Welcome to the Edinburgh Fringe!

For the past few summers, Edinburgh has felt like an entirely unfamiliar place; a ghost town of sorts where the arts once roamed freely. For those who have grown up or spent a significant amount of time in the city, August in particular would always have been synonymous with the welcoming of international outlooks, the celebration of many cultures and, of course, the crowds upon crowds of people. But the cancellation of the Fringe in 2020 and the smaller-scale edition of the festival last year meant that celebratory spirit temporarily shifted to something involving more anxiety and trepidation on the part of audiences. 

With the very future of live performance being called into question, it makes sense, then, that when the Fringe was ready to return to its full glory, it would bring with it a programme to remember. Admittedly, as we gear up for the 75th anniversary of the festival, it all feels a little overwhelming as everyone tries to remember how they once tackled this mammoth beast. With this, there have been numerous discussions around the future of the Fringe and what we want the next 75 years to look like. Can the Fringe be truly inclusive, fair and sustainable in its approach? And can the lessons learned by the creative industries over the pandemic be applied to this year’s festival and beyond? Only time will tell, of course, but in the interim, there is a hopefulness that surrounds the return of the biggest arts festival in the world, coupled with an atmosphere that is undeniably full of an electric energy.

As with any festival programme, there are too many highlights to recommend in one go but inevitably, there are shows that are already on our radar. These include Blood Harmony at the Traverse, which features the music of The Staves, Hamlet with Ian McKellen, Irvine Welsh's Porno, indie rock musical Lizard Boy and names like Randy Feltface, Patti Harrison, Marikiscrycrycry, Sophie Duker, Alok and Garry Starr. If you’re a fan of Drag Race, you’ll be pleased to hear that both Bianca Del Rio and Jinkx Monsoon are making appearances, and Summerhall’s music programme, Nothing Ever Happens Here, is as varied and vibrant as ever with Auntie Flo, Tune-Yards, Efterklang, Deerhoof and others. 

The Fringe can be pricey but if you’re on a budget, there’s no need to feel left out because PBH’s Free Fringe is back with excellent names on the line-up like Viggo Venn, Ali Brice, Sooz Kempner and Laurie Black. The usual culprits also make their grand return – The Stand and Monkey Barrel for great comedy, Summerhall for innovative theatre and dance, and unusual spaces like the Pianodrome or Assembly’s late-night 80s underground venue The Flick for generally good times. 

Everything is typically dispersed across the city over August but much of the Fringe takes place in the city centre, with venues within walking distance. New spots to check out this year include House of Oz, which is a month-long all-Australian showcase at King’s Hall, and Edinburgh College of Art institution the Wee Red Bar, which is playing host to a Lyceum/Edinburgh International Book Festival co-production of David Keenan’s cult classic This Is Memorial Device. You can even join in from the comfort of your sofa since TikTok will soon become the first Official Virtual Stage at the Fringe. 

If you’re new to the Fringe or just after some more in depth guidance, your best bet would be to pick up The Skinny’s August issue and Fest, the latter of which publishes four issues between the end of July and August. It’s packed with all things Edinburgh Festivals from reviews to interviews and everything in between, plus – spoiler alert – some incredibly cute pups. Intrigued? Find Fest around Edinburgh weekly during the Fringe for all the finest recommendations across genres.