Everything You Need to Know About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Officials have announced dates for the 2021 Edinburgh Festival Fringe (yes, it’s back on!) with tickets to go on sale July 1.

Everything You Need to Know About the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Spot performers, like the cast of “Don Juan” by Jackinabox Productions on the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Photo by Jan Kranendonk/Shutterstock

Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, is one of the few cities in the United Kingdom left untouched by the bombs of World War II, making it a beautiful juxtaposition of medieval buildings and modern skyscrapers. At any time of the year in Edinburgh, you can visit Holyroodhouse, one of the Queen’s official residences, take tea in the Elephant House, a café once frequented by J. K. Rowling, and learn about the history of the Scottish people at the National Museum of Scotland. But the city comes alive in August when the astoundingly diverse annual arts festival called the Fringe takes place. If you’re interested in visiting during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, use this guide to plan and make the most of this unique event.

The Fringe is a casual counterpart to the Edinburgh International Festival.

The Fringe is a casual counterpart to the Edinburgh International Festival.

Courtesy of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

What is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?

The Fringe is principally a theatrical festival, offering everything from one-person shows to fully staged classic musicals, from stand-up to opera to spoken word. Begun in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe was conceived as the casual cousin to that prestigious and expensive event. Many cities have Fringe Festivals now, but Edinburgh’s was the first. It’s unjuried, meaning that anyone can participate as an artist. In 2019, the Fringe saw a record number of attendees to the more than 3,800 shows, with many venues presenting multiple shows throughout the day and into the night. Thousands of people flock to the city to perform, many hoping to be the next Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Emma Thompson, Rachel Weisz, or one of the other celebrities who got their start at the Fringe.

Performances take place all over—visiting theater companies rent spaces from restaurants and churches, pubs and schools, or even perform outdoors–but the center of the Fringe is along High Street, particularly in front of St. Giles’ Cathedral on the Royal Mile (the Old Town’s main thoroughfare). The Fringe Office is located nearby, and theater companies often perform short scenes in the pedestrian area throughout the day to try to draw in theatergoers.

There’s even a Fringe Market that sells items like woven shawls, watercolor prints of Scotland, handcrafted beauty products, farmers’ produce, and locally made small-batch spirits.

When is the Edinburgh Fringe Festival?

Although it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials have announced that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will happen this year from August 6 to 30, and tickets will go on sale July 1.

The Fringe takes place every August, running from the first Friday through the next 25 days of the month. Plenty of artists arrive before the festival begins to rehearse, and lots stay to enjoy a break after the grueling three weeks of performing, so the feel of the Fringe starts and ends before the actual festival.

The Fringe now runs concurrently with the festival it was meant to be an alternative to, the Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh Book Festival also takes place during the Fringe.

As you might imagine, the festival takes over Edinburgh, a city of about 500,000 people. It’s inescapable in the heart of the city so there’s not much point in heading to the Royal Mile during the Fringe if you’re not excited about watching street performers (so many bagpipers!) and generally enjoying the cheerful buzz that takes over.

Explore the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Explore the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Photo by Stephen Bridger/Shutterstock

What will the Fringe be like in 2021?

Although it’s still unclear what the Fringe will look like in August 2021, the organization is working on plans for socially distanced live events and protocol to adhere to public health guidance from the Scottish government.

“We’re still very much in planning mode as we await further updates from the Scottish government, but this feels like a hugely positive step in the right direction,” says Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Fringe Society.

If you aren’t able to make it in person, the festival has also launched the Fringe Player, which will allow viewers to attend virtually.

How to get tickets

Tickets will be available online or through the Fringe app starting on July 1, 2021. Prices range from free to about 40 pounds—less than half the price of a ticket for most shows on London’s West End or New York City’s Broadway—although most tickets range from 5 to 15 pounds. You can book tickets in person at a Fringe office location in Edinburgh as well, but we recommend checking the official Fringe program in advance. The program is the handbook for the Fringe, listing every single one of the thousands of official shows and performances. Note that not all shows run for the entire length of the festival.

Try to book at least one show at one of the “big four” venues—the Assembly, the Gilded Balloon, the Pleasance, or the Underbelly, all of which are within walking distance of each other. They’re the most famous and professional venues, although even there, shows change every 90 minutes or so, keeping the tech elements simple. For a change of pace, wander into a show that’s desperate for an audience; if nothing else, you’ll have a great story to tell.

Don’t overbook yourself, though. One of the joys of the Fringe is taking a chance on a show you stumble upon, buy a last-minute ticket for, and eventually can brag about seeing years later.

Where to stay in Edinburgh during the Fringe

As you can imagine, space is at a premium during the Fringe. But the city is also determined to welcome and house as many people as possible. Because most Fringe performers bunk in rented private houses or apartments, hotel rooms are actually relatively easy to book. We recommend a stay at the historic yet luxurious the Balmoral. You can also try Airbnb or the Fringe’s official accommodation partner, Edlets.

After the Fringe, consider combining your trip with a visit to Glasgow, Scotland’s other major city, which is only an hour’s high-speed train ride away.

Watch any number of performances, such as Whiteout, while at the Fringe.

Watch any number of performances, such as Whiteout, while at the Fringe.

Courtesy of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Other things to do while attending the Festival

Because so many of Edinburgh’s tourist attractions are centrally located, it’s easy to combine attending shows with seeing the sights. In fact, because shows take place in so many venues, you could easily end up catching one very near the castles, the Scottish Parliament, Greyfriars Bobby, the Elephant House, the Princes Street Gardens, and Arthur’s Seat.

Keep in mind that Fringe shows run nearly all day and night. It’s perfectly possible to watch a show at 9 a.m., then climb Arthur’s Seat for a lunchtime picnic, visit the Edinburgh Book Festival for a panel discussion in the afternoon, and attend another show in the evening. Bring your walking shoes, and plan to spend time wandering down the Royal Mile and through the city’s many lovely parks.

This article originally appeared online on April 23, 2019; it was most recently updated on June 8, 2021, to include current information.

>>Next: 8 Unforgettable European Road Trips

Shannon Reed is a writer and professor living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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