh and NYC, this toe-stomping musical written in Nashville, Tennessee, will immerse audiences in an authentic country rock cabaret concert akin to an evening at the Grand Ole Opry.
Oil & Whiskey is the debut musical for producer, musician, and songwriter Kit Nolan. The Nashville based multi-instrumentalist who has toured the world performing for millions as the Music Director for Lindsey Stirling, and as a session musician for Robbie Williams and One Direction.
He is joined by award-winning playwright and storyteller Dax Wiley. Wiley has written and produced musicals across the U.S.A. such as New York’s first immersive musical, The Limbo Lounge, and Good Fishermen Know A Lot About Sex, a powerful drama performed on theatre row in Los Angeles about the dangers of opioid abuse in America.
First debuted at the New York City Fringe Festival 2025 where it won the SOLD-OUT Award, Oil & Whiskey has big plans for 2026; beginning in June as one of two shows performing in New Musical Theater Nashville’s First Stage Showcase, and touring to popular Honky Tonk and off-Broadway venues in NYC, including iconic venues such as The Bitter End; home to where artists like Bob Dylan got their start in Greenwich Village, NYC.
Oil & Whiskey comes to the Edinburgh Fringe for a one-week special engagement, Sunday 23 – Sunday 30 August, 19:45 at The Nightclub at PBH’s Free Fringe @ The Street.
Oil & Whiskey Kit Nolan | Dax Wiley | Alexa Karas | AK INK
19:45 23 – 30 Aug | The Nightclub at PBH’s Free Fringe @ The Street
You may have made it to the final week of the Fringe, but the curtains haven’t come down just yet. Here at theSpaceUK, we’ve got a whole host of shows about to begin their Fringe runs.
So, as the festival enters its final week, it’s time for Act 3:
Part rock concert, part coming-of-age drama, this gripping new musical follows young musicians haunted by their past. With a bold, genre-blending score, this electrifying show explores ambition, identity and the struggle to move forward.
The Tears of Nerakhis (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 24-29 August) Written, composed and staged from scratch: this original epic fantasy musical brings a modern myth to life, telling the extraordinary love story between a human girl and the daughter of the God of the Night.
Swing Gum (theSpace @ Niddry St, 24-29 August) A true story of love separated by war and reunited 75 years later. Swing Gum blends tap, swing, Lindy hop and archival broadcasts into a toe-tapping, heart-stopping musical. Experience the UK premiere of this unforgettable wartime love story.
Nuns of Fury! (theSpace on the Mile, 24-29 August) The nuns are back in town! The Nuns of Fury must battle both vice and virtue in this rock-gospel extravaganza. A comedy for fans of sisterhood and having faith in yourself!
Music
To Be Arranged… (theSpace on the Mile, 24-29 August) University of Exeter’s Illuminations A Cappella presents ‘To Be Arranged…’. Their Fringe show is about to begin, but they are yet to decide on a theme. Come and listen to see if they figure it out!
Sixty-five years after Judy Garland’s iconic concert, two NYC drag artists resurrect her performance via messy, virtuosic experiment. Through impressions, lip sync, monologue and rainbow cake, this show interrogates societal expectations around fatness.
Comedy
Got Mushroom For Sketch Comedy? (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 24-29 August) Got Mushroom for Sketch Comedy? The students of Exeter Comedy Society are back with their latest sketch show!
Outlaugh: Edinburgh (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 24-29 August) A comedy and social strategy competition show using the rules of the reality show Survivor. Twelve comedians compete in comedic challenges for immunity, while the losers have to vote each other out at tribal council.
Silly Goose! (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 24-29 August) We’re on the hunt for the Silliest Goose in town! Join us and three comics as we discuss your silliest stories, whether it’s saucy scandals, funny first dates or office outrages.
A baptism in the blood of life. Salty stains of prayer and memory. You are complicit in a sensory-led, psyche-bending world where all the angels on Earth have fallen because their mother couldn’t fall with them.
Winner of Creative Corner Festival 2026! If you can read this, you’re ahead of Hannah! With a mix of humour and heart, this autobiographical play sheds light on the misunderstood world of dyslexia.
Join Liz, on her last morning at Number 10, in an exploration, comic and tragic, of the tensions in politics: between ambition and ability, vision and reality, going short and playing it long.
Fisch and Neck are two lost souls picking for what’s left in the Trashcan of Spirit. Dregs is a dark, absurdist comedy exploring the ugly underbelly of capitalism and greed through a series of hilarious clownish hijinks.
SQUAT! (theSpace on the Mile, 24-29 August) Join the Squat as they stumble through loss with too much alcohol, too many bad decisions, and absolutely no filter. SQUAT! is a dark comedy about masculine vulnerability, friendship and the f*cking weird ways men say “I love you”!
Is This Your First Crime? (theSpace on the Mile, 24-29 August) A new comedy set within a police interrogation, showcasing the corruption and ineptitude of the force. When Tim’s brought in for questioning nothing can prepare him for what the desperate detectives have in store!
Come As You Are (theSpace Triplex, 24-29 August) Katherine turns 45 today! A warm, joyful celebratory dinner with all the family awaits her – until an uninvited guest sours the festivities.
It Couldn’t Get Worse; or, The Margarita Boat Tour Incident (theSpace @ Venue 45, 24-29 August) Locked in a lighthouse, Claire and Judy form a reluctant alliance to save Maggie, Judy’s daughter and Claire’s fiancée. It couldn’t get worse. Probably.
What’s Rotting in the Office Fridge? (theSpace on the Mile, 24-29 August) A seemingly regular office prepares for a retirement party, but something’s amiss. As characters unravel, they find themselves trapped by capitalism, the stages of grief and their own ambition.
I Killed My Father (theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, 24-29 August) This darkly comedic excavation dissects a lineage of absentee fathers, explores what we inherit, and reveals the high cost of a graceful exit. A bitingly funny autopsy on masculinity.
Can You Teach Me How To Breathe? (theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 24-29 August) Four people wake up on a sinking submarine with no idea what’s going on. There’s nothing to do but wait. And the empty feelings they’ve long ignored creep in.
Fringe magician Elliot Bibby took to the streets of Edinburgh on Thursday in a bespoke Walker’s Shortbread ‘Magic Taxi’ to surprise festival-goers with free rides, close-up magic, and buttery shortbread.
Serving as an on-the-move venue with a difference, the tartan-clad cab – which features brand ambassador Sir Andy Murray – transported busy Fringe-goers across the city between venues while keeping them entertained and fuelled with shortbread.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions has recorded a year-on-year increase in summer visits, as Edinburgh welcomed visitors from around the world during another busy festival season.
The attraction, located at the top of the Royal Mile, saw overall visits rise in July 2026 compared with the same month last year, alongside significant growth from several international markets.
Spanish visitors recorded the largest increase, rising by 88% compared with July 2025. Visits from the United Arab Emirates increased by 43%, while visitors from Austria and Canada rose by 41% and 23% respectively.
The figures come as Edinburgh’s summer tourism season reaches its peak, with the city welcoming millions of visitors for its festivals and the school summer holidays.
Visitors still have time to make the most of Camera Obscura’s reduced summer ticket prices, available until 1 September as part of the Government’s Great British Summer Savings Initiative. The attraction is passing on the full VAT reduction across advance and walk-up tickets, meaning a family of four can save more than £10 compared with standard admission prices.
Located just moments from Edinburgh Castle, Camera Obscura features more than 100 interactive exhibits across five floors, alongside panoramic views of the capital from its rooftop. A seasonal rooftop bar is also open throughout the summer, offering soft drinks, snacks and ice cream away from the busiest festival streets.
Camera Obscura & World of Illusions also welcomes families of all needs. Visitors with sensory needs can borrow Sensory Backpacks containing ear defenders, sunglasses, a torch, an activities sheet and sensory toys. A sensory map of the building is also available to help families plan their visit.
Andrew Johnson, General Manager of Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, said: “Edinburgh has an incredible international appeal, particularly during the summer, and it has been fantastic to welcome even more visitors through our doors this July.
“The growth in visitors from countries including Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Austria and Canada demonstrates just how far that appeal reaches. The city is at its liveliest during the festivals, and we are proud to play our part in the experience people have while they are here.
“We also recognise that visiting Edinburgh during the summer can be expensive, particularly for families. With reduced ticket prices still available until 1 September, we hope even more people can enjoy everything the attraction has to offer before the summer comes to a close.”
Discounted tickets are available through Camera Obscura’s website and for walk-up admission until 1 September.
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “We wanted to call this the Fuck the Government Award but then we thought the award name should probably come from a more positive place, so we’re putting it in the copy instead. It’s been ten years since essay anthology The Good Immigrant was released and in those intervening ten years, everything has gotten a lot worse.
“We are giving this award in recognition of the seminal work The Good Immigrant has done in reframing conversations around immigration in this country, and to recognise how much work we all still have to do in the next ten years, and the next and the next. Congratulations to the team behind The Good Immigrant, winners of The Truth to Power Award! Here to collect the award is Nikesh Shukla, who edited the anthology.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Here at The Skinny, we love a puppet. And so when it came to awarding a show for its puppetry credentials, which obviously we had to do, Dracula: Lucy’s Dream was an easy call.
Plexus Polaire have created a production which showcases the magical possibilities of physical theatre: the ways in which materiality and liveness can be central to the emotional and narrative qualities of a piece.
From our review: “Dracula: Lucy’s Dream is both a visual and literary tour-de-force, using astonishing puppetry to frame Lucy’s descent into vampirism as an act of violation and psychological devastation.” Congratulations to Dracula Lucy’s Dream, winners of The No Strings Attached Award!”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “There are some comedians you come across who you feel were simply born to do it, and Tia Rey is the perfect example. First trying stand-up in 2024, as well as hosting Too Queer, a comedy night in Glasgow, she is one of the most exciting emerging Scottish talents to burst on to the scene.
Her debut hour ‘Oot Ma Banger’ takes us with her on a wild psychedelic journey which she experienced in her twenties, told with the skill and tenacity of a performer who would appear to have been on the circuit for years – decades, even. We’re so excited to see where Tia Rey will go next and how she will develop.
And of course, to see her back at the Fringe next year with a brand new hour! Congratulations to Tia Rey, winner of The Debut Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Theodore Schafer’s dizzyingly experimental sophomore feature, The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight, recalibrates the very notion of what a film can be.
This black-and-white portmanteau triptych acts like a love letter to New York, unfolding as three surreal stories centred on love, money and faith that feel closer to poetry than any straightforward narrative.
Schaefer’s filmmaking style is as unpredictable as the plot, and the resulting work is one of the most confident, original and exciting American indies we’ve seen in quite some time. The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight had its world premiere at Edinburgh International Film Festival. Congratulations to the team behind The Arrow at Rest at Every Instant of its Flight, winners of The Visionary Award. Here to collect the award on their behalf is Lynda Myles.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “Part of the Sao Paolo showcase at this year’s festival, Border Bodies is unlike anything we’ve seen before – a frenetic celebration of plurality and collectivity told through meticulous choreography and seven dancers’ bodies. In a time of increasing political and geographical division, it speaks to what is possible when we transcend the borders between us. Congratulations to Border Bodies, the winners of the Outwith Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “It’s getting to that part of the Fringe where tiredness is setting in and it takes the rumblings of something special to tempt many a punter to stay out past 11pm.
Well, Basil Crumbwick – AKA Sam Eley and his giant papier mâché head – is that something special. Boiling over with “impotent rage”, as Fest’s reviewer put it, Basil Crumbwick is an act worth sacrificing many a good night’s sleep for. Congratulations to Sam Eley, winner of The Night Owl Award.”
The Skinny / Fest magazine team commented: “not for glory meets at the crossroads between dance, theatre, gig and comedy, as well as therapy for those who have survived the youth competition culture of the traditional arts world. In it, dancers Jack Anderson and Charlotte Mclean and piper Malin Lewis bind together their pasts in order to examine the interaction between passion, reward, and memory.
The show has a genuinely unique point of view – Fest reviewer Eilidh Akilade singled it out for its “thoughtful dissection of heritage and all its complexities” and “empowered disregard of tradition for tradition’s sake”.
We also loved it for its humour, for the weird and obscure elements of the scene that the trio so generously bring to life for us – after all, bearing witness to these absurd joys is normally the privilege of an exclusive club, one whose membership is earned through years of toil and despair. Congratulations to the team behind not for glory, winners of the Collaboration Award.”
Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and celebrating the breadth of Edinburgh’s Festivals, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. 2026 winners will be announced at weekly ceremonies taking place at Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on 15, 22 and 29 August.
The Besties awards, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter a graduate of Interior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, use recyclable plastics gathered by the partners and leftover wood sourced locally.
