Discover some of the hottest Canadian talent visiting Edinburgh during Festival season

Edinburgh Festival season is upon us, and with it an incredible celebration of international talent. The High Commission of Canada, in partnership with the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation, is supporting Canada’s vibrant arts and culture scene this year with Spotlight Canada, flying the flag for every Canadian act performing at the Edinburgh Festival in 2026. 

The Canadian diaspora is represented at the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival, and features both internationally renowned talent and emerging acts showcasing their act for the first time in Edinburgh.  

To highlight some of the incredible acts who’ve made their way across the pond, our Canada@Edinburgh 2026 magazine brings together every listing from or featuring Canadians this month. 

Find the print edition of the magazine in various stockists across Edinburgh or read it online below. 

Listings 

Below you’ll find every Canadian work across this year’s festivals. These listings are taken from official show descriptions provided to The List, and information is correct at the time of publication. Please double check showtimes before booking. 

Edinburgh International Festival 

All EIF presentations featuring Canadian artists are supported by the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation as part of Spotlight Canada 2026. 

The Galloping Cure 

A bold new opera for the opioid age.

The Galloping Cure is a haunting allegory for a crisis that has become a worldwide epidemic. Visually stunning and emotionally gripping, this contemporary fable evokes a darkly funny and devastating vision of a crumbling society

This world premiere reunites Scottish Opera with the creative forces of Missy Mazzoli, librettist Royce Vavrek and Tom Morris, following their International Festival hit Breaking the Waves (2019).

Royce Vavrek is a Canadian librettist and lyricist celebrated as ‘an exemplary creator of operatic prose" by The New York Times and "the indie Hofmannsthal’ by The New Yorker. His opera Angel's Bone was awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Festival Theatre, 9–12 August. 

Mere Mortals 

Open Pandora’s Box and come face to face with the perils of our tech-obsessed age. San Francisco Ballet takes on eternal questions about the quest for knowledge through the contemporary lens of artificial intelligence. 

Returning to the International Festival for the first time in over 20 years, this forward-looking company brings its ‘unmatched creative ambition’ (The Washington Post) to the Edinburgh Playhouse stage. San Francisco Ballet’s bold approach is a perfect fit for visionary Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton, whose works ‘offer an entire world’ (The New York Times).

Composer and electronic musician Floating Points (Sam Shepherd) performs his original score live with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. With cutting-edge visuals, the full power of the orchestra in the pit and 40 of the world’s best dancers commanding the stage, this European premiere is a breathtaking spectacle.

Playhouse, 28-30 August. 

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal: Coleridge-Taylor’s The Song of Hiawatha 

Founded in 1934, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) is a distinguished leader in the musical life of Canada and is internationally recognized as one of the finest orchestras in the world.

A chance to see Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s monumental 1899 cantata trilogy The Song of Hiawatha performed in full for the first time at the Festival. Uchenna Ngwe, a specialist in Black British classical music, introduces its fascinating history. Three superb soloists, perform with the OSM, conductor Rafael Payare and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus for this masterpiece.

Usher Hall, 19 August. 

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal: Voices Of Canada

Centring First Nation voices of Canada is at the fore of this concert.

The performance opens with two brand-new vocal works paying tribute to Canada’s Indigenous peoples - with input from Innu artists Michelle Sylliboy (librettist) and Élisabeth St-Gelais (soloist), and Mi'kmaw artists Emma Pennell (soloist) and Natasha Kanapé Fontaine (librettist), these distinguished artists and performers proudly demonstrate Canadian excellence.

Usher Hall, 20 August.  

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 

Supported by the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation as part of Spotlight Canada 2026.

10,000 Digits of Pi

Vinay navigates his memory palace of absurd images to recite 10,000 digits of pi. Every time he makes a mistake, he must do an audience-chosen punishment. The digits and images are shown on a screen for the audience to follow along. Previously, he only managed to recite 2,000 digits – this year he's going for 10,000! The show was shortlisted for the Malcolm Hardee Comic Originality Award and earned rave reviews from The Scotsman and Binge Fringe. 'This is the kind of show true Fringe-goers will talk about for years to come' **** (Scotsman).

PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 August. 

AI Campfire 

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Welcome... Come closer... This is no ordinary fire. Step into an intimate, immersive campfire where mythical forces of nature meet in the shadow of a changing world. Once again guided by AI database, Symbiolene, as she conjures figures from her past: The Green Man, Brigid and the Cailleach. These beings, woven into her code, are a clear reminder that nature has memory and that when the earth is pushed too far, its spirits may seek vengeance. Through haunting audiovisuals evoking gentle warnings and broken covenants, this atmospheric experience lifts the veil from past to present.

Venue 13, 7–29 August.  

A Little Green Leaf

A Little Green Leaf is inspired by the life of Odette Hallowes (MBE, Legion d’Honneur, George Cross), Britain’s most highly decorated spy of the Second World War. This play tells the story of Odette’s service as an agent of the Special Operations Executive, resilience in the face of Gestapo brutality, survival of Ravensbruck concentration camp, and her remarkable ability to retain her light, humanity and compassion in the face of unimaginable suffering. A Little Green Leaf is a poignant and timely reminder of sacrifice, courage and how one achieves peace.

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall, 7–22 August. 

A Public Display of Affection

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

At a queer community event, an ‘inspirational’ elder steps up to deliver the speech everyone expects: warm, wise and reassuring. Instead, he tells the truth. Funny, furious and deeply human, this solo show tumbles through 1970s Toronto bars, police raids, bathhouses, AIDS wards and the polished cruelty of rainbow capitalism. Friends are lost, old compromises resurface and survival proves messier than nostalgia allows. This is a sharp, unsentimental reckoning with queer history, intergenerational memory and what it really means to live long enough to watch your identity become marketable.

Gilded Balloon Patter House, 5–30 August.  

A Seance Spectacular with the Mystical Medium Wolf Sisters from the Great White North

An invitation to a proper Victorian seance in an appropriately eerie attic. Comedians Carly Anna Billings (The Second City Toronto) and Cecilia O'Grady will take you back in time as the Wolf Sisters, two founders of American Spiritualism, on the road, sharing their gifts of spirit and sisterhood when everything goes awry. Part comedy, part scare, this 60-minute show created and performed by these 'hilarious hosts' (Common Ground Arts, Edmonton) is sure to deliver you a spine-tinglingly silly spirit-filled story.

Just The Tonic at The Mash House, 20–30 August. 

Anne of Green Gables

Anne of Green Gables follows the misadventures of a wildly independent orphan with fiery red hair and a temper to match. Cherished by generations, LM Montgomery's timeless classic comes to life in a new musical commissioned by the award-winning Theatreworks USA. Anne Shirley is mistakenly sent to live with a plainspoken farmer and his spinster sister, who thought they were adopting a boy! She wins over the Cuthberts and all of Prince Edward Island with her irrepressible spirit and imagination – and wins over audiences with this warm, poignant story about love, home and family.

theSpace @ Venue 45, 7–12 August. 

Big Stuff

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Acclaimed Canadian Second City comedy duo, Matt Baram and Naomi Snieckus, directed by genius collaborator Kat Sandler, bring their signature mix of storytelling and improvisation to Big Stuff – a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of the stuff we leave behind. This fast-paced two-hander unpacks the emotional and absurd aspects of loss – from basement clutter to memories that linger. With quick wit and sharp chemistry, Baram and Snieckus turn life's big questions into big answers. 'One of those pieces of theatre you'll carry with you for the rest of your life.' (Globe and Mail).

Assembly Roxy, 5–30 August. 

Catching a Cheese Pervert: A Priscilla Patton Mystery

Who's flashing women in Sorryton, Canada with cheese? Canada's favourite dairy heiress and anti-vegan influencer, Priscilla Patton, races to find the culprit before they spoil dairy's wholesome image. Questionable detective skills face off against Big Dairy in the most talked about show in Canada (amongst our circle of friends). 'A must-see for fans of quirky, "proper Fringe" theatre.' (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). 'I don't know what I was expecting, but not this! It was so funny, so weird, it brought a chaotic energy that I loved so much.' (Audience Review). Regrettably inspired by true events.

Just The Tonic at Westside Rodeo, 6–27 August.   

Citizen Chen

She's Chinese. She's Canadian. She's confused. Scarlet turns immigration into a laugh-packed hour of stand-up and storytelling in her solo show, Citizen Chen. She skewers border control, bureaucracy and the absurd things we do to fit in – with warm charm and razor-sharp observations. Expect cultural whiplash, language mishaps and laugh-out-loud recognition. No small talk. Just punchlines and heart.

Just The Tonic at The Mash House, 6–30 August. 

Cray Cray Cabaret

Direct from London’s glittering West End and world-famous Comedy Store, Cray Cray Cabaret is an electrifying comedy-cabaret that delivers an hour of action-packed laughs. Hosted by Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Phil Nichol and irrepressible musical sidekick David Tims (of the Amy Winehouse Band), the show blends sequin-soaked cabaret, world-class circus, quirky music and laugh-out-loud stand-up, wrapped in the unpredictable, high-octane chaos of its hosts. Top-notch surprise guests. Previous guests have included Chris Rock, Adam Hills, Kate Butch, Jason Manford, Rich Hall, Jayde Adams, Tape Face, Nina Conti. 'A great night out with a twist' **** (Chortle.co.uk).

The Ballroom at The Voodoo Rooms, 18–30 August. 

Creepy Boys: SLUGS

It's about nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing. We promise. For tonight, we are free. From the award-winning performance/comedy duo Creepy Boys, S.E. Grummett and Sam Kruger, this anarchic fever dream is a techno-punk concert, a play, a clown show and a basement puppet nightmare all rolled into one. Best Show nominee, Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2025. 'The underground hit of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe' (Telegraph). **** (Guardian). **** (Scotsman). **** (Chortle.co.uk). ***** (ToDoList.org.uk). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). **** (List). **** (Financial Times). **** (Fest).

Summerhall, 6–17 August. 

Cyclopath Stand-Up and Songs Vol 3

Canadian comedian and cycling advocate Dion Owen returns for his seventh Fringe! With a show honed from years of professional touring. Featuring a mix of polished jokes, improvised keyboard songs and occasional cycling propaganda.

Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 August. 

David Tsonos: Club Comedian

Now with 25 years of stand-up comedy under his belt, Canadian David Tsonos is doing it by himself. He will be a one-man comedy club in which he is the compere, the opening act and the headliner. No sad stories, no uplifting tales, just straight stand-up comedy club style humour. David has not only performed stand-up but has studied it, and will bring his years of experience to the show and make sure you come out still laughing.

Laughing Horse @ Kick Ass Cowgate, 6–30 August.

Define Queerness

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

How do you define queerness? What was your first exposure to queerness? What does being queer mean to you? Define Queerness is a verbatim piece which explores gender, sexuality and identity within relationships, friendships and social pressures. Written using text from recorded interviews with two queer couples, Define Queerness showcases a variety of experiences and issues regarding queer love in an authentic and personal way. Built through a devised theatre process, Define Queerness aims to uplift queer communities and create a space for queer joy.

Venue 13, 8–29 August.

Glenn Wool Is Luv (Sic) 

In a thoughtful (yet close to the bone) stand-up tale, Fringe legend Glenn Wool as he recounts the bumps, scrapes, highs and lows of receiving the shock news of a surprise divorce two weeks before his 50th. 'The best comedian in the UK' (Doug Stanhope (ten years ago)). 'One of the most important voices in comedy' (Jim Jefferies (last year, actually)). 'The first time I saw Glenn Wool reminded me of the first time I saw Sam Kinison' (Norm Macdonald (can’t remember exactly when but it was more than five years ago, obviously)).

Scottish Comedy Festival @ The Beehive Inn, 7–31 August. 

Glob

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Les Foutoukours return to Edinburgh with Glob, a circus adventure like no other! Without a single word, two lovable characters tumble, glide and soar through the unknown. Join them as they discover a world that is tender, magical and wonderfully absurd. They’ll make you gasp and cheer – all while tugging at your heart. For anyone who needs the world to slow down just a little, Glob is a wordless journey where emotion speaks louder than words. Perfect for all ages, it will delight and enchant audiences, young and old. Don’t miss this unforgettable ride!

Underbelly, Bristo Square, 5–30 August.

Homecumming

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Our heroine can't come anymore... While orgasms are the inciting incident (and an entertaining one), they're really an invitation into a much larger conversation about mental health, depression, shame and self-worth. This isn't a story about sex (maybe a little), it's a story about healing. Inspired by real life, Homecumming explores the taboos surrounding female sexuality with honesty, humour and tenderness. Her journey is messy, funny, sexy, vulnerable and painfully relatable. Through therapy, self-reflection and a growing desire to reconnect with herself, she begins a transformation – from caterpillar to butterfly – rediscovering her taste for life.

Summerhall, 6–16 August.

How to Believe in Anything

Sam, obsessed with stars and stuck in middle-of-nowhere British Columbia, is given an out-of-this world opportunity the night of her 14th birthday. An alien (who looks suspiciously like her missing mother) visits and promises a whirlwind adventure with deadly repercussions. Escape isn’t easy, and sometimes you have to blast off in order to survive. If you want your mother to hold you, if you want your current life to go up in flames, or if you want the kind of revenge that puts people in jail, this is the show for you.

Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull, 6–18 August.

Into The Light: True Story of Survival and Faith

In 1541, Marguerite de la Rocque embarked on the adventure of a lifetime: to be one of the French noblewomen to colonize the land that is now Canada. Strong-willed and self-assured, the prospect of being free from the rigid life of nobility is thrilling. But when her secret affair is brought to light, Marguerite finds herself doomed: exiled, unwed and with child, to the Island of Demons. Witness her story of survival as Marguerite discovers the One who can save her from the constant darkness and bring her Into the Light.

Duncan Street Baptist Church, 18–21 August.

JOSIAH

Based on the autobiography of Josiah Henson. Born into slavery in Maryland, enduring 41 years of unimaginable brutality and persecution before escaping to Canada. The play dramatises his unwavering resilience, determination and faith; the indomitable spirit which led him to become a respected leader, minister and teacher. His story inspired Harriet Beecher Stowe to create Uncle Tom in the seminal novel of the 19th Century – Uncle Tom’s Cabin. This is a story that matters today in a time when histories are being erased and challenged. It is a compelling true Canadian story of triumph over adversity.

theSpaceTriplex, 17–29 August. 

Julie Belliveau: Enlightened?

Julie Belliveau is enlightened? Nope! Join this Canadian/Kiwi recovering Catholic in a high-energy and uplifting journey filled with tales of marrying an Irishman, motherhood, IVF, health (sometimes mental) problems, moving to Italy and the odd adult nursery rhyme thrown in for good measure. Julie is known for her hilarious storytelling and quick-witted crowd work. Julie was a finalist in the New Zealand RAW Comedy Quest and nominated as ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2021 New Zealand Comedy Awards. Come see this rising star who prompted Kyla Cobbler to exclaim, ‘What a woman!’ after she stepped offstage.

Greenside @ George Street, 24–29 August.

Kate Hammer: Government Approved Comedian

One Canadian needs to make you laugh, otherwise she will be deported. Join Kate as she navigates proving herself to get a Global Talent Visa, getting dominated on Vinted, and breaking up with an identical twin. As seen on Breaking the News, BBC Scotland, Roast Battle League and Channel 4. 'A full package, all tools comedian... It is impossible not to vibe with Hammer' (Comedy.co.uk). 'Frenetic and clownishly graphic' (Chortle.co.uk). 'Dynamic and charismatic' (BroadwayWorld.com). 'Delightful on stage… knows exactly how to land a line' (One4Review.co.uk).

Monkey Barrel Comedy (Niddry Street), 3–30 August.

Katie-Rose Petley: Dirty Bitch

Canadian comedian Katie-Rose Petley makes her Edinburgh debut with Dirty Bitch, a fearless dive into growing up in the church, progressive parenting, and sex pre-9/11. Katie-Rose is known for her fresh, filthy and unfiltered storytelling. With material that's dark, shameless, disturbingly relatable and delightfully vulgar. Whether she's unpacking religion, motherhood or the ups and downs of dog ownership, she tells it like it is, with zero apologies. (I know, how un-Canadian!).

Laughing Horse @ The Raging Bull, 19–30 August.

Late Night in Canada

The nation's most popular (and only) late night talk show. Host Gord pulls double duty as the band and interviewer, kicking things off with a monologue before welcoming a fresh line-up of nightly guests. Expect live music, unpredictable performances, and interviews that get to the important questions: What to do with a baby beaver? Can you legally touch a Mounties hat? Part talk show, part variety chaos. Think classic late night with a Canadian twist. Smart, silly and just the right amount of weird. A new show every night means no two are the same.

Laughing Horse @ The Counting House, 6–30 August. 

Le Vent du Nord

The multi award-winning and highly acclaimed Le Vent du Nord is a leading force in Québec’s progressive francophone folk movement. The group’s vast repertoire draws from both traditional sources and original compositions, while enhancing its hard-driving soulful music with a broad range of global influences. The group exhibits great finesse and flexibility, appearing regularly on Canadian, American, French and UK television and radio, participating in a wide variety of special musical projects.

The Queen's Hall, 16 August. 

Live at the Manor: Diary of a 7ft Canadian Man in a Dress

A world premiere. Canadian drag entertainer, writer, comedian and singer Joan-E, has written a brutally honest, candid and hilarious one-man show that highlights the journey of a young, shy Canadian boy who became one of Canada’s most prolific drag queens and then packed up her frocks and moved to Scotland. Join Joan-E at The Edinburgh Thistle Hotel, a perfectly intimate and sumptuous venue to hear about her extraordinary, glitteringly fabulous journey filled with more than a few famous names and plenty of laughs.

Edinburgh Thistle Hotel, 7–29 August. 

Live Comedy from Toronto

Get ready to laugh out loud with Live Comedy from Toronto... well... kinda. Everyone in Toronto is from somewhere else so we brought the best and brightest from everywhere else: Michi (Chile), Clif Knight (Guyana), Dimi Kolovopoulos (Greece), Arsy (Iran), Manny Mangat (India). It's like the World Cup from the 6ix. A fast-paced showcase of sharp-witted jokers, you’re sure to be in stitches every night! Make it the place you cap off the night! Tickets on sale now!

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall, 10–15 August.

Louise: The Last Dance

Paris, 1928. A bent and squinting old woman in rags shuffles out of a caravan in a slum market. This is Louise Weber: the woman who invented the cancan, seduced princes and made the Moulin Rouge famous. Toulouse-Lautrec painted her. Journalists destroyed her. Nobody let her speak. Until now. A solo multidisciplinary performance with live dance, projection and theatre, Louise: The Last Dance reclaims the story of the most famous woman you've never heard of. Loud, queer, working class and unforgettable. She was leered at her entire life. This time, she gets to talk back.

Greenside @ George Street, 7–29 August. 

Luscinia

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Bear your testimony and watch your tongue! Luscinia brings Ovid’s Philomela and Procne myth to the American South at the height of the Great Depression. An upbeat folk-musical with a tragic end: this Gothic adaptation combines comedy and tragedy as sisters attempt to escape their fundamentalist cult. Who will sing when you’ve lost your voice? And who will save you when the Gods won’t? The girls will have to navigate their love and hate for the charismatic preacher, Bo, and decide if salvation and freedom can be found in the same man.

Venue 13, 7–28 August. 

Madame Chandelier's Grand Theft Opera

When Madame Chandelier's daughter gets sucked into her video game and is kidnapped by the evil Queen of the Night, there's only one thing to do – gather opera's fiercest characters for an epic battle. Will Carmen, Tosca and Madame Butterfly help defeat the ultimate boss, or will all arias lead to death? Directed by P Burton-Morgan. Praise for previous work: 'Expert timing' **** (Observer). 'Madame Chandelier could be the ticket that opens up opera to new audiences' **** (Broadway Baby). 'Infectiously bonkers' **** (Scotsman).

The Green at Pleasance Courtyard, 5–16 August. 

Magic Maestros

Join the Canadian Watson brothers in a world where melodies shimmer, rhythms cast spells and every note feels enchanted. Magic Maestros is a one-of-a-kind magic-themed music show that blurs the line between concert and illusion, inviting audiences into an immersive experience where sound and wonder collide encouraging creativity long after the show ends. Audiences don’t just watch this performance, but rather they become a part of it! Whether you’re a fan of live music, theatrical spectacle, or sleight of hand, this is an experience you won’t want to miss.

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 6–30 August.

Martin Luther: Not For Sale

After abandoning his promising career in law, Luther dedicated his life to answering one question: What can I do to be made right with a God who seems impossible to please? Luther became a monk but found no peace. He followed the church’s ordinances but felt no assurance. It was not until he began to read the Bible that he realised the truth: salvation cannot be purchased. Under constant threat of arrest and death, Luther must decide: Is this truth worth dying for?

Duncan Street Baptist Church, 12–15 August. 

Marvelous Wonderettes '58

Travel back to the 1958 Springfield High School prom and meet the Wonderettes – four girls with big dreams, bigger personalities and harmonies to match. As friendships shift and romances unfold, they perform beloved 50s hits like Lollipop, Dream Lover, Stupid Cupid and more. This high-energy, heartwarming musical captures the joy, heartbreak and excitement of teenage life, all wrapped in timeless songs and vintage charm. Perfect for audiences of all ages, Wonderettes '58 is a fun, fast-paced trip down memory lane you won't want to miss.

theSpace @ Venue 45, 8–11 August.

Men Love Horsies: The Musical

Just a man singing songs about horses. Men Love Horsies: The Musical won Best In Fringe, Critic's Pick and Best In Series at the Hamilton Fringe Festival. It was selected to showcase at San Francisco Sketchfest and Toronto Sketchfest. Which is surprising. Because again: it's just a man singing songs about horses.

Greenside @ George Street, 17–29 August.

Momme Domme

You’re invited to an exclusive preview of How To Be A Domme 101, hosted by performance artist and aspiring institutional darling Peggy Mitchell. Each night, four women arrive ready for a private mistress class. From TikTok tarot readings to strap-on sashaying, Momme Domme weaves sonic intervention, ritual and voyeurism into an embodied surrender to the matriarchy. Part workshop, part intervention, Momme Domme is a seductive and surreal performance interrogating complicity, artistic consumption and the commodification of the feminine body. Done asking if we’re dating the same guy? Ready to surrender to the matriarchy?

Studio at Braw Venues @ Grand Lodge, 7–30 August. 

Monks

Falala, brothers! Join two medieval monks (modest!) on the quest of a lifetime (brave!) in this sacredly-stupid interactive clown epic. For the lentils are many, the donkey is happy and the Abbott won’t be back for hours. When two medieval brothers are left home alone they fling open the monastery doors and invite a wagonload of strangers to join them for a full day of doing nothing... What could go wrong? Ahhhhh! ‘Sublime’ ***** (NextMag.ca), ‘These clowns are gifts from God’ ***** (MyGayToronto.com), ‘Wickedly funny and surprisingly poignant’ (TheGlobeandMail.com), ‘Canada’s Best New Work’ (Toronto Theatre Critic’s Awards).

Greenside @ George Street, 7–29 August. 

Mrs Macbeth

If you hear everything and say nothing, does that make you complicit? From multi award-winning writer and performer Susanna Hamnett (Nearly Lear, Hotel Elsinore), Mrs Macbeth is a new solo show exploring the complexities of integrity in dark times. Set in the aftermath of Macbeth's fascist rule, explanations are being demanded from those closest to the murderous couple, including Margaret, Lady Macbeth's gentlewoman, who happens to share her last name. Tragic, funny, and unsettling, Mrs Macbeth is presented here in a 50-minute version. 'A virtuosic performer' (New York Times).

Space 2 at theSpace on the Mile, 24–29 August. 

Nude Parade (WIP)

Roll up your sleeves, and go under the knife as we enter into an anaesthetic world turned upside down. Like a live theatre version of the game of Operation – but make it trans. A work-in-progress by Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, S.E. Grummett, combining live-feed video, interactive surgery and trash puppets. From the creators of SLUGS. 'Brilliantly smart and beautifully stupid' **** (Guardian), Creepy Boys ***** (ToDoList.org.uk) and Something in the Water (Winner of Best Theatre award at Adelaide Fringe), comes a glittery and gory dissection of bodies, queerness and identity.

Summerhall, 19–24 August. 

Otuz Bir

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Follows a young woman named Deniz facing afflictions of sexual assault by her boyfriend Emir, coinciding with the withdrawal of the Istanbul Convention. This treaty signed in Istanbul is relevant across Europe, meant to protect women from sexual and domestic violence. Otuz bir (31) is a slang word that means to masturbate in Turkish. Turks laughs and see it as a joke, but like every joke, it carries a dark truth. Otuz Bir tells the story of Deniz’s journey exploring masturbation as a means to heal sexual trauma by meeting her vagina (yes, literally!) and reconnecting with herself.

Venue 13, 12–29 August.

Phil Nichol: Aren’t We Lucky

Lou Reed. The lottery. Ecstasy. Prince Andrew. Punk. Barenaked Ladies. Crisps. Terry Jones. Leukaemia. Butterflies. Dizzy Gillespie’s cheeks. Chance. Scat. Sunshine on Leith. Boo-bee-dee-do. Wasps. Double helix. Comedy. Dennis Hopper. Scrotums. Life. Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner, Phil Nichol is back with a brand-new show. An acclaimed actor, award-winning comedian, producer, presenter, writer and musician, there is no end to his talent. As seen on The Graham Norton Show (BBC One) and Never Mind the Buzzcocks (BBC Two). ***** (Scotsman). ***** (List).

Lounge at Gilded Balloon Teviot, 5–30 August.

Phil Nichol: The Naked Racist

20th anniversary of the 2006 Edinburgh Comedy Award winning show. The unhinged re-telling of an Amsterdam trip gone wrong ending with an epiphany of epic proportions. ‘You won’t see many comedy shows that actually exert g-force. Exhilarating, incredibly funny and clever’ (Scotsman). ‘This is a show that makes you laugh and think while you are watching and then wakes you up in the night to laugh and think again’ (Scotsman). ‘Mind-blowing. Infectious joy’ ***** (Scotland on Sunday).

Gilded Balloon Teviot – Wine Bar, 5–18 August.

She/They

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

She/They is an award-winning Canadian comedy duo. Chaotic, queer, chronically offline. Authentic, underground, need to tell your friends comedy. Bronwyn Farkas (she/her) and Sophie Jean (they/them) are experienced actors and improvisers who found a shared voice in sketch comedy. Their dynamic will leave you wondering: Will they? Won't they? She/They. Together they have performed at Toronto Sketchfest (2026), Just For Laughs 2025 (two sold-out shows), Montreal Sketchfest (Best of the Fest, Best New Troupe Award 2025), won Montreal Theatresports (2025) and been featured in countless other sketch, improv and stand-up shows. She/They, a one-woman show.

Venue 13, 7–28 August.

SINNER. A Musical Tragicomedy About Breaking Up With White Jesus

If Fleabag went to Bible college in the North American Bible Belt. SINNER. is an irreverent solo musical tragicomedy about faith, shame, and being raised to shrink. Blending razor-sharp comedy, jaw-dropping vocal virtuosity and original songs, the show interrogates belief, family systems and the cost of becoming "good." Funny, tender and unapologetically honest, audiences have called SINNER. 'the soul healing I didn't know I still needed.' Come for the comedy. Stay for the catharsis.

Just The Tonic at The Caves, 6–17 August. 

Sister Sophia Kicks the Habit

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

'The divine wisdom of the Holy She', delves into the humorous and serious revelations of Sister Sophia, an aging nun in crisis. As she grieves the loss of her friend, she grapples with her own restless night of the soul. Through musings and songs, Sophia confronts g(G)od and in her quest, she discovers a newfound outlook on life. 'Sister Sophia is witty, curious, and easy to root for... a stellar performance from the very talented Lisa Randall, the one-nun show is cheeky, introspective and thoughtful' (Hamilton City Magazine). 'Randall has a helluva voice' (Hammer Monthly).

Venue 13, 7–21 August. 

Sleight of Sound

Part concert, part magic show, part storytelling – Sleight of Sound is a solo music-magic experience about wandering, wondering and finding connection in unexpected places. With a passion for close-up magic, the audience isn’t just watching – they’re listening, responding, laughing and sometimes holding their breath together. Every performance is shaped by the room, the audience and the unpredictable beauty of live art. This is not a show about perfection – it’s about presence. About standing in front of a room of strangers and, by the end of the night, feeling like you’ve shared something real.

Laughing Horse @ Bar 50, 17–28 August.

Sneaking Into Taylor Swift Cost Me $1989

I've been sneaking into the biggest stadiums across North America wearing a hidden camera, then redistributing the ticket value to people in each city that could really benefit. As I released these videos on my Youtube channel (Matt Watson Comedy), security started hunting me, but when I had a shot at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, I was determined to pull off my biggest heist yet...

Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters, 6–30 August.

Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret

Excitement! Drama! Romance! And... knitting? An award-winning hour of lost wartime knitting songs. Bring your knitting (or crochet) and stitch along to toe-tapping, needle-clicking tunes. Come out and have a "ball"! During the World Wars, millions of women knitted for the soldiers. Mere days after the first bullet was fired, dozens of knitting-themed songs began to appear. After the wars these songs were lost, but this cabaret concert, this music – a clever, sweet and entertaining footnote in history – has been preserved and given a chance to live again. 'Amazing!' (Guardian). ***** (GlamAdelaide.com.au).

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall, 7–29 August. 

Tenderly: The Life and Times of Nat King Cole

Award-winning artist Duane Forrest brings the timeless music of Nat King Cole to life through soulful performance and storytelling. Blending velvety renditions with personal reflection, he explores how a Black artist in 1950s America became a cultural pioneer while navigating a world that celebrated him onstage but resisted him off it. Raised in Toronto, Forrest reflects on his own journey with jazz and belonging, discovering how Cole’s presence opened doors. Tenderly is a moving exploration of legacy, dignity and the quiet power of simply showing up.

The Jazz Bar, 26–30 August. 

The Augur

You’re going to die.* Have questions? The osseous oracle has answers! Visit The Augur for an unforgettably macabre and darkly comedic puppetry fortune-telling experience. Each performance is bespoke (and the puppet is built from bones)! After slumbering for thousands of years, The Augur is a misanthropic and ornery oracle with a penchant for ornithological oration. This intimate performance fuses puppetry, improv and the occult. 'The Augur is so very special. Everything you dream of when you think of Fringe.' (Nancy Kenny, Executive Producer of award-winning documentary On The Fringe). Winner: Outstanding Design, Halifax Fringe 2025. *eventually.

Laughing Horse @ City Café, 6–30 August. 

The Ballad of Isobel Gunn

A new Scottish-Canadian musical recounting the extraordinary true tale of Isobel Gunn, a Scottish Orcadian woman who explored Canada in 1806, living as a man and working for the Hudson Bay Company. After journeying from the remote Orkney Islands, Isobel travelled 1800 miles across the Canadian wilderness as John Fubbister, a labourer in the fur trade. But when she unexpectedly gives birth, Isobel's identity is revealed... A celebration of a long-forgotten hero who had the courage to live freely and the tenacity follow her dreams. 'Glorious singing and first-rate storytelling' ***** (Adelaide Advertiser).

theSpace @ Symposium Hall, 7–29 August.

The Cheesecake Burlesque Revue

Canada’s Cheesecake Burlesque Revue, winners of the Burlesque Hall of Fame Best Large Group 2024, are celebrating 20 joyously ridiculous years of burlesque brilliance! This high-energy, gloriously camp, feel-good spectacle is a buffet of comedy, curves and body confidence! Expect silly group numbers, quirky songs and delightful solos bursting with glitter, glamour and giggles! The Cheesecakes serve up a delicious slice of sass! Bringing their message of body acceptance to Edinburgh, proclaiming proudly that every body is welcome, and every body is fabulous!

theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall, 17–23 August.

The Gas Station at the Edge of the Universe

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

The Gas Station at the Edge of the Universe follows Sawyer, a recent university graduate, as they return to their hometown in rural northern Canada. After reuniting with their childhood best friend Casey, it becomes clear that something is amiss as masked creatures start seeking them out, threatening both their relationship and their lives. As their once familiar hometown becomes unrecognizable, the two must learn to forgive and let go before they lose themselves to their crumbling realities.

Venue 13, 8–29 August.

The Heterosexuals

A deep dive into the shocking world of heterosexuality! They walk among us!! But where did they come from? And what do they think they're wearing? Find out in this explosive solo show based on undercover research gathered while posing as one of their own! Combining storytelling, satire and deep personal humiliation, The Heterosexuals are here to spill the T on what The Queers really think about The Straights. 'Comic genius' ***** (Irish Times). 'Electric stage presence' ***** (TheReviewsHubs.com). 'Fringe's best... Exquisitely energetic' (Orlando Sentinel). Winner: Outstanding Theatre Award (FringeReview.co.uk). Winner: English Comedy Award (Montreal Fringe).

Gilded Balloon Patter House, 5–31 August.

Third Party

After Brett crashes Julie's car in downtown Winnipeg, they find themselves caught in the web of a detective-turned-insurance adjustor, who will do anything to uncover the secrets they've been keeping from Manitoba Public Insurance - and from each other. ***** (EdmontonJournal.com, 2025).

Just The Tonic at The Caves, 6–17 August.

Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life

'Storytelling at its best!' (Playbill.com). Sold-out runs in 2023, 2024 and 2025. This highly awarded, internationally touring, inspirational true story is about overcoming obstacles, pursuing passions and the healing power of the arts, and is told with warmth, humour and banjo music! Through donations, including 100% of all artist fees, the show has raised over $1.2 million dollars (CAD) as of December 2025 for various charities, including cancer organisations, music programmes, community groups and artist funding and development. All proceeds from this Edinburgh Fringe run will benefit Summerhall Arts.

Summerhall, 6–31 August.

Wiener Beacon

(Supported with funding from the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation) 

Along Highway 401, as you approach Kitchener from Toronto, you will see two notable billboards. One, an icon, an idol and a symbol of home. The other, a distant figure, often passed without a second thought. When Catherine’s car spins out in a snowstorm, she is launched into the world of Schneider and Jesus Saves. She stays at their house, eats wieners with them and listens to their marital problems. Wiener Beacon explores themes of selfishness, greed, love and power and begs the question: What does it take for a giver to start taking? 

Venue 13, 7–28 August.

Zoe Brownstone: How To Be Happy All The Time

A deeply unserious investigation into hard choices, accidental adulthood and all the beautiful mistakes we keep making. It's about my mom obviously. It's about hovering on the edge of parenthood like it's an ice cold swimming pool, wondering if I should jump in or just applaud from a distance. It's about becoming a "grown-up" and realising that involves decisions you can't undo. In this second hour from Canada's greatest export since Celine Dion, there will be overthinking, undermining and several elegant spirals disguised as life plans.

PBH's Free Fringe @ Banshee Labyrinth, 8–30 August.

Edinburgh International Book Festival 

All presentations with Canadian authors are supported by the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation as part of Spotlight Canada 2026.

Our Many-Voiced Country

Now in his second year as Makar, Peter Mackay brings together contemporary poets working in Scotland who showcase the range of languages being spoken and written across the country. From English, Catalan, Orcadian, Scots and Gaelic, to Tamil, Arabic, Persian, and Kutchi (and beyond!), this special event will weave together a tapestry of multi-language poetry, featuring performances from: Helena Fornells Nadal, Harry Josephine Giles, Marjorie Lotfi, Robbie Macleòid, Q Mannivanan, and Alycia Pirmohamed.

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August. 

Hoda Barakat, Alycia Pirmohamed & Ece Temelkuran: Hope when Home is Lost

How does our understanding of the ideas of ‘home’ and ‘belonging’ shift in a war-torn and warming world? Today’s event features a powerful conversation with three authors writing urgently about displacement and connection: Hoda Barakat (International Prize for Arabic Fiction-winning author of Voices of the Lost), Alycia Pirmohamed (poet and winner of the Nan Shepherd Prize with non-fiction debut, Shorelines), and Ece Temelkuran (essayist and Women’s Prize for Nonfiction-shortlisted author of Nation of Strangers).

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 27 August. 

Zoulfa Katouh: The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue

How do you start from scratch when grief looms large? In The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue, Zoulfa Katouh tells the story of Jihad, a young woman navigating a prestigious new school as the only Muslim student there. The internationally bestselling author of As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow joins the Festival for a chat about friendship, resilience, and identity – we’d love for you to be part of the conversation too.

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August. 

Cory Doctorow: Enshittification

Tech critic, sci-fi author, and seer of digital dystopia, Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It is a blistering take-down of formerly utopian tech companies’ constant chase for bigger profits. In this urgent discussion with Heather Parry, Doctorow sets out the case for how to cure ourselves from the lure of big tech, resist the monetisation of every aspect of our lives, demand regulation, and reclaim our privacy online.

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August.  

The Front List: Cory Doctorow and Jimmy Wales

Remember when the internet was exciting and full of possibilities? As online content becomes darker, more divisive, and sensationalist over truthful, join Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, and journalist and sci-fi author Cory Doctorow, writer of Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What To Do About It, for a frank, fascinating discussion with Gabriel Gatehouse on the current state of our online lives. Can the internet ever be good again?

McEwan Hall, 17 August.  

First Editions: International Reporting

Start your day with the facts. High quality, thorough, trustworthy journalism has never been more important in helping us understand the world as it really is – but we know how hard it can be to keep up. That’s what our First Edition events are for: offering you the chance to join leading journalists from across the media (and the world) as they discuss the day’s breaking news over a cup of coffee. Today’s guests include the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet. Check back soon for the full line up.

Edinburgh Futures Institute, 27 August. 

The Front List: Lyse Doucet

As the BBC’s chief international correspondent, Lyse Doucet has witnessed 30 years of seismic events at dangerously close quarters. With The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan, she’s also been shortlisted for 2026’s Women’s Prize for Nonfiction. Examining decades of deadly political tumult in Afghanistan through the story of the Hotel Intercontinental and its extraordinary staff, join journalist Sally Hayden for a critical conversation with Doucet about current global events – drawing on her experience in global postings from Tehran to Abidjan – and their potential future outcomes.

McEwan Hall, 27 August. 

Edinburgh International Film Festival 

All films at EIFF are supported by the High Commission of Canada and the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation as part of Spotlight Canada 2026.

Empty Heaven

Abdolreza Kahani (A Shrine, Mortician, winner of The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, EIFF 2025) returns to EIFF once more with a confidently and cleverly crafted character study. When a lonely Iranian dissident becomes embroiled with a local criminal mob in Canada, their bullish bidding leads to complex turns of events. Clean, inventive cinematography and beautifully calibrated performances set against frosty Canadian snowscapes, this is a crisp, lean and dry-humoured thriller rich in thematic depth that once again demonstrates Kahani’s mastery of cinema. 

Cameo, 15 August & 16 August.; Filmhouse & Cineworld, 14 August. 

The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman

A vivid, immersive and visually striking portrait of the founder of the satirical publication Mad magazine and its far-reaching influence on some of the most prominent artists of our time. Kurtzman’s commitment to integrity and challenging the status quo with humour, edge and resilience is a hymn for our times. Rich in historical context, artistic expression, contemporary politics and artfully weaving thoughtful reflections from contributors including Terry Gilliam, the late Stan Lee and Robert Crumb, this is a compelling, insightful exploration of counterculture, commerce and creative compromise and the power of conviction in raw truth and honesty. 

Filmhouse, 16 August; Cineworld and Cameo, 17 & 18 August. 

Northbound

Frustrated with living out his final days in a nursing home, elderly rogue Arthur (Dern) recruits his uptight grandson Kevin (Parrish) to break him out. Together the pair head north to Canada, picking up an enigmatic stranger (Fox) along the way. Acidly funny, unpredictable and ultimately very moving, this sharply directed and superbly acted film from director William Scoular is a showcase for Bruce Dern’s magnetic screen presence and feeling for a character who positively bursts off the screen. Featuring a final performance from legendary actor Graham Greene as well as superb supporting turns from Joanna Cassidy and Dylan Baker.

Cineworld, 17 August; Filmhouse, 18 August. 

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 

Vancouver Police Pipe Band

The world's oldest continuous serving police pipe band and official band of the City of Vancouver. From local celebrations to performing at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, we've spent over a century bringing the tradition of the Highland bagpipe to the world stage.

More than 100 Years of excellence: The Vancouver Police Pipe Band has been in continuous existence since 1914, making it the oldest non-military pipe band in British Columbia and one of the most senior police pipe bands in the world.

What began with a handful of pipers at the opening of a new police station has grown into a legendary institution, performing everywhere from local community events to the grounds of Buckingham Palace, carrying forward a tradition of musical excellence and public service.

Canada news, reviews and features 

Below you’ll find a selection of coverage received by some of the Canadian acts performing at this year’s Festival: 

• Spotlight Canada returns to the Edinburgh festivals

Disclaimer 

Are you a Canadian performer with a show that isn’t listed here? Then let us know and we’ll add you to this page. Contact  [email protected] with full details of your show. 

Spotlight Canada is delivered by the High Commission of Canada in the UK, with the support of the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation. Made in collaboration with Stuart McDougall of Prairie Wind Arts.