The Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe stands as one of the world’s most iconic celebrations of arts and culture. Every August, for three vibrant weeks, the city of Edinburgh becomes a global stage, bursting with creative expression from artists and performers across the world. With hundreds of venues scattered throughout the city, audiences can experience an astonishing variety of performances—from renowned entertainers to emerging talents eager to make their mark. The festival spans every art form imaginable, including theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions, and more.

The origins of the Fringe trace back to 1947, when eight theatre groups arrived uninvited to perform alongside the Edinburgh International Festival. Inspired by their initiative, more performers joined in each year. In 1958, the Fringe Society was established to support the festival’s growth while maintaining its open-access spirit—a tradition that ensures no programming is censored or curated, and which remains a defining principle of the festival to this day.