The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest performing arts festival, held every August across hundreds of venues in Edinburgh. It features thousands of performances spanning comedy, theatre, cabaret, music, dance, circus, spoken word, children’s shows, and experimental work.

Because there is no selection process, anyone can perform, which makes the festival highly diverse, creative, and constantly surprising.

Shows take place all over the city in a wide range of venues, including theatres, pubs, churches, tents, and even outdoor street spaces. As a result, the entire city becomes part of the festival, creating a lively, immersive atmosphere. The Fringe is known for being energetic, unpredictable, and innovative, often featuring unique, one-off performances that can’t be seen anywhere else.

For schools, the Fringe offers specially selected, age-appropriate shows that link to learning and curriculum areas such as drama, English, and the creative arts. Schools can access group discounts, as well as educational resources to support preparation and follow-up work. Many programmes also include workshops and talks, giving students the chance to meet performers and develop their own creative skills. Overall, the experience helps build confidence, creativity, and engagement with live performance in a real-world festival setting.

• Where: Throughout Edinburgh - especially the Royal Mile, Old Town, and New Town
• What makes it special: Anyone can participate if they secure a venue, which creates a huge mix of established acts and emerging artists
• Scale: Tens of thousands of performances from artists around the world

During August, several festivals happen simultaneously:

• Edinburgh International Festival
• Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• Edinburgh International Book Festival

• Book accommodation very early, prices will rise sharply in August
• Mix ticketed shows with Free Fringe performances
• Leave time for spontaneous discoveries
• Wear comfortable shoes. Much of the city is walkable but has hills.