The world's biggest arts festival gets underway in less than two months, and today marks the launch of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 programme. This year’s event is set to be one of the biggest yet, with a whopping 3,352 shows somehow taking over 265 venues across the city. Artists from 58 countries will explore themes that speak to present day issues, from rebellious women and queer joy to the paranormal, rave culture and the impending apocalypse.

Traverse Theatre has a number of high-profile new show additions in the programme: Gary McNair’s A Gambler’s Guide To Dying returns to mark its 10th anniversary; Consumed reunites ‘four generations of Northern Irish women’ in ‘a tale of twisted family dynamics and national boundaries’; and The Kite Runner actor and activist Khalid Abdalla presents Nowhere, inspired by the 2011 Egyptian revolution. Scottish Storytelling Centre hosts Loud Poets (excitingly described as a ‘fist-thumping, pint-drinking, side-tickling, heart-wrenching fusion of poetry and live music’); Ailsa Dixon and Ffion Phillips will ‘weave folk music, language and story across these isles and between worlds’ in Aderyn/Bird; and Cassandra ‘blends Greek myth, Scottish folklore and personal narrative to explore prophecy, protest and survival across time and space’.

The programme also features 325 free shows and 529 pay-what-you-want shows. New venues include Portobello Town Hall, Leith’s Citadel Youth Centre and Easter Road Stadium. This Fringe also marks the long-awaited return of The Famous Spiegeltent (last seen in Edinburgh in 2015), and Gilded Balloon are taking over a new space at Appleton Tower (formerly the Fringe Central headquarters during the August action) while they await the completion of extensive renovations at their spiritual home of Teviot Row House.

Comedy is famously a huge part of the Fringe's appeal, and there are plenty of familiar faces returning for shows this August, including Josie Long, Jenny Eclaire, Michelle Brasier, Nina Conti, Bill Bailey, Paul Sinha, Mark Thomas, Bridget Christie, Desiree Burch, Karen Dunbar and David O’Doherty. Making her Edinburgh Fringe debut is US comedian Rosie O'Donnell, who will reflect on her spats with Donald Trump and her relocation to Ireland.

Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Fringe Society, said: 'Programme launch is such an exciting moment for everyone involved making the Fringe happen. Thank you to all the Fringe-makers: the artists, venues, workers, producers, technicians, promoters, support staff and audiences that bring their un-matched, exceptional energy to Edinburgh in August.

‘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. Jump right in, book your favourites, shows that intrigue you and take a chance on something new.’

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Friday 1–Monday 25 August. Tickets available from the Edinburgh Fringe site; main picture: Jess Shurte.