Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Recommendations
It’s that time again! Despite some challenging traffic issues in the city centre (if you were planning to get the tram past town, please keep an eye on the updates) and some potential changes in road closures and venues for Assembly George Street, here’s what the team is looking forward to next month.
Disclaimer: these are our recommendations, but they may or may not have tickets remaining and always check age and any other warnings (for the chewed banana juggling story, please email your contact and make sure you have a strong constitution).
Cabaret
After-hours burlesque club 2026 – this was a sell-out in 2025 but is not for the faint of heart. Some of whatever takes your fancy can likely be found in the historic caves in the old town at midnight.
Bernie Dieters Club Kabarett – at the circus hub on the meadows, this is still as flamboyant as cabaret can get at a much more reasonable hour.
Colin Cloud – the Scottish mentalist is back from his Las Vegas residency to wow you with amazing feats that can easily be mistaken for mind reading. Audience participation is often encouraged, so come with an open mind and be ready to rethink how and why you form the thoughts you do.
James Phelan – direct from the West End, Phelan is back at the Fringe with his comedy magic, which has proved popular year after year.
Comedy
Connor Burns – a favourite of the whole team. The Edinburgh comic brings his current show to the Fringe. Warning here for foul language and political topics and opinions.
Vittorio Angelone – don’t be misled by the name; this Northern Irish comedian is back after multiple sell-out shows in previous years. This time, he has both the tried-and-tested “Can’t say nothing anymore” and the new “Off the cuff” to keep us laughing.
Jimmy Rees – moving further afield, the Aussie comedian debuts in Edinburgh after playing to 150,000 in the southern hemisphere. Prepare for skits and sketches with characters both real and familiar to his 4.5 million Instagram followers.
Ali Woods – back after 4 previous sell-out runs, join Woods for a work in progress from the Comedy Central and Stand-Up Sketch Show star.
As always, do not forget the showcases. From individual group showcases to themed comedy nights, these can be great introductions to people you might not otherwise see or want to risk the ticket price on until you’ve had a chance to see a sample.
Dance / Physical Theatre
Black Blues Brothers – if you haven’t seen these daring acrobats before, you are missing out. Featured on numerous showcases, these guys tumble and jump in amazing feats that will leave you thrilled.
By a Thread – Described as Aussie circus at its best, these acrobats use 30m of rope, 6m off the ground, to defy both gravity and the audience’s expectations of what can be done.
Circa – the brilliant Brisbane-based group bring you Wolf. A must-see wherever they go, the company brings stunning physical acrobatics with teeth for their current offering.
Tale of the Firebird – if you’re looking for more live music with your acrobatics, meet the Freestyle Orchestra where musicians double as acrobats.
Events
Forgotten Swallies – visiting Scotland for the Fringe as a tourist or just fancy a few drinks as part of your entertainment? Join the Cumberland Bar as they tell stories while you enjoy three forgotten drinks from days gone by. Over 18s for obvious reasons, but day drinking for those of us who want to be home in bed before we overdo it.
There are a variety of walking tours available linked to your interests. From books and ghoulish goings on to food and history, let someone in the know design the route while you follow along and absorb the atmosphere as well as the topic.
If shopping is your thing, the standard shops remain open. From our newly opened Sephora to Harvey Nichols and Multrees Walk, we also have local pop-ups in the form of the West End Market in the grounds of St John’s Church at the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road, and the Scottish Design Exchange on George Street. Here you can find anything from Scottish Christmas cards to tea cake golf umbrellas.
Music and Musicals
Edinburgh Days – a rock folk musical from a Blood Brothers director. If you’re missing your Outlander fix now the show is concluded, this promises passion, betrayal, and twisted romance in a 4-star epic.
Fuccbois: Live in concert – like your music a bit more irreverent? Join an Australian comedy boyband extravaganza with 4- and 5-star reviews from the Adelaide fringe.
Into the Woods – up close and personal, this small venue production has you almost part of the action. Sondheim’s much-loved musical becomes a stripped-back spectacle.
Miscast Sondheim – sticking with Sondheim, join the next generation of LAMDA graduates as they turn his music on its head. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the productions, this is a cabaret for all.
Sunshine on Leith – no list would be complete without me proposing this. If you’ve never seen the film, don’t worry, the production has all the favourites.
Theatre
Arcade – not for the faint of heart, this choose-your-own-path, interactive, immersive experience in a shipping container is back to surround you with 1980s video game aesthetics, 360-degree binaural sound and sensory effects in a war-torn scenario.
The Court – for those of you who watched the TV show where members of the public stepped in for the jury on a historical case, why not try your hand at a lower-stakes game? Court 1 has two sisters accusing each other of murdering their mother, and in Court 3 we travel back to 1590, where a woman is accused of witchcraft and attempting to kill the king. The outcomes are up to you.
Shakespeare for breakfast – a hit every year, this alternative take on a different play each year comes with a tea, coffee or juice and a croissant to enjoy while the company sing, play and laugh their way through an abbreviated performance recognisable for the story if not always the exact dialogue.
S**tfaced Shakespeare: Hamlet – any Off Campus fans may think back to what they’ve seen in the drama. Be warned this is much more tame. In a professional (and risk-assessment-requiring world), join the company as a single member of the cast tries to keep on top of their lines while under the influence. With a different cast member impacted each night, the options for chaos are many. Please note that audience participation and shot taking are best left on-screen.
Written by Shona Ross