Assembly announces first wave of Fringe acts for 2026
Susie McCabe, Mythos: Ragnarök and Dear Evan Hansen lead a line-up of comedy, drama, musicals and magic
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe may seem lightyears away, but Assembly has already announced its first wave of acts, with a raft of stand-up, theatre, musicals, magic shows and more.
The initial run of announcements is typically dominated by guaranteed ticket-shifters, and this year is no different with Susie McCabe performing her new show Coming Of Rage at Gordon Aikman Theatre, her regular venue at the Fringe. She’ll be ‘laughing at the madness of being in my mid 40s and the state of the world’. Our four-star review of her show last year concluded ‘Her observational material hits every mark.’ Read the full review here. Other comics on the bill include Rob Auton with his new show Jupiter, and Superstore star Chris Grace.
In theatre, Diary Of A Mad Man leads the bill with its dark one-man show based on Nikolai Gogol’s story of the same name, transposed from Russia to contemporary Ireland. Another dramatic heavyweight, Krapp’s Last Tape is the ambitious adaptation of Samuel Beckett’s classic story. Directed by Academy Award nominee Stockard Channing, it’s been a hit at Fringes and stages across the globe.
Musicals announced so far include the smash hits Dear Evan Hansen and Come From Away, which will both be performed for limited runs at Assembly Ballroom. Also in the musical category, Jess Robinson is reprising Elton Reimagined and the popular 27 Club is returning after a well-reviewed run at last year’s Fringe.
Other shows returning for their regular residencies at the Fringe include Mythos: Ragnarök, Adults Only Magic Show, Baby Wants Candy, Ten Thousand Hours and the party-starting Hot Dub Time Machine.
This year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe will take place from Friday 7–Monday 31 August. Expect plenty more coverage of it, including the return of our Road To Edinburgh Festival series, as the year rolls on.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe, various venues, Friday 7–Monday 31 August.