Tag: Fringe26

EdFest opens new live ticket box office on the Mound, powered by a giant real-time offers screen

EdFest has opened a box office on the Mound, beside the Assembly Hall. 

Above the cabin, a 4x2m screen displays a constantly-updating feed of ticket offers from across EdFest’s seven venues, pulled live from Edfest.com/offers , where participating companies can claim their show and run their own marketing offers. The box office also serves normal sales for the Assembly Hall. Edinburgh,

With Fringe well under way after a bumper first weekend, Edfest.com the shared ticketing, marketing and discovery platform uniting Assembly, C ARTS, Gilded Balloon, Just the Tonic, Pleasance, Underbelly and ZOO — has taken its offers on to the street.

A new box office on the Mound, next to the Assembly Hall, is now selling tickets in person for Assembly Hall shows, while a 4x2m screen mounted above the counter runs a live rota of daily offers from companies across all seven EdFest venues.

The screen draws directly from edfest.com/offers, the same feed available to audiences online, so any deal a company sets up, a percentage off, a fixed ticket price, or a 2-for-1, appears on the Mound within minutes.

Companies playing in any of the seven EdFest venues can claim their show on edfest.com, set their own offers, and add further content such as media reviews, giving them a direct, self-managed route to passing Fringe footfall as well as to edfest.com‘s online  audience.

The launch comes as ticket sales across edfest.com and Love the Fringe run 50% ahead of the same point last year. For the seven EdFest venues, which together account for around 70% of all Fringe ticket sales, shows can be added to a single basket and bought in one transaction directly on edfest.com, at 0% box office commission, with booking fees capped at £5 per transaction.

Beyond the Fringe, edfest.com also brings together listings for Edinburgh’s other festivals year- round, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the International Book Festival, the Film Festival and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with booking handled directly through each festival’s own site.

The Mound box office sits alongside Love the Fringe, EdFest’s audience membership programme, now in its third year and grown from 500+ members in 2024 to 1,000+ in 2025.

Membership, from £30, gives access to free tickets, venue and bar discounts, and curated daily review digests across the festival.

William Burdett-Coutts, said: “This is a great step forward for the Fringe. Our drive is to try and reduce costs for performers and find ways of making the festival more efficient.

“With Edfest we have already reduced box office commission for companies to zero provided they put 4% of their tickets into Love the Fringe.

“A win win for the audience and shows alike. Which is why a physical, live-updating box office on the Mound matters during peak Fringe footfall, and how it gives companies a direct way to reach passing audiences.

!Audiences can also save up to £1.50 on booking fees probably making this the cheapest box office service in the city.”

EdFest and Love the Fringe are live now at edfest.com.

From Gaza to Edinburgh in A Step and a Half!

The Palestinian Circus, a circus troupe who train and live in Gaza’s West Bank, are performing their show A Step and a Half at Underbelly Circus Hub on the Meadows throughout Edinburgh Fringe 2026. 

Jess Fuchs: Feral

Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two: 5th – 30th August: 6:55pm

Sydney-based stand-up comedian Jess Fuchs brings her bold, high-energy new show Feral to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, marking her highly anticipated first full festival run following an Australian tour.

Jess Fuchs left home to avoid her problems and returned even more broken. Not all those who wander are lost. Sure… but some who wander are walking slowly because they’ve shattered their coccyx on the Cliffs of Moher. Sometimes it takes literally breaking your ass on the Cliffs of Moher to realise you were fine all along…and it was the trying to change that was the problem. 

In Feral, Fuchs explores what happens when you meticulously plan, rehearse, and overthink your way through life… only for everything to unravel anyway. At its core, Feral is about pressure: where it comes from, how it builds, what it forces you to hide – and what happens when you can’t release it.

Tackling everything from body image, shame, and what it means to be ‘different’, to unsolicited advice, healthcare, and the myths of change and self-improvement, she dissects the contradictions of modern existence with wit, warmth, and unflinching honesty. 

After overidentifying with the Titanic, a boat scrutinised for her size, loaded with impossible expectations, and sunk in the middle of nowhere, Fuchs turns her attention to the pressures women face. Especially loud, big women. Get married. Have kids. Be skinny. Feral is about her complete inability, or rather refusal to do any of that, and choosing to return to a feral state instead. 

Feral is a show bursting at the seams with a lively off-the-cuff energy. It’s big, bold, high-energy storytelling – highly relatable, personal, but not trauma-dumpy – weaving anecdotes, observations and stories throughout a central narrative of a girls trip to Ireland gone wrong. 

With a fast-growing international profile and over 100,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, Fuchs has built a loyal digital audience who connect with her sharply observed, effortlessly funny takes on everyday life. Translating that same magnetic energy to the stage, Feral sees her blend incisive stand-up with electric crowd work and deeply personal storytelling.

“When you’re a big, playful, extroverted woman, people feel comfortable telling you how you should be, rather than celebrating who you are,” says Jess. “This show is about pushing back, but also about human contradictions… being confident and vulnerable at the same time, even when people don’t want you to be.”

A Sydney-based stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, Fuchs is known for her razor-sharp crowd work and dynamic storytelling style. She has performed across Australia, Europe, the UK, and the United States, and is a regular host at The Comedy Store in Sydney, Comedy Republic in Melbourne, and Top Secret Comedy Club in London. She has opened for major international comedians including Fortune Feimster, Gianmarco Soresi, Morgan Jay, Craig Conant, and Rafi Bastos.

Her comedy centres women’s experiences, social behaviour, and the unspoken rules people are expected to follow, delivered with a playful irreverence and fearless perspective. In 2025, she independently released her debut stand-up special Thick & Thin on YouTube, further cementing her reputation as a rising global voice in comedy.

The Edinburgh Fringe run of Feral follows her biggest Australian festival circuit tour to date, with a show designed for audiences who enjoy intelligent, feminist, self-aware comedy that moves seamlessly between big laughs, audience interaction, and bold storytelling.

Instagram: @jessfuchs

What the press have said about Jess

“At her finest, she can unleash a flurry of withering, impudent gags worthy of Joan Rivers.” – Chortle

“Uproarious and raunchy show had the audience continuously laughing” –  Sydney Arts Guide

“…finding a new comic that hits every note is a rare treat” –   Theatre Thoughts

Listings Information

Show:            Jess Fuchs: Feral

Dates:            5th – 30th August (not 18th)

Time:            6:55pm

Venue:          Pleasance Courtyard – Bunker Two

Address:       60 Pleasance, Edinburgh, EH8 9TJ

Price:            £9 – £14

Box Office:     https://www.edfringe.com/ / https://www.pleasance.co.uk/ 

Ian Murray opens new permanent home for the Fringe

THE Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society officially opened Fringe Central on Infirmary Street in the heart of the Old Town at the weekend.

The new permanent home for the Fringe Society was opened by Culture Minister Ian Murray, City of Edinburgh Council Culture & Communities Committee Convener Cllr Margaret Graham, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Tony Lankester, City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cllr Jane Meagher and Chair of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Benny Higgins. 

Fringe Central will be an inclusive, year-round hub for the Fringe community, providing support to artists in preparing and delivering their Edinburgh Festival Fringe experience.  They will be able to access services which include guidance on developing their show, support in achieving their future career ambitions and industry engagement, and advice on how to market and promote their work.

Throughout August, Fringe Central will be open daily, providing a friendly hub for artists and industry to connect and build relationships within the Fringe community. The 2026 Fringe Central programme includes a range of networking and industry events, helping performers build relationships with industry professionals from theatre, film and television to aid onward touring opportunities. 

Practical, in-person support from the Fringe Society team will be available to participants through one-to-one advice and artists will be able to access wellbeing services from local mental health partner Health in Mind.

Throughout the project, the Fringe Society has engaged with co-tenants Canongate Youth, who support young people in Edinburgh aged between 5 and 18, as well as other local community schools and groups, such as Royal Mile Primary School, Sciennes Primary School, James Gillespie’s High School and LGBT Youth Scotland, to ensure a space for local cultural expression and development was co-designed.

The project was made possible due to support from a range of partners, including the UK Government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund, Garfield Weston Foundation, and Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund.

The Fringe Society would also like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for supporting this project with the signing of a 99-year building lease.

Ian Murray, Culture Minister said:  ‘It was an honour to open the Fringe Society’s official new permanent home today. It’s been a long time coming and I am so pleased that we have been able to support this project with £7 million from the government.

“I know from my experience working at the Fringe when I was young just how transformational it can be, both for aspiring artists, comedians and producers, but also for the entire creative and cultural ecosystem of the UK.

“I hope this permanent new home will enable the Fringe Society to keep Edinburgh on the map as a world cultural hub and deliver more and more for our up and coming artists, as well as their international audiences and local communities, for decades to come.’

Cllr Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: ‘I’m so pleased that the new home for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now officially open.  This fantastic year-round city centre hub will provide a welcoming space for everyone involved in the Fringe, while also creating valuable opportunities for local cultural organisations to connect, collaborate and thrive.

“This is an important and significant investment by the Council in the future of the Fringe and in Edinburgh’s cultural life, ensuring that the world’s greatest arts festival has a permanent home at the heart of the city it belongs to and that Canongate Youth will be returning to their familiar home too.’

Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: ‘Opening Fringe Central today marks the realisation of nearly a decade of work for the Fringe Society, and we are incredibly proud to be opening this physical hub for performers and industry.

From today, Fringe Central is a welcome space to the Fringe community with artists able to access practical in-person support to deliver their work at the Festival Fringe. Year-round, Fringe Central will be open to Edinburgh’s residents, stakeholders, and our local arts community through support services and bookable rehearsal spaces.

“We are grateful for the support from the UK Government, the City of Edinburgh Council, and our wider funders and supporters in achieving this ambition.

“We look forward to welcoming the Fringe community into Fringe Central this August, and we encourage them to make the most of the opportunities available this month and beyond.’

Tweedy the Clown returns to Edinburgh with his brand new solo show for all ages

Following the success of a 2025’s tour of Tweedy’s Massive Circus, Scottish clown Tweedy is back with a brand new solo show at the iconic purple cow. The show has just received a Gold Festivals Award EFFTA from the Fringe Theatre Awards.

This year, Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show finds Tweedy battling mischievous props in a series of increasingly absurd situations. The props have lives of their own, his limbs rebel against him and a sentient Siri starts playing up. No matter the mess he gets into, he can always find a creative way to get out. 

Renowned for his warmth, ingenuity and impeccable comic timing, Tweedy the Clown is a household name in the southwest of England, where he regularly performs with Giffords Circus. Tweedy is also the recipient of a British Empire Medal and an Honorary Fellowship Award from the University of Gloucestershire.

Audiences from one to a hundred and one alike will delight in Tweedy’s repertoire of comedic talents, which have made him one of the most respected and popular clowns the country currently has to offer.

Tweedy’s Massive Solo Show

Dates: 6 – 30 Aug (except 17 and 24)

Times: 10:15 am

Venue: Underbelly’s George Square Gardens (Udderbelly)

Tickets: £12.00 – £22.00

Care home hosts spectacular Fringe Cares performance for residents

On Saturday 1st August staff, residents, relatives and members of the community came together at Queens Manor care home in Barnton for a fantastic afternoon of exciting performances as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Cares Fest. 

Now in its fifth year, the Fringe Cares movement brings artists from the Edinburgh Festival into care homes so residents can enjoy accessible performances in the comfort of their own homes.

The show was attended by the Lord Provost, the Right Honourable Robert Aldridge and his Consort, Joe and Nancy Goldblatt, Rene Rigby from Scottish Care as well as 45 Queens Manor residents and their families.  The hospitality team provided canapes and everyone was treated to a range of chilled summer drinks including cocktails from Robyn’s Bar.

First onto the stage was multi award winning Flow Artist, Lai Yee, a contemporary street performer from Hong Kong, who wowed the crowd with his acrobatics, incredible juggling skills and his expertise on the Cyr wheel. 

Then talented and versatile vocalist, Anna Vanosi, took to the stage and had everyone singing and dancing along to some rousing Italian classic songs. Both performances delighted the audience and left them shouting for more.



General Manager, Margaret-Ann Davidson said: “The Fringe Cares Fest is one of the highlights of our year, it is such a fantastic initiative and this year was no exception. 

“We all spent a wonderful afternoon enjoying first Lai Yee’s acrobatics and then Anna’s brilliant vocals and that is the beauty of the Fringe, there is so much variety and every year we all have the best time.  We’re so grateful to the performers and the organisers for bring Fringe Cares to our residents and their families.”

Queens Manor care home is run by Barchester Healthcare, one of the UK’s largest care providers, which is committed to delivering personalised care across its care homes and hospitals. Queens Manor  provides residential and residential dementia care for 60 residents from respite breaks to long term stays.

Book of Shadows unleashed at Edinburgh Fringe in new shadow puppet show

Award-winning Japanese shadow puppet company Mochinosha/Book of Shadowz return to Edinburgh to unleash their latest creation upon the Fringe with the premiere of their brand new show, Book of Shadows – a hilarious occult mystery for grown-ups.

Teenage sceptic Vi is forced to live with her grandmother, who claims to be the 200-year-old mystic and spiritual guru Madam Blavatsky. When Vi’s friends begin to disappear, she reluctantly teams up with Granny to uncover a conspiracy of séances, unhinged cultists and suspiciously interested government agents.

A visually stunning dark comedy based on a possibly true story, Book of Shadows dives into the mysterious world of the occult and mysticism where audiences can draw their own conclusions as to what to believe.

Mochinosha / Book of Shadowz was founded in 2012 by Canadian artist Daniel Wishes and Japanese artist Seri Yanai and are known for their use of colourful hand-crafted shadow puppets to create live analogue shadow animation.

The company has been recognised with awards from festivals around the world, including Critic’s Choice (Orlando Fringe, USA), Outstanding Production (Suginami Theatre Festival, Japan), and The Spookies Jury’s Choice Award (Edinburgh Fringe, UK).

Written by Daniel Wishes and performed together with Seri Yanai, Book of Shadows is a prelude to a larger tale exploring the occult and esoteric. The first chapter premieres at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026, told through Mochinosha / Book of Shadowz’ signature shadow animation and puppetry, with a pitch-black sense of humour that will appeal to those of a weird and surrealist disposition.

Book of Shadows premieres at the Edinburgh Fringe, 18:30 at Underbelly Cowgate’s Big Belly, 05 – 30 August 2026 (no show 19-Aug).

Book of Shadows Mochinosha / Book of Shadowz

18:30 05 – 30 Aug | Underbelly Cowgate, Big Belly
edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/book-of-shadows 

Aldi store is one of Edinburgh’s most unexpected Tripadvisor attractions 

Aldi Portobello set to welcome visitors from around the world after being recognised as an authentic food and drink destination, with hundreds of Scottish products on its shelves.

As millions of visitors descend on Edinburgh for this summer’s Fringe, Aldi is preparing to welcome festival-goers in search of an authentic Scottish food experience.

The Aldi Portobello store has become one of the only supermarkets in Scotland to feature among Edinburgh’s top Things To Do on Tripadvisor, putting it alongside many of the capital’s most iconic visitor attractions.

Recognised for its extensive range with hundreds of Scottish food and drink products, the store is becoming an unlikely foodie destination for international and UK visitors keen to taste the very best of Scotland.

In 2026, Aldi topped the National Farmers Union (NFU)’s largest-ever supermarket shelf study for Scottish own-label sourcing, with an average of 65% Scottish-origin products, significantly ahead of other major retailers.

Aldi’s extensive range offers festival-goers the chance to discover produce from some of the country’s best-loved suppliers, including ice cream from Equi’s made with Scottish milk and cream, locally grown berries from Angus Soft Fruits and baked favourites from Brownings, making the Portobello store an unexpected but distinctly Scottish addition to the Fringe itinerary.

To celebrate its new Things To Do status, visitors can also pick up one of Aldi’s limited-edition Edinburgh Fringe postcards for free giving festival-goers a fun way to share their favourite memories and foodie discoveries with friends and family, while inspiring others to experience Edinburgh and its vibrant food scene for themselves.

Alan Leslie, Buying Director at Aldi Scotland said: “The Edinburgh Fringe welcomes millions of visitors from around the world each year, and for many, trying Scotland’s fantastic food and drink is an essential part of the experience.

“We’re proud to work with so many Scottish suppliers to bring high-quality local produce to our shelves, so it’s fantastic that our Portobello store has been listed as somewhere visitors can enjoy an authentic taste of Scotland.

“Whether people are stopping by to sample some of Scotland’s finest produce, picking up essentials before a show or sending one of our limited-edition postcards home to share the excitement of the Fringe, we’re looking forward to welcoming festival visitors through our doors.”

Aldi Scotland has an ongoing commitment to championing Scottish producers, with the supermarket working with a range of local suppliers and investing millions in Scotland’s food and drink industry every year.

To explore Aldi’s Scottish produce, visit: Best of Scotland | ALDI UK

Visit Aldi’s Tripadvisor page at: ALDI (Edinburgh, Scotland): Address, Phone Number – Tripadvisor

NHS Lothian prepares for Festival crowds

Teams across NHS Lothian are preparing for the annual influx of visitors during Edinburgh’s world-famous Festivals.

The city’s population doubles to around a million throughout August as people from across the world enjoy the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and more.

NHS Lothian has a number of arrangements in place to make sure visitors can access healthcare if they need it, while continuing to provide routine and planned care for local residents.

Visitors are being urged to take the same route as locals and call 111 if they have an urgent injury or illness.

Experienced NHS 24 advisors will direct them to the most appropriate service to make sure they get the right care in the right place. NHS 24 also has an interpretation service for those whose first language is not English.

Depending on a patient’s circumstances, they may be given an appointment for a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU), be asked to attend a local pharmacy, or be given an appointment at a GP Practice which provides care and treatment for visitors who are not registered with a GP in the city.

Michelle Carr, Chief Officer of Acute Services, NHS Lothian, said: “We want everyone visiting Edinburgh during the Festivals to enjoy their time here, but if they become unwell or suffer an urgent injury, the best thing to do is call NHS 24 on 111. They should not turn up at a hospital.

“It’s important to stress that there is no walk-in service for visitors, but by calling 111 they will be able to access necessary healthcare 24/7.

“They will also be seen sooner than walking into a busy hospital A&E department that will prioritise patients and work in order of clinical urgency.

“The message is the same for visitors and local residents alike. If you need urgent healthcare, call 111. In a life-threatening emergency, always call 999.”

Gilded Balloon returns to iconic Teviot home following three year absence

Gilded Balloon has returned to its beloved home at Teviot Row House for the first time since August 2023.

Scotland’s leading producer of live comedy and entertainment year-round and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has opened its doors to the public today across its four venues: Gilded Balloon Teviot, The Gilded Saloon, Gilded Balloon at the Museum, and Gilded Balloon Patter House.

Teviot, The University of Edinburgh’s student union, and the world’s oldest purpose-built student union, reopened its doors in March following a two-and-a-half-year refurbishment. The venue has been home to Gilded Balloon during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe since 2001.

Gilded Balloon’s exciting 2026 programme features 225 shows spanning comedy, theatre, magic, cabaret, musicals and more from today until Monday 31st August.

Famous faces taking the stage include Graham Norton and Maria McErlane, Gregor Fisher, Rich Hall, Deborah Frances-White, Mariella Frostrup, Gina Bellman, Phil Nichol, Fiona Allen, Fred MacAulay, Jack Docherty, Grace Campbell, Mhairi Black, Jimmy Rees, Paul Black, Jamie Kilstein, Tom Read Wilson, Kim Blythe and many more.

At the heart of the programme are several flagship Gilded Balloon productions and co-productions, showcasing the very best of comedy, theatre, conversation and live events. Highlights include the return of five-star hit Doris, Dolly and the Dressing Room Divas; the world premiere of Lois-Amber Toole‘s powerful new play SLAY; acclaimed US comedian Jamie Kilstein’s Can’t Tie Knots; reigning So You Think You’re Funny? champion Madeleine Brettingham‘s debut hour Legend.

Jack Docherty will also return with his eagerly awaited Butterfly; Mhairi Black returns with Difficult Second Album; broadcaster Mariella Frostrup will present Cracking the Menopause; the award-winning podcast The Guilty Feminist will take to the stage; iconic Scottish comedian Fred MacAulay’s showcases In Conversation as well as his new stand-up show Good Evening!; Wanging On – Live with Graham Norton and Maria McErlane will have its stage debut; the next generation of storytellers will tread the boards in Story Platform; and the ever-popular Comedy Night at the Museum also returns.

Beloved Gilded Balloon institutions also return to Teviot, with an iconic line-up of comedians taking to the stage every night for Late’n’Live, the legendary late-night showcase that has become a cornerstone of the Fringe. Meanwhile, So You Think You’re Funny? continues its search for the next generation of comedy stars through its competition heats and grand final, as well as celebrating its brightest new talent with Best of So You Think You’re Funny?

Karen and Katy Koren, Artistic Directors of Gilded Balloon, said: “Coming home to Teviot is a really emotional moment for all of us. It has been at the heart of Gilded Balloon’s Fringe story for more than 25 years, and while we’ve loved creating new homes across the city during that time, there is something truly special about returning to the place where so many unforgettable Fringe memories have been made.

“We’ve spent the past three years looking forward to this moment, and we’re returning with our biggest and most ambitious programme yet.

“We can’t wait to see you all there!”

For full programme listings and tickets, visit gildedballoon.co.uk.