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Summerhall Arts announces final 30 shows of 2026 festival programme and UK’s first Sauna Theatre

Summerhall Arts’ third and final festival programme announcement – on sale 6th May – includes the UK’s first purpose-built theatre sauna and new shows from Shaparak Khorsandi, Hannah Maxwell, Francesca Moody Productions, Thaddeus Phillips, theatregoose, and much, much more

  • Summerhall Arts announces the final 30 shows of its 2026 festival and the news that an 80-seat Sauna Theatre – the largest sauna in the UK – will occupy its rear courtyard in August, with a programme of theatre, music, dance, and some of the world’s best Aufguss artists
  • Award-winning British-Iranian comedian and author, Shaparak Khorsandi, presents a work in progress performance of her debut play, Kismet (قسمت), based on true life experiences of her family following the 1979 Iranian Revolution
  • Acclaimed Fringe favourite Hannah Maxwell (BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG; Nan, Me & Barbara Pravi) premieres her new show, Turn Your Fucking Phones Off
  • Francesca Moody Productions (Fleabag; Baby Reindeer) and Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) present ROLEPLAY – a new, NSFW one woman play from actress, comic and podcaster Hannah Reilly (The Deb)
  • Fringe legend Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips brings a new Georges Méliès-inspired theatrical blend of micro-cinema, magic and puppetry with ArounD the WorlD in 80 ToyS
  • Serial Fringe hit makers, theatregoose (Aether; Sisters Three; Her Green Hell)premiere THE PLOT – a new play set around the Gunpowder Plot
  • Summerhall Arts Surgeries returns with two showcases and support for eight companies, and Summerhall Yoga returns for the duration of the 2026 festival
  • Four shows from House of Oz, including Concerts of the Future – a VR experience that allows you to play along with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
  • Other highlights include the UK premiere of The Subplot: A hyperfixation on the Titan submersible; part play, part extreme workout, The Distance, from former GB athlete and Archers star Ben Norris; and a new play inspired by Tina Packer’s Women of Will graces the Summerhall stage for a limited run.

Home of boundary-pushing performance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, arts charity Summerhall Arts, which provides year round support and development for artists as well as an annual exhibition programme hub; has announced the final 30 shows of the 2026 instalment of its renowned festival programme and the news that the UK’s first purpose-built theatre sauna will occupy Summerhall’s back courtyard this August.

Adding to the 42 shows already announced, from companies including Xhloe and Natasha, Adam Riches, YESYESNONO, Creepy Boys, Salty Brine, Lightning Rod Special, and Wonder Fools; Summerhall Arts’ third programme announcement continues to exemplify bold, diverse and intersectional work of the highest quality. 50% of these shows are from international artists and companies, and Sauna Theatre will bring some of the world’s greatest Aufguss (an immersive experience using heat, essential oils, towel work and storytelling) artists to perform at Summerhall throughout August.

The Aufguss Master, Meg Hopkinson performs a routine ahead of the shows this summer which will take place in the UK’s first purpose-built Sauna Theatre’s, tickets are now on sale for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme at summerhallarts.co.uk

Tom Forster, Programmer & Producer at Summerhall Arts, commented: “It’s an immense privilege to present Summerhall Arts’ second festival programme in full. 2026 runs from drag kings to ballet, opera to satire, ceilidh to Aufguss.

“It cuts across class, identity, conflict, memory, care, and the digital age. Bold artists, urgent ideas — asking us to sit and sweat it out.”

Summerhall Arts is delighted to announce an exciting new collaboration with director James Grieve and designer Lucy Osborne, who previously designed and launched Paines Plough’s famous Roundabout theatre – a mainstay at Summerhall for so many years – who this year present the first project of their new company, Sauna Sessions Arts Club. 

Occupying Summerhall’s back courtyard will be the UK’s largest sauna and the first to be purpose built to showcase theatre, art and culture. Literally the hottest new venue on the Fringe, Sauna Theatre will bring together an ambitious programme of Aufguss, theatre, spoken word, literature and music; all with the soothing heat of the sauna.

The 80-seat Sauna Theatre will host a diverse programme catering to both sauna regulars and culture lovers: ranging from morning raves to mysterious stories of ancient Scotland, the return of Nick Cassenbaum’s acclaimed Schvitz-based show, Bubble Schmeisis (Summerhall, 2016), to Virginia Woolf reimaginings.

The sauna environment increases endorphins, relaxes muscles and encourages blood flow – all helping to heighten audiences’ senses and creating an immersive experience, allowing audiences to focus fully on art without distraction.

Sam Gough, CEO of Summerhall Arts, commented: “We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this ambitious Aufguss project here. It is a brilliant, brave and fun programme of work delivered in the most beautiful and innovative way and could not be more Summerhall Arts! 

“This collaboration came about through our shared love for bold ideas and groundbreaking approaches to the arts, housed within one of Edinburgh’s most innovative and experimental venues. What better way to develop our space, in our second year of reimagining everything we do here. Where is my towel?”

James Grieve, Co-Creator of Sauna Theatre, added: “It is thrilling to be launching this new pop-up space on the very same spot we launched Roundabout in 2014 at a venue and festival that means so much to us.

“We’re so excited to welcome Edinburgh audiences to relax, revive and be inspired in Sauna Theatre at Summerhall Arts.”

Once audiences have showered, changed, and blow-dried their hair; they can venture back into the heart of Summerhall and experience the rest of Summerhall Arts’ boundary-pushing programme.

This year, this includes a work in progress of a new play written and performed by acclaimed comedian and author, Shaparak Khorsandi. Based on her best-selling novel, Nina’s Not Okay, Kismet (قسمت) is about the true life experiences of her Iranian family, scattered around the globe after the 1979 Iranian Revolution – and features original live music by Jean Delkhaste, aka Smiling Beth.

Multi-award-winning storyteller Hannah Maxwell returns to Summerhall after acclaimed turns with Nan, Me and Barbara Pravi (★★★★★- The Financial Times) in 2023 and BABYFLEAREINDEERBAG (★★★★ – The Guardian) in 2025. With dramaturgy by Ursula Martinez and Rachel Mars, Hannah premieres Turn Your Fucking Phones Off – a timely, autobiographical, and interactive work about digital toxification and mis/disinformation.

And the producer of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, Francesca Moody Productions, teams up with Global Creatures (Moulin Rouge! The Musical) to present ROLEPLAY – a new, NSFW one woman show from actress, comic and podcaster Hannah Reilly (The Deb). Paige Rattray (Fangirls) directs this red-hot interrogation of modern sex, womanhood and the commodification of feminism in the age of the personal brand.

Chaplin-esque legend of the Fringe, Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips (Zoo Motel; 17 Border Crossings) returns to Edinburgh with a new theatrical journey into the realm of micro-cinema, classic magic, and object puppetry. ArounD the WorlD in 80 ToyS is a haunting and touching homage to the movies inspired by the world’s first film director, Georges Méliès.

Award-winning theatre company theatregoose returns to Summerhall with a fourth show in a row written and directed by Emma Howlett (The Stage’s Fringe Five 2025), after consecutive sell-out hits Aether, Sisters Three, and Her Green Hell. Premiering this year, THE PLOT is a new play set around the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, exploring rebellion, reinvention, and the power of a great story.

Summerhall Arts Surgeries returns this Fringe with 2 showcases providing financial support to 8 artists or companies and the opportunity to showcase their unfinished work to peers, producers and industry. Building on the spirit of experimentation that defines Summerhall Arts, the Surgeries provide a safe, collaborative environment to test ideas, exchange feedback, and discover new possibilities for their work. Open to all forms of live performance, this is the fourth year of the Surgeries, which have now expanded to the Spring as well and have so far supported 40 companies to present work to almost 8000 audience members.

Also in keeping with Summerhall Arts’ commitment to keeping creative juices flowing, as well as maintaining good mental and physical health throughout August, Summerhall Yoga will return for the duration of this year’s festival. Our resident Yogi, Olga, will give morning yoga classes, which are free for our staff and artists, and bookable for everyone else.

Summerhall Arts is thrilled that champions of Australian performance, House of Oz, will present four shows in the programme this year. Co-presented by The Sonicrats and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Concerts of the Future is a cutting-edge participatory VR music experience that gives audiences of all musical capabilities the chance to perform Beethoven’s iconic Symphony No. 7 with one of Australia’s premier orchestras.

Joel Bray Dance presents the UK premiere of acclaimed Aboriginal choreographer Joel Bray’s show, DADDY – a seductive, provocative, and candy-coloured interrogation of colonialism. Theatre Republic presents Emily Steel’s award-winning semi-autobiographical play, How Not To Make It In America – a heartbreakingly funny show about chasing your dreams, the U.S. in the aftermath of 9/11, and which sees one man play twenty-eight different characters.

Acclaimed contemporary dance-theatre company The Farm premiere a powerful, raw and emotional work about two siblings, one of whom has Down’s syndrome. Expressed through dance, theatre and storytelling, Glass Child highlights how their lives and connection are affected by the perceptions of others.

Outwith House of Oz, the Australian contingent continues. Sophie Smyth brings her award-nominated autism and ADHD powered one-woman odyssey of sub, sea, and self: The subplot: A hyperfixation on the Titan submersible. And, winner of this year’s Adelaide Fringe Edinburgh Touring Award: South Australian theatre company The CRAM Collective present their acclaimed exploration of grief and lasagne, Meteors, for its UK premiere.

Another big hit in Australia and the winner of the overall Best Theatre and Physical Theatre award in Adelaide, acclaimed comedian Kirsty Mann returns to Summerhall after a sold-out work in progress run last year. Produced by Impatient Productions, she presents the UK premiere of her award winning show, CORPSE – a real-life ghost story with a difference.

Moving to the theme of endurance, from a starry producing team – Global Creative, Grace Dickson Productions and Nic Doodson Productions – behind a combination of musical (SIX; The Choir of Man) and Fringe hits (Playfight; Lady Killer), comes the world premiere of The Distance. Part play, part extreme workout, this is a sweat-drenched exploration of ambition, identity and letting go from former GB athlete and Archers star, Ben Norris.

Summerhall Arts is excited to welcome Siofra Dromgoole’s brand new play, Women of Will, based on the seminal work by actress, director and founder of Shakespeare & Company Tina Packer. Presented by Women of Will Productions, Paul-Lou Lemieux, in association with Soho Theatre, this new pub-based celebration of Shakespeare’s heroines stars Ella Louden, who was directed by Tina Packer in productions of Titus Andronicus and Cymbeline, and Nigel Gore who starred in the original adaptation.

If audiences still prefer their saunas imagined, they can join the inhabitants of Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre as they cook themselves into a frenzy, with Thermodrama. Presented by emerging theatre company Lovecock Productions, Coco Cottam’s new comic-tragic play tackles the toxicity of wellness culture and how the cult of self-improvement affects society’s most vulnerable.

More exciting Scottish work joins the likes of Autopsy Award winner Althea Young,  including BULL / FIGHT – an exciting co-production from emerging Edinburgh-based theatre collective Mythography and Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre, about the death and legacy of poet and playwright Federica García Lorca, set during the Spanish Civil War.

Acclaimed Glasgow-based artist, performer, and Instagram reel-based arts sector agitator, Craig Manson presentsBunny! – a darkly comic take on the ‘critically acclaimed solo show’ that fuses live art, cabaret and musical theatre to tell the story of aspiring theatre starlet and serial killer, Bunny. And, new Scottish theatre company Trolley Problem (Mistero Buffalo – The Citz, 2026) premiere Nesting – an experimental, multidisciplinary and magical realist performance that explores assisted dying, neurodegenerative illness and the ethics of care.

Summerhall Arts is delighted that so many artists and companies return to Summerhall after past successes. This year, independent theatre company withintheatre, who cast their theatre ire at authoritarian regimes and had critically acclaimed turns with 1984 (2024) and Julia. 1984 (2025), presents Boogie on the Bones.

Based on the novel by acclaimed Russian screenwriter Yurii Korotkov, this musical political play, set in Soviet-era Moscow, explores how youth cultures resist repression and conformity through jazz, dance, and underground culture. And, acclaimed comedian Derek Mitchell follows his sell-out show Goblin (2025) with a new work in progress performance.

Moving from political history to sexual and gender politics, Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings premiere We Had Fun, directed by Olivier and Tony awards-nominated Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (SIX: The Musical) – an un-romantic dark comedy and ‘fascinating exploration’ (Daniel Finkelstein, The Times) of the greyest areas of consent and sexual politics. 

Magalie Rouillard-Bazinet presents a touching and humorous solo show about a young woman who loses her orgasm and herself: Homecumming explores taboos surrounding female sexuality and a wider conversation about mental health, shame, and self-worth. And, Katie Hurley and Sarah Hehir in association with Croydonites premiere Man or Bear – a fast-moving, darkly comic new play about fear, friendship and survival inspired by the viral question: ‘Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear?’

Directed by Ursual Martinez, it blends kitchen-sink realism, music and physical theatre, following three generations of women in the lead-up to an act of violence, focusing on women’s resilience and reflecting on modern day misogyny.

Staying on the politics of our times, acclaimed Philadelphia comedian, performer and writer Lee Minora (★★★★ – The Skinny) premieres Baby Everything – a hilarious, helter-skelter, and razor-sharp interrogation of anxiety in the digital age. Ricocheting between clown, storytelling and theatrical fantasy, audiences follow a hypochondriac protagonist trying to work out if the world’s actually getting worse or if we’re just looking too closely.

Irish theatremakers Oisín Kearney and Gina Donnelly present the UK premiere of their acclaimed play, Good With Faces, which won the Solas Nua New Voices Award at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2025. A taut thriller about a struggle for power between a worried mother and a concerned social worker, the piece is a complex exploration of the state versus the individual and what it means to care.

Multi-award-winning theatre company Chronic Insanity presents a brand new gig-theatre show featuring a live 00s-inspired indie band: Horrorshow explores class disparity, nostalgia, and regional identity, asking who cultural events are really for and who they leave behind. And, Jude Green premieres TOAST – a pitch-black comedy about Proper Jobs, class divides, and starving for your art. Perhaps the funniest show about systemic poverty on the Fringe.

Terracotta Productions brings Sitting (In Silence), the multi-award-winning debut play from emerging theatremaker Kitty Falcon – a tragi-comedy exploring mental health, grief, suicide loss and reconnection, rooted in lived experience and community storytelling. And, Give or Take Productions brings the winner of the Outstanding Theatre Award at Brighton Fringe 2024: funny, honest and deeply devastating, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey is a dark fairytale in which the power of storytelling is used to make sense of great personal trauma.

Completing the 2026 installment of Summerhall Arts’ renowned festival programme, The Drolly Theater brings a unique, family-friendly ‘light puppeteering’ show. Through the power of puppetry, science and light, Magic Lantern Anthology guides audiences through future folklore and forgotten myths.

These 30 new shows, 9 shows at Sauna Theatre, and the 42 shows previously announced, are on sale now. Summerhall Arts’ festival runs from 6th – 31st August 2026.

Tickets on sale now: festival.summerhallarts.co.uk

NHS Lothian: Perinatal mental health sympton checker

Not sure if what you’re feeling is normal? This perinatal mental health symptom checker highlights signs you shouldn’t ignore.

Trust yourself, reach out early, and ask for help.

Visit: https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/about-maternal-mental-health/perinatal-mental-health-symptom-checker/ to learn more.

Starmer convenes antisemitism summit in Downing Street

‘IT IS A CRISIS FOR ALL OF US’

PRIME MINISTER’s OPENING REMARKS:

Thank you all for being here. We have a lot of work to do so it’s very important we gather here to do that work.

Thank you Louis. That was incredibly powerful, and honest, and courageous. I think it’s really important we heard you speak, in your words, saying how you feel, and what it feels like to be Jewish in Britain right now.

And if recent events haven’t given us pause for thought, that really should.

About the responsibility each one of us has to face this challenge head on. And about what’s at the stake in the conversations we have today.

Last October, at Heaton Park, a deadly terrorist attack shocked the nation.

Similarly, last week’s terrorist attack in Golders Green was utterly appalling. But they were not isolated incidents.

It is part of a pattern of rising antisemitism that has left our Jewish communities feeling frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them.  

These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make no mistake, this crisis – it is a crisis for all of us. It is a test of our values. Values that aren’t guaranteed, they are earned. Every single day. Through our actions.

So, it is not enough to simply say we stand with Jewish communities. Of course we do, but we have to show with action. And that responsibility lies with each and every one of us.

Because it is our fight too. It is about the kind of country that we all want to be.

And that’s what today is about. Because only by working together can we eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society.

I have seen this poison up close. I have seen the damage it does when it takes hold. And I know what it demands to root it out – a coordinated approach, an unwavering resolve and zero tolerance for failure. 

[Political content redacted]. And that is what we must do today. My government is using the full force of the state to that end. We have begun, as we must, with immediate protection.

In recent months, as antisemitic incidents have risen, we have acted decisively to strengthen the safety of Jewish communities. And last week, we announced an additional £25 million in funding. 

That money is being used to increase police patrols, enhance security at synagogues, schools and community centres, and place specialist and plain-clothes officers in communities to prevent serious harm before it occurs.

That is the right thing to do. But what a sad thing to read out that list of acts to you – protecting synagogues, schools and community centres. I repeat those words.

Because of course, we cannot accept a future where communities feel safer only behind higher walls. Security is essential – but it is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place.

So, we are confronting them directly. One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents. We are investigating of course all possibilities. And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.

Our message to Iran, or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society, is that it will not be tolerated. That is why we are fast tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.

And we are clear eyed about the fact that antisemitism does not have one source alone. Islamist, far-left and far-right extremism all target Jewish communities.

That is why this Government has put in place the first coordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all of its forms.

This is not about tinkering around the edges. Our plan is a complete step change in how we protect communities: moving beyond piecemeal responses to a sustained, nationwide effort – one that ensures that people across the United Kingdom can live freely and without fear.

We are strengthening our ability to disrupt extremism – stopping those who spread hatred from entering the country and giving the Charity Commission stronger powers to act against organisations that enable it. 

We are holding technology companies to account, requiring them to remove illegal extremist content or face serious penalties. And we have introduced stronger powers to deal with protests, ensuring intimidation is not tolerated on our streets.

And when these vile acts are committed, we are bolstering the response of our justice system – working to speed up sentencing for offences so that consequences are swift and the deterrent is clear. 

But it is also important to recognise that so often this hatred does not begin with violence – it begins with ideas, with misinformation, tropes and conspiracy theories, and with attitudes that, left unchecked, can take root and spread. So, in those spaces where the shoots of antisemitism begin to grow, we are stepping in.

We have commissioned independent reviews into antisemitism in education and health services. Across the NHS, we are rolling out antisemitism training for staff.

And in our schools, colleges and universities, we are investing £7 million to tackle antisemitism, while making sure Holocaust education is taught in all schools.

And, today, we are going further. We already expect universities to set out clear disciplinary consequences for antisemitism, and to enforce them. And so we will hold them to account on that. 

But today, I can announce that we will lift the bar higher: when abuses take place, we are calling on universities to demonstrate action. We will now expect them to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps they have taken to clamp down on it. There will be zero tolerance for inaction.

In our cultural venues and spaces we will also expect more. Where public funding is being used to promote or platform antisemitism, the Arts Council must act, using its powers to suspend, withdraw and claw back funding. 

And, today, we are mandating an independent audit of how allegations are handled. This will be a hard-edged review of where systems are failing and where they need to be strengthened. We will not and cannot accept complacency, delays, or weak enforcement. And where complacency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.

And we will also address a quieter but no less serious harm: the way rising security costs are forcing Jewish artists and organisations out of public life. That is exclusion – and it is unacceptable. 

We will ensure that the Arts Council and Home Office funding can be used to cover protective security costs, so that participation is not determined by fear.

There is, of course, more work to do – and we won’t stop playing our part. But this is not a task that government do alone.

Every part of society has a responsibility to respond with determination and force. Because there are too many people who don’t see antisemitism for what it is: anti-Jewish hatred, racism, pure and simple.

That is why, today, I am asking you – each and every one of you – to reflect. On what form antisemitism takes in the sectors that you lead. In how it may be allowed to fester and spread. And on the work that you are currently doing to stamp it out.

And then, even more importantly, I am calling on you to act. With urgency. To look clearly at where you are succeeding – and just as clearly at where there is still work to be done. And to commit to the tangible action that Jewish people in this country need to feel safe again.

Because stopping antisemitism is not someone else’s responsibility. It is all of ours. That is the test before us. And only by working together will we meet it.

So, thank you for being here today – we have a lot of work to do – and we’re now going to move through to the Pillared Room to discuss that work further. So please come through and join us in the Pillared Room to continue the work that we have started today.

North Edinburgh Community Festival: Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help us at the 5th North Edinburgh Community Festival on Saturday 16th May. Any time you can give would be most welcome.

We’re looking for help with the following:

SETTING UP

help setting up the festival in the morning pre opening to the public at 12noon. This includes placing tables and chairs in all the marquees, helping set up the food court, putting up signage and other general tasks. 8am-11am.

MANNING THE REGISTRATION DESK

Showing people where to go and general information. 12noon – 530pm.

DISMANTLE AND CLOSE DOWN POST FESTIVAL

Helping to pack down the festival – packing up of tables and chairs, helping with rubbish and litter, and removal of signage.

PARADE STEWARDS

The parade starts outside North Edinburgh Arts, Macmillan Hub and walks towards the park. Route should take about 45 minutes.

If you are keen to get involved, even if its for an hour or two across any of these roles, please email northedinfest@gmail.com

Through the Fettes keyhole: School opens its doors to visitors and supports variety of community groups

The school’s latest Community Engagement Day, on Friday 08 May, will see students engage in a range of activities across Edinburgh

Fettes College is supporting a host of local community activities and has also invited visitors into the school’s famous 19th Century Bryce Building as part of Open Doors at Fettes.

The independent school’s latest Community Engagement Day, held biannually and this year on Friday 08 May, will see students support environmental improvement projects throughout Edinburgh, visit primary schools and care homes, and work with a range of community organisations.

Fettes will also open its own doors and invite local residents in for morning coffee, learn some Fettes history and enjoy a student-led tour of the school. The school will also host young people from FetLor Youth Club to engage in team-building activities, including its on-campus low ropes course, following their recent charity run that raised over £16,500 for the club.

The community activities, supported by students, will also incorporate various primary school and nursery visits such as Star of the Sea Primary School and Pirniehall Nursery where Fettes students have a long-standing relationship of providing hands-on teaching and support for maintenance projects and their clothes bank. 

There are a number of local activities with a key focus on enhancing the city’s environment and open spaces, including planting up a Stockbridge roundabout (collaborating with The Flora Stevenson Primary School and St Ninian’s Church), Water of Leith clean-up (led by the Water of Leith Trust), helping Granton Community Gardeners, plus time spent at both Starbank Park and Inverleith Park.

Further activities involve bringing art and music to the local community through the making and donating of art packs for Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity and performing at venues including the LifeCare Centre.

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: “Students at Fettes aim high and give back and our Community Engagement Days are a richly rewarding experience for everyone to come together and build on our local partnerships.

“Rooted in Edinburgh, Fettes places community contribution at the heart of these mutually beneficial relationships, supported by a curated and expanding programme.”

Visitor numbers to the ‘Open Doors at Fettes’ are limited. To Register to attend Open Doors at Fettes and view more information, please visit: 

https://www.fettes.com/news-events/events/default-events-page/~board/college-events/post/open-doors-at-fettes

Gaelic community day at Heart of Newhaven

Edinburgh community group Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann will be holding a Gaelic community day on Saturday 9th May at the Heart of Newhaven community centre as part of the initiative to develop a Gaelic hub in Edinburgh as a gathering place for Gaelic speakers, learners and supporters.

Wilson McLeod, the group’s chair, said: ‘Over 10,000 people in Edinburgh have Gaelic language skills according to the last census, but they are spread across the city, and there is no single place where Gaelic is the normal and natural language to use.

“A Gaelic hub in Edinburgh would be a real focal point for Gaelic in the city, helping to bring Gaelic speakers together and providing opportunities for everyone to get involved in Gaelic language and culture’. 

This is the fourth and final community day under the title Cruinn Còmhla (‘Gathered Together’) over 2025/26. Over 500 people have attended the first three events, but this is the first to take place in North Edinburgh.

The event will offer Gaelic classes, introductory Gaelic workshops, an arts session for under 5s, a Gaelic singing circle, an introduction to the history of Gaelic in Edinburgh, a performance by the Edinburgh Gaelic Choir, a talk on the Gaelic creative process, a session for children to ‘Come & Try’ a traditional musical instrument, reading and conversation groups, and a City of Edinburgh Council session on Gaelic development.

There will also be a café, Gaelic books for sale, games and information on Gaelic activities in Edinburgh.

Development Officer Sarah Scott said: ‘The Cruinn Còmhla community days have been a huge success and we are excited to bring our next event to the Heart of Newhaven.

“We are keen to raise the profile of Gaelic in Edinburgh and bring new opportunities to learn and use Gaelic to people across Edinburgh as we work to develop a permanent hub space’. 

Cruinn Còmhla Gaelic Community Day

9 May 2006 | Heart of Newhaven, 4-6 Main Street, Newhaven, (10am – 4pm) 

www.ionaddhuneideann.org

According to the 2022 census 10,379 people in Edinburgh could speak, read, write or understand Gaelic, an increase of 75% since 2011.

Government sets out plans to protect summer holidays from disruption

There are no immediate supply issues, but government is preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption

  • summer holidays to be better protected as government consults on relaxing flight take-off/landing rules, providing certainty for passengers and businesses
  • lightning consultation launched to provide airlines flexibility to lock in flight schedules early, prevent last-minute disruptions and cancellations
  • Transport Secretary reiterates passengers are entitled to be re-routed or refunded if their flight is cancelled by the airline

Passengers will have their summer holidays better protected as government sets out plans today (3 May 2026), which will help cut the likelihood of last-minute flight cancellations this summer in the event of significant disruption due to ongoing global uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.  

The contingency preparations are designed to give families greater confidence when travelling this summer by enabling airlines to plan realistically and lock in schedules earlier so that people are less likely to be affected by short‑notice changes at the airport.

While UK airlines say they are not currently facing supply issues, the government will be consulting with the industry in order to act quickly if needs be, before disruption takes hold, giving passengers and the aviation sector the certainty they need to plan ahead. 

These temporary measures would allow airlines to, for example, consolidate schedules on routes where there are multiple flights to the same destination on the same day.  

Instead of cancelling flights at the last minute, the measures would:

  • help move passengers onto similar services much earlier, helping avoid stressful delays at the airport
  • prevent running flights which have not sold a significant proportion of tickets
  • reduce wasted fuel from flying near-empty planes

The Transport Secretary discussed the plans at a roundtable with key industry figures on 30 April 2026, including representatives from Heathrow, Gatwick, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and easyJet, reaffirming the government’s commitment to keeping Britain flying this summer. 

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:  “Since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the government has been monitoring jet fuel supplies daily and working with airlines, airports and fuel suppliers to stay ahead of any problems. 

“There are no immediate supply issues, but we’re preparing now to give families long-term certainty and avoid unnecessary disruption at the departure gate this summer.  

“This legislation will give airlines the tools to adjust flights in good time if they need to, which helps protect passengers and businesses. We will do everything we can to insulate our country from the impact of the situation in the Middle East.”

The measures being considered will allow airlines to proactively hand back a limited proportion of their allocated take-off and landing slots without losing the right to operate them the following season. ‘Hand backs’ help airlines build realistic schedules and avoid last-minute cancellations rather than flying empty ‘ghost flights’ or cancelling at short notice, putting passengers’ plans at risk.

This will build on the UK’s independent slot coordinators’ (Airport Coordination Limited) decision to update its guidance, ensuring airlines do not permanently lose their take-off and landing slots if they are unable to use them due to jet fuel shortages.  

The measures the government is considering go further by allowing airlines to plan ahead and act on the best information they have available on fuel supply or wider impacts of the Middle East conflict, rather than wait for a shortage to occur. 

The government continues to plan for a range of contingencies to increase flexibility on jet fuel supply and domestic jet fuel production has increased. The UK imports jet fuel supplies from a range of countries not reliant on the Strait, including the United States.

As part of today’s action, the government is upping awareness of the existing rights available to passengers in the event of disruption. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you have a legal right to a choice between being re-routed or a refund. 

If a flight is subject to a significant delay –  at least 2 hours for short-haul, 3 hours for medium-haul and 4 hours for long-haul - passengers are entitled to care and assistance, including food, drink and overnight accommodation where necessary.

Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “Passengers in the UK are well protected by some of the strongest rights in the world, offering reassurance if disruption does occur. 

“Airlines have a duty to look after their passengers when they face disruption, and should offer a choice between a refund or alternative travel arrangements, including with another airline, if a flight is cancelled.

“Relaxing the rules around slots at airports will allow airlines more flexibility and so we expect them to give passengers as much notice as possible of cancellations during this period.”

Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said: “UK airlines continue to operate normally and are not experiencing issues with jet fuel supply. We are planning to take our customers on their well-earned holidays this summer and will always look after them in line with our obligations. 

“We welcome the government’s contingency planning, including slot alleviation, which is one measure which enables airlines to adjust schedules responsibly, avoid unnecessary flying and continue operating efficiently while protecting connectivity for passengers.”

Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, said: “While our partners across the aviation sector continue to report no shortage of jet fuel supplies, it is sensible for government to consult on possible action if this were to change.

“We will now work closely with our airport members, ministers and officials to examine the proposals and respond on the best way to proceed that will lead to the best outcomes for passengers.”

If notified of changes to their flights by airlines, passengers are advised to speak to their airline, travel agent or tour operator in the first instance.

Further information on passenger rights is available in the Air passenger travel guide.

The Celebrity Traitors series 2 line-up confirmed

Host Claudia Winkleman will welcome ‘an exciting and eclectic mix’ of people and personalities to The Traitors castle

The RTS and BAFTA Craft Award winning The Celebrity Traitors will return to BBC One and iPlayer later this year with its biggest celebrity cast to date.  

Made by Studio Lambert Scotland, The Celebrity Traitors will see twenty-one famous faces head to The Traitors castle, ready to play the ultimate game of deception and betrayal in the hope of winning a cash prize of up to £100,000 for a charity of their choice.

Host Claudia Winkleman will welcome an exciting and eclectic mix of people and personalities. Ranging from BAFTA and BRIT award winners, through to social media stars plus some of the UK’s most cherished actors, comedians, presenters and beyond. As celebrities will question who can they trust, who deserves to be banished and who is secretly plotting murder under the cover of darkness?

Heading to the Scottish Highlands are:  

  • Amol Rajan – Journalist and Broadcaster
  • Bella Ramsey – Actor
  • James Acaster – Comedian and Podcaster
  • James Blunt – Singer/Songwriter
  • Jerry Hall – Model and Actress
  • Joanne McNally – Comedian
  • Joe Lycett – Comedian
  • Julie Hesmondhalgh – Actor
  • King Kenny – Content Creator
  • Leigh-Anne Pinnock – Singer/Songwriter
  • Maya Jama – Broadcaster and Entrepreneur  
  • Michael Sheen – Actor and Presenter
  • Miranda Hart – Actor and Author
  • Myha’la – Actor
  • Professor Hannah Fry– Broadcaster and Mathematician
  • Richard E. Grant – Actor and Author
  • Rob Beckett – Comedian
  • Romesh Ranganathan – Comedian
  • Ross Kemp – Actor and Presenter
  • Sebastian Croft – Musician and Actor
  • Sharon Rooney – Actor

Series One of The Celebrity Traitors debuted on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in October 2025 and has been a runaway success with an average audience of 14.9m across the run with a peak of 15.4m for the finale.

The series has seen unprecedented growth, making it the top entertainment episode across the whole market since 2016 and the number one series across all genres and platforms in 2025.

Meanwhile the fourth series of The Traitors, which had the nation hooked in January 2026, achieved a 12.5m 28-day average, this is up +22% on Series Three (10.3m).

The majority of viewing has been driven by BBC iPlayer, making up 6.6m of the audience (53%), and increasing +28% on the third series. This is the second biggest series across the market since the start of 2025, only behind The Celebrity Traitors

The Celebrity Traitors will be coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2026.

The Celebrity Traitors series two (10 x 60) will be produced by Studio Lambert Scotland for BBC One and BBC iPlayer and has been commissioned by Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment Commissioning for the BBC.

The Executive Producers for Studio Lambert Scotland are Mike Cotton, Sarah Fay, Lewis Thurlow and Katy Fox with Production Executives, Lynette Woods-Reynolds, Gemma Scholes and Faye Donaldson. The Commissioning Editors for the BBC are Neil McCallum and Michael Jochnowitz.

The Traitors (Dutch title: De Verraders) was created and developed by IDTV in cooperation with RTL Creative Unit. All3Media International is global partner for The Traitors and handles format and tape sales worldwide. Studio Lambert is part of All3Media

Puppy Paradise: Care Home hosts ‘pawfect’ Dog Show!

Residents and staff at Strachan House care home in Edinburgh were delighted to welcome back furry friends for their annual dog show.

Residents at the home are all keen animal lovers and were delighted to host the dog show a yearly event in the home.  

Canine fans at Strachan House were on the edge of their seat as the winners in each category were announced.  Residents and staff joined in judging and couldn’t wait to see who won the award for best in show.

Daisy the beautiful Lhasa Apso won this prize but no one was left out with residents also giving away prizes for the waggiest tail, most perfect pedigree and best trick. 

Fran Fisher General Manager at the home, said: “Our residents all love animals, we have lots of visits from different therapy pets which always cause a great deal of excitement. 

“The dog show is absolute heaven for our canine-loving residents here, they absolutely love seeing all the different breeds and seeing which one comes out on top!”

Resident, Janet commented: “I have always been a huge fan of all sorts of different animals but these dogs are all just so wonderful.”

Janet even gave up her spot on the judging panel as she just loved them all so much!

Strachan House is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering high-quality care across its care homes and hospitals. Strachan House provides nursing care, respite care and dementia nursing care for 83 residents.