20 shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026
From indie pop reunions to chaotic clown shows, we've rounded up 20 Fringe shows to put in your calendars
Anatomy Of Survival
A wild incident in a coffee shop sparked this theatre-dance piece created by Vivienne Franzmann and Frauke Requardt, and which features two dancers, an actor and a drummer.Requardt
Assembly Dance Base, 25–29 August, 7.45pm.
Belle and Sebastian
These beloved indie popsters have a few things going on in North Berwick this summer but for this show they’re recreating in full their If You’re Feeling Sinister album which charmed many an ear in 1996.
Fringe By The Sea, 6 August, 8pm.
Doktor Kaboom
The good Doktor spins his Wheel Of Science to determine which of his wild experiments will be let loose upon the crowd that day, making each performance potentially unique.
Pleasance Courtyard, 5–16 August, 1.30pm.
Flamenc Oh!!
From the funny folk who brought you A Comedy Of Operas comes this clash of physical theatre, the world’s most Spanish dance form and wild humour with eclectic live music to boot.
Assembly Rooms, 6–30 August, 2.15pm.
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Glob
‘A circus for everyone to dream together’ is the tagline for Les Foutoukours. This Quebec company have been doing highly dramatic things since 1997 and this show features two ageless and very fluffy characters.
Underbelly Bristo Square, 5–30 August, 3pm.
Ifrah Qureshi
1998 self-help book The 48 Laws Of Power became a bestseller which wound a lot of people up. Rising stand-up Qureshi delivers her own twist on the edicts therein (she’s changed ‘Laws’ to ‘Flaws’ for one thing).
The Stand 4, 6–30 August, 8.15pm.
Jack Rooke
A lot has happened in the decade since Rooke performed Good Grief at the Fringe (he produced an unstoppable Channel 4 hit with Big Boys for one thing) so in a much larger room, we’ll find out how it has endured.
Underbelly Bristo Square, 27–29 August, 7pm.
Kinder
One of the barnstorming hits from 2025 makes a swift return with this List Festival Award winning hour (we can pat ourselves on the back sometimes, surely?) tackling identity and the power of words.
Underbelly Cowgate, 5–30 August, 2pm.
Liberace And Liza: A Tribute
Going doing a storm at the Brighton Fringe, this will surely do similar business in Edinburgh, as two fabulous showbiz legends are brought together to recreate a show which, sadly, never actually happened.
Underbelly Bristo Square, 5–30 August, 8.25pm.
Madame Chandelier
Opera figures Carmen, Tosca and Madame Butterfly are unleashed to try and save a young girl who has become trapped in a video game. Will the nasty Queen Of The Night be vanquished? Probably.
Pleasance Courtyard, 5–16 August, 12.15pm.
Making Love With David Magidoff
Esteemed telly actor Magidoff doesn’t just chat to a celeb live onstage about a real love story, he then turns it into a full-of improvised musical right before us. Among those confirmed for this run so far are Fran Healy, Fatiha El-Ghorri and Tim Burgess.
Assembly George Square Studios, 7–23 August, 8.05pm.
Mayflies
The powerful Andrew O’Hagan novel about childhood friends facing up to a tough decision in later life was equally as strong on TV, and here it is given the Grid Iron treatment in a unique venue.
Brown’s, 7–30 August, 4pm.
Palestinian Circus
Fuelled by vibrant rhythms and uplifting traditions, this will be a hugely popular circus experience as the non-profit organisation delivers a message of hope and connection.
Underbelly Circus Hub, 8–29 August, 2.05pm.
Patti Harrison
The avant garde US comic delivers yet another strange and wholly uncomfortable experience for audience members and for anyone who joins her on stage. Just Ironing Things Out is the least appropriate title for her fare.
Pleasance Courtyard, 24–29 August, 10pm.
Penelope
Broadway star Grace McLean takes on the role of Odysseus’ very patient partner who waited quite a while for his return after the Trojan battles. This chamber musical tells the tale from her perspective, at long last.
Underbelly Cowgate, 5–30 August, 3.45pm.
Roleplay
In terms of solo-show Fringe success, could this be the next Baby Reindeer or Fleabag? Maybe. Hannah Reilly plays a down-on-her luck progressive podcaster who takes quite the career U-turn to try and make a breakthrough.
Summerhall, 6–31 August, 5.50pm.
Scaramouche Jones
Directed by Fringe icon Guy Masterson, aged clown Scaramouche pops on several masks and takes us down a very long memory lane studded with some of the darkest hours in history.
Assembly Rooms, 6–30 August, 4.10pm.
Tether
From Wonder Fools comes Tether, a ceilidh crossed with a storytelling affair for which they team up with South Korea’s Theatre San to tackle love, migration, oppression and time.
Summerhall, 6–31 August, 4.30pm.
The Raft Of The Crab
Merging puppetry, pole work and contemporary dance, Ninon Noiret explores her experience with cancer and what it has taken for her to get onto the road to recovery.
Assembly Roxy, 18–31 August, 2.30pm.
Tia Kofi
A successful competitor from the Drag Race universe, Kofi delivers a cabaret delight by chatting to some personalities about the moments that made them and the guilty pleasures they may harbour.
Gilded Saloon, 21 & 22 August, 7.40pm.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, various venues, Friday 7–Monday 31 August; main picture: Suzanne Frost.