2027.08.06 — 2027.08.30 · Coming soon
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The 2027 Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 6 to 30 August, its 80th edition. It began in 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited at the Edinburgh International Festival and performed on its fringe; it still selects nothing, and anyone with a venue willing to host them can perform. In 2026 there were 4,232 shows from 77 countries, 61,277 performances in 306 venues and about 2.8 million tickets issued. The 2027 programme is published in spring.
In 1947 eight theatre groups arrived uninvited at the Edinburgh International Festival and performed on its fringe anyway, which gave the Fringe its name.
Eighty years on it still has no selectors: anyone with a venue can perform, which is why it is the easiest place to find work before it is famous.
In 2026 Strange Tales at ZOO turned Pu Songling’s Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio into contemporary dance theatre, with human and fox, waking and dreaming changing places through the body alone.
If you know the stories, watch choreography replace the text; if not, the movement lets you in.
The music-theatre show Woody Sez told Woody Guthrie’s life through more than twenty songs.
Folk fans can hear the songs drive the story forward; it also shows that music at the Fringe is more than a seated set list.
Checked · 2026-10-03
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2006 · Colin Smith · Photo source · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Preview cropped; enlarge for full image. · Report image rights
The 2027 programme comes out in spring; the shows mentioned are 2026 examples.
August is Edinburgh’s busiest month, so book a bed early.
Venues are spread across the city, so allow time to walk and find the door between shows.
No reusable current site plan is available; open the latest map from the official event page.
Open official guide ↗6–30 August 2027; the programme is published in spring 2027, with times on each show’s page.
Europe/LondonPrefer public transport and group dispersed venues by area using the official map.
Admission varies by venue, sector or performance; free public programmes are separate from main admission.
Tickets per show · 2027 programme and prices in spring
Accessibility varies by venue or sector; confirm the specific session with the organiser before travel.
Dates and entry details refer to this edition; individual sessions may differ.
Colin Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 Image source
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society
The full list of exhibitors or programme details has not been announced. Examples from previous editions are labelled with their year.
Information checked on 2026-10-03
Suggest a correction ↗One of Japan’s three great illuminations: over five million lights turned into wisteria, snowmen and reflections.
Japan · Ashikaga
Walk a 200 m tunnel of golden light, then lights across the water and twin trees lit at the chapel bell.
Japan · Kuwana
From November to January, blue lights line the Otaru Canal; in the blue hour after sunset, lights and sky merge.
Japan · Otaru
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