Edinburgh Fringe 2025 is officially approaching: August is creeping up on us sooner than we thought (where has the time gone, seriously). Whether you’re looking to see all the shows and drink at all the pop-up bars, sub-let your flat to earn some bank (don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone), or leave the city altogether to avoid the crowds, preparation is vital.
Edinburgh Fringe is described as “the greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet”, and it certainly lives up to the name. Edinburgh comes alive every year in August and is filled with positive vibes, pop-up bars and plenty of shows on and off the streets for everyone to enjoy. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy theatre shows, comedy, dance, physical theatre, circus, cabaret, children’s shows, musicals, opera, music, spoken word, exhibitions and events from all around the world.
Edinburgh Fringe will mark its 78th year honourably showcasing European, and now worldwide, cultural life. The Fringe was first founded in 1947 just after the Second World War to give people something to look forward to after an incredibly challenging time. By 1958, the festival had launched the box office and had seen tremendous growth ever since.
When is Edinburgh Fringe 2025?
This year, the festival will take place on August 1 – 25, with some shows already starting slightly earlier. Registration for this year’s Fringe acts began in January. If you would like to register your show, you can do so here.
The first batch of the programme and tickets were released on March 12 with 556 shows, while the second release of shows will go live in April, and a third batch will be published in May.
Where is The Fringe taking place?
The full list of locations has not yet been confirmed, but we expect all the familiar spots like George Square Gardens, Bristo Square, Gilded Balloon, Underbelly, The Stand Comedy Club, The Pleasance Courtyard and multiple venues and bars across the city. Plus, the PBH’s Free Fringe will also be returning to multiple venues across town.
Edinburgh Fringe line-up
Tickets for the shows that are live have now been released, so it’s a great time to start planning your experience.
Some theatre highlights include Shakespeare for Breakfast at C Venues, Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come at Underbelly and Margolyes & Dickens: More Best Bits at Pleasance.
The comedy side is back with the top three acts from the 2025 edition of So You Think You’re Funny? – Bert Broadbent, Fab Goualin, and Ciara O’Connor at the Gilded Balloon. Moreover, familiar faces at this year’s Fringe include Nish Kumar and Jason Byrne at Assembly, Andy Parsons, Chloe Petts, Deirdre O’Kane, Elf Lyons, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, Marjolein Robertson and Rhys Darby at Pleasance, Paul Sinha and Richard Herring at The Stand, and Geoff Norcott and Ali Woods at Underbelly.
As usual, guests are also going to be able to also see musicals, cabaret, dance and physical theatre performances, as well as spoken word and children’s shows.
Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “It is always an exciting moment to see the first shows that will be performing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. The 2025 Edinburgh Fringe feels more real than ever and being able to browse the first batch of shows adds another level of excitement. It’s incredible to see the range and themes of work as well as the talent and creativity that artists are bringing to the festival this year.
‘More artists than ever have chosen to put their shows on sale at this early stage, allowing more time to plan their trip to Edinburgh this August. The cost of putting on a Fringe show can be a barrier to attending and the Fringe Society is working to support artists in any way that we can, whether that’s sourcing artist accommodation, keeping registration fees affordable, seeking out funding opportunities, or simply providing advice to any artist that needs it. Our Artist Services team is on hand to offer support, so please do reach out to the team.”