More than 3,000 shows have been confirmed for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025, with big names such as Miriam Margoyles, Jenny Eclair, and Bill Bailey leading the bill.
The official programme, according to the BBC, features 3,352 shows across 265 venues. The world-renowned arts festival will run from August 1 to 25, bringing comedy, music, theatre, magic, dance, cabaret, and more to the streets and stages of Edinburgh.
Comedy, Music, Magic and More on Show
This year’s festival embraces bold themes including apocalypse, disability, sexuality, and rave culture. Performances span an array of formats and genres, making it one of the most diverse Fringe lineups in recent years.
New additions to the venue roster include Hibernian FC’s Easter Road stadium and Portobello Town Hall. The latter will feature Welcome to the Fringe, Palestine, a mini-festival celebrating Palestinian art and culture.
Returning favorites like The Famous Spiegeltent — a 19th-century Belgian venue — will set up again in St Andrew Square, while another iconic tent will transform a Gyle Shopping Centre car park into a circus stage, hosted by an Italian troupe.
Over 850 Free and Pay-What-You-Can Shows
Of the total lineup, 325 shows are free and 529 operate on a pay-what-you-can basis. Universities have stepped in to offer accommodation to help reduce the cost burden on performers, improving accessibility for all participants.
A total of 923 shows originate from Scotland, primarily Edinburgh. An additional 1,392 come from across the UK, while 54 countries are represented overall.
Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said:
“This year’s Fringe programme is filled with every kind of performance, so whether you’re excited for theatre or circus, or the best of comedy, music, dance, children’s shows, magic or cabaret; get ready to dare to discover this August.”
Notable Performers and Must-See Acts
Audiences can expect headline shows from Bill Bailey, Jenny Eclair, and Miriam Margoyles. Theatre fans can look forward to Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at the Arthur Conan Doyle Centre, which explores a family’s link to the historic women’s vote campaign.
VOTE the Musical at Paradise Green offers a compelling take on activism and sacrifice through the story of the Suffragettes. Meanwhile, Happy Ending Street by Jenna Stone, presented at Leith Arches, follows the lives of three Scottish sex workers seeking a better future.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
