5 - 31 AUG (NOT 19) - 11:00
Comedy with your bairn? Aye, really! Join us for an adult comedy show where you can bring your bairn! Enjoy a brilliant selection of our favourite comics from the Scottish scene and beyond, performing especially for parents, carers, and babies. No babysitter required – it's the perfect daytime show. Expect adult language and grown-up material, so we recommend for those with little ones aged 15 months and under. **** (One4Review.com).

5 - 16 AUG - 11:40
Fifteen years after the competition that ruined their lives, five damaged adults try to understand what happened to them as children. Veruca, Augustus, Violet, and Mike are all grown up and haunted by what happened to them on that fabled factory tour. Watched over by their new landlord, Charlie, they must grapple with the consequences of their childhood trauma. Waiting for Wonka is an unauthorised parody sequel to one of the most enduring stories of the 20th century. 'A slick, engaging piece of theatre with humour, pathos and a clear theatrical know-how' ****½ (The Student).

5 - 16 AUG - 11:50
Join Max, his sidekick Gordon the Monkey, and a gaggle of puppet friends as they get down to the seriously silly business of making big laughs for the whole family. Expect sketches, slapstick and briefcase full of nonsense. With years of family comedy experience under his belt, come along as Max brings his family-friendly show to the Fringe for the very first time! ***** (ThreeWeeks). **** (EdFestMag.com). **** (TheWeeReview.com). **** (TheTheatreReviewer.com). **** (BeyondTheJoke.co.uk). **** (OnTheMic.co.uk).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 27) - 12:00
A fun, fast-paced comedy show, made up entirely on the spot from your suggestions! The Imps have been a Fringe fixture for 20 years, captivating audiences with Whose Line Is It Anyway-style improvised mayhem. Get ready for improvised scenes, songs, raps, musicals and more from Oxford's wittiest minds. Perfect for teens and families!

5 - 31 AUG - 12:20
Join 'everyone's favourite pantomime dame!' (Metro) and Britain's Got Talent semi-finalist, Mama G, on an award winning, panto adventure for the whole family. Book Worm is livid that encyclopaedias give people so much knowledge, so decides to steal all the books from Mama G's library! Mama G vows to save the day by proving that books can help make the world a better place. But she can't do it alone! Enter the mysterious and wonderful Magic Bookmark... She needs your help too, to discover why everyone deserves to be part of the story!

5 - 31 AUG - 12:20
The show consists of a set of short improvised games, which can vary from performance to performance. In these games, we perform fun scenes inspired by audience prompts. In a format similar to Whose Line Is It Anyway?, we'll entertain and delight with classic and wacky improv games. Each scene is short and sweet and will involve plenty of audience interaction in the form of prompts and ideas. Each show will also feature games of our own invention!

5 - 31 AUG - 12:35
Shakespeare hasn't written anything new for an age, so we thought we would give him a hand... Using his language, your audience suggestions and our overactive imaginations, we create a brand new Shakespeare play live on stage, complete with big laughs, high drama, and plenty of Bard-based Bedlam! 'Quick-witted, inexhaustible and absolutely hysterical' ***** (LondonTheatreReviews.co.uk). 'Brilliantly bonkers! One of the best improvised shows at the Fringe' ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk). 'Masters of improv, brilliant fun for all' ***** (TheatreScotland.co.uk). 'This is a must see' ***** (AYoungishPerspective.co.uk).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 10, 17, 24) - 12:40
CHURCH is a one-woman comedy show from the mind of LA-based stand-up comedian, former megachurch pastor and storyteller Brit Barron. Blending sharp stand-up, theatrical storytelling and live gospel music, Barron stages the show like a church service; equal parts revival and irreverence. A sold-out hit in Los Angeles, CHURCH is a hilarious and heartfelt exploration of faith, queerness, race and religious trauma.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 13:00
Cyril Gwynn (1897-1988), also known as The Bard Of Gower, was a tall, sunburnt, unsmiling farmer. Gareth Gwynn (1983-Present) is none of these things. Gareth did not spend WWI in the Navy, has never been shipwrecked, run a farm or emigrated to Australia, but he has found a book of poems by Cyril and is determined to find something they have in common. Solo stand-up debut from the co-writer of BBC One Wales' Tourist Trap, BBC Radio 4's Ankle Tag, as heard on The Now Show, TL;DR and Gareth Gwynn Hasn't Fin-. 'Hilarious' (Guardian).

5 - 31 AUG - 13:00
Fifty years after its original creation, Michael Burrell's HESS returns to Edinburgh in a revival that feels startlingly, even uncomfortably, relevant. Written in 1976, the play probes the psychology of a man consumed by extremist ideology, revealing the personal and political devastation such beliefs can unleash. What once read as a historical character study now lands with renewed force in a world marked by rising hatred, deepening political division, and ongoing humanitarian crises. This revival challenges audiences to confront the unsettling truth that the forces Burrell explored half a century ago have not faded – they have resurfaced.

5 - 16 AUG - 13:00
Viral sensation and Britain's favourite teacher James B Partridge is heading back on the road in 2026 and following extraordinary demand, he's bringing the Primary School Bangers back for an encore at Edinburgh Fringe! Beginning as playful performances for his pupils, the show has grown into a genuine national phenomenon. From viral online fame to a field-closing Glastonbury set (featured on BBC festival highlights) James has become the UK's most beloved musical nostalgia act. This is more than a tour, it's a collective singalong, decades in the making!

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 13:10
'What's on your mind?' A musician and a psychologist walk into a disco, one, ever the social butterfly, the other reserved and introspective. These polar opposites attract and a romance develops – two souls at the start of their lives, two neurodivergent lovers living with their respective conditions, whilst the audience, equipped with headphones, witness every private thought and every secret anxiety. Silent Disco is a work of two halves simultaneously: The first, a tender narrative of the lives of neurodivergent young people, and an abstract, pre-recorded stream-of-consciousness, broadcast directly into the ears of its audience.

5 - 16 AUG (NOT 12) - 13:20
A solo show about a single woman with a dead parent and no prospects? Not another one! Yet here she is. Tilly's ferocity and Scottish humour provide a guise hiding her fragility. She's lost her Mum and broken up with the love of her life. Distraction appears to be the perfect solution to her problems, running away to London from her small town in Fife. In an attempt to escape, new problems arise; the misogyny of modern dating and classism. Oh and turns out, moving city doesn't cure grief. Can she really bury her head in the sand forever?

5 - 27 AUG (NOT 13) - 13:35
Welcome to a world where you can see the greatest characters from Shakespeare face horrific monsters from Dungeons & Dragons! Inspired by the Bard. Determined by dice. Brought to life on stage. Join in an epic adventure that is different every time as audience chooses and the roll of giant dice decides if the heroes live or die. All the world's a game... Come be a player.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 10, 17, 24) - 13:40
Through the lens of a brilliant, cancelled Professor of American History, Boy dissects and exposes the systemic racism that built the United States. Through abstract realism and historical analysis, it is a stark warning of what lies ahead if we 'let the boy out of the box'. Directed by Thomas Zoeschg and developed at The Actors Studio™, writer/performer Coates has performed in New York, Off-Broadway and throughout the US with fifty years of theatrical experience.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 10) - 13:40
Comedy. Magic. Parenting. What could possibly go wrong? In Abracadada, Elliot Bibby (co-creator of sell-out sensation 1 Hour of Insane Magic) delivers a fun, high-energy magic show for all ages. He explores the triumphs and total mayhem of life as a professional magician and dad of two. Packed with big laughs and jaw-dropping tricks, it's where parenting hacks meet impossible illusions. Perfect family entertainment at the Fringe. Fast-paced, friendly, and guaranteed to entertain audiences from ages 5 to 95. 'Cheeky, charming magician' ***** (Edinburgh Spotlight).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 13:40
It's pretty, but is it art? Through magic, comedy and storytelling, Chris Cook shares the story of a faker so skilled he had to forge his way to freedom, an artist so talented he may himself be a fraud, a magician whose promise conceals a lie, and a mysterious figure who may not even exist. A story only a magician could tell. Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe 2025. 'A masterclass in storytelling' ***** (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). 'Fake is the show to see' ***** (WorldMagicReview.com). 'A true joy to watch' ***** (The Student).

5 - 31 AUG - 14:00
Joe Sib returns to Fringe with his most personal and universal hour yet. Aggie is a hilarious and heartfelt stand-up show about the one person who loved you first. Through sharp storytelling, big laughs and honest moments, Joe explores what it means to be raised by someone who would do anything for you, and what happens when you realise you would do anything for them too. It is about mothers, family and the stories that shape us. Guaranteed laughs and maybe a few tears.

5 - 31 AUG - 14:00
Five-star, sell-out Fringe favourites, Pinch Punch, welcome you aboard Locomotive for Murder – The Improvised Whodunnit, where killing the cast and cracking the case is in your hands! Four characters board a train but not everyone will survive. Luckily, a world-famous detective is on the case. But who is the killer? Only the murderer themselves knows. Using audience stories, watch Pinch Punch create a never-to-be-repeated whodunnit full of thrills, spills and good old-fashioned kills. 'Fans of murder mystery or improv comedy, this is the perfect show for you' ***** (CurtainCallReviews.co.uk).

5 - 16 AUG - 14:20
A new show about masking in the corporate sales world for over 20 years and accidentally becoming a comedian – only to discover a crossover that has both saved and ruined her life. After her break-out success in her debut in 2025, join Amanda as she questions if it is too late to dare to dream as she dreads having to 'circle back'. 'Amanda is a very talented stand-up and comparisons must be made to the late, great Janey Godley' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk). 'Great Storyteller' **** (Scotsman).

5 - 16 AUG - 14:20
After selling out her Edinburgh Fringe run and theatres across Ireland and the UK in 2025, Aoife Dunne returns with her acclaimed debut Good Grief. As one of the most exciting new voices in Irish comedy, Dunne mixes stand-up, theatrical storytelling and moments of profound emotional truth in this unmissable show. Good Grief has been praised by audiences and critics alike for its warmth, humour and knockout performance. 'Hilarious... her command of the stage is absolute' **** (Chortle.co.uk). A comedy show like no other, that will make you laugh, cry and leave feeling joyfully alive.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 14:20
Broke and Fabulous in the 21st Century is an unabashed dramedy about two fabulous best friends, Alex and Petunia, chasing their dreams and navigating love in their chaotic 30s. This millennial love letter is a riotous ode to friendship, ambition and the ridiculousness of modern love. So come grab a drink, darlings! and let us split your sides with this honestly raucous, raunchy play, proving that even broke and frazzled you can always be fabulous…

5-16 AUG - 14:20
What happens when you put your favourite comedians in a room? We did exactly that, and now we're bringing them to you. Pure Leo presents a showcase of our favourite comedians: Kate Hammer, Ifrah Qureshi, Charlie Vero-Martin and Beth Knight. We know these women are ones to watch, which is why we've brought them together for a lively, fast-paced hour where they take turns hosting and performing to keep the energy high and the laughs coming. Four brilliant performers, one hour of comedy and talent very much on the way up. Catch them now while they're coming through.

5 - 30 AUG - 14:25
A brand-new girl band, a hotshot manager and a struggling songwriter, Girlz unfolds over one tumultuous year. After its incredible reviews and nomination for Best Musical at last year's Fringe, this new production is bigger, bolder and BACK! Fast-paced and bursting with humour, great choreography, original songs and high-energy sequences from the band's live show, Girlz also explores the personal struggles and agonising choices faced in pursuit of success. Ultimately, Girlz is an uplifting tale of friendship and love within a cut-throat industry. The must-see brand new British musical.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 18) - 14:30
She's a professional matchmaker who accidentally set up her college boyfriend with her high school bully. Sorta like if Ron set up Hermione with Malfoy. Or Romeo set up Juliet, with someone who bullied Romeo. You know. Like that. You get it. Comedy.co.uk recommended show. Top Ten Solo Shows of Hollywood Fringe (StageTakes.com). 'Side-splitting comedy' (TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk). 'Hypersonic physicality' **** (MumbleComedy.net ). Top 9 Shows to See: Edinburgh Reporter. Featured: BBC, NPR and Off-Broadway. From the creator of Faking It, a five-star, award-winning, FringeReview.co.uk Highly Recommended Show and Off-West-End hit.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 12, 16) - 14:30
Gather, gather, and turn the cloth... 1989. The first storm of winter hits a small Scottish town, bringing with it obligation, tradition and a spirit hungry for a wife. Bonds are tested, secrets revealed, and someone must make a deadly choice. Darkly funny, unsettling and atmospheric, Turn the Cloth is a new folk horror play inspired by traditional waulking songs and kelpie folklore, stringing together campy 1980s horror films, sharp-tongued teenagers and folklore from Scotland. Using a fusion of trad music and 80s synth, it dissects defiance, girlhood and the rituals that shape us.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 14:40
Ever wished life was more like a movie? Join romantic comedy scholar Sarah Bradley as she takes you through a journey of comforting cliches, timeless tropes, falling-in-love montages and predictable endings. We'll attempt to answer the big questions (can enemies really become lovers? Is working in print media the real secret to finding love? Can you choose yourself and still get a happily ever after?), while coming up with a love story all our own. Reality is overrated anyway.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 15:00
Christian Dart returns with his acclaimed, sell-out Edinburgh Fringe 2025 show GUMSHOE! A grizzled New York Detective embarks on his final, most deadly and most ridiculous case yet. Join Gumshoe as he attempts to solve the unsolvable case. Who did the whodunnit?! Written and performed by multi award-winning comedian Christian Dart. Best Show: Leicester Comedy Festival 2025 Nominee. Sketch-Off! 2025 finalist. ***** (ThreeWeeks). ***** (Young-Perspective.net). ***** (TheLiveReview.co.uk). ***** (GetTheChance.wales). ***** (Number9Reviews.blogspot.com). ***** (AdventuresInTheatreland.com). ***** (AaronSays.co.uk). ***** (TonyLovesTheFringe.com). **** (List). **** (One4Review.co.uk).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17,18) - 15:00
Following a PTSD diagnosis, Kit escapes the North-East for London, until a text from her ex detonates her recovery, sending her spiralling through therapy, chaos and questionable coping fantasies. In the TikTok trauma-dump era, Kit is determined to stay the main character (because if she doesn't laugh, she'll cry and post it). As symptoms, triggers and disordered eating collide, she must confront her past or keep avoiding it. SLAY is a darkly funny North-East reckoning by Offie nominated writer-performer Lois-Amber Toole (ITV's Vera, Amazon Prime's Killers Anonymous), directed by Fringe First winner Anna Morris, produced by Gina Lyons.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17) - 15:00
Award-winning solo show. Join US comic actor Sims Holland on her Edinburgh debut as she recounts her rollercoaster journey from the depths of addiction to the challenging – and often hilarious – road of sobriety. Speckled with poetry, dotted with dance numbers and doused in honesty, Learning to Human is a heartfelt exploration of what it takes to reclaim your life. Winner: Best Autobiographical Show, United Solo, NYC 2024. Winner: Best of the Fest, Frontera Fest ATX 2024. Nominee: B Iden Payne Award, ATX 2024. 'Searing, soul bearing and completely unforgettable' (BroadwayWorld.com).

5 - 29 AUG (NOT 17, 24) - 15:05
A bold retelling of Sophocles's tragedy set in 1989 Thebes, California. The Oracle summons audience-citizens and invokes the ancient rites of drama and democracy to address a crisis. Two brothers, gay activist Nikolas and conservative cop Elias – are dead after a protest on the capitol steps. When the Governor proclaims one a hero and the other erased, defiant sister Tigg and best friend Henry risk everything for justice and love. The score delivers both burden and joy as it navigates human need, political greed, and grassroots resistance as survival. There is no sitting out.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 15:20
Like most people, Kathleen comes from a long line of other people. Following her acclaimed Fringe debut, Glaswegian comic Kathleen Hughes returns with a show all about family, legacy and why we're all like this. 'Confidence, charm and whip-smart wit... an incredibly funny woman' (Skinny). 'One of the bright new hopes of Scottish comedy' (Scotsman).

5 - 16 AUG - 15:30
Haha, Oh God 2.0 is a work in progress show in which Lianna Holston asks the true and necessary question: does ANYONE want to kiss? If you come to this show you will learn one (1) big secret. Lianna's accolades include: BBC New Comedy Awards 2025, Funny Women Stage Award 2025 (Semi-Finalist), Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year 2024 (2nd Place), once did a wall sit for 2.5 minutes (2013). 'A comic you'd definitely want to hear more from' (Chortle.co.uk). Tickets are Pay What You Want, pls come xoxo.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17, 18) - 15:30
Unheard Voices, Unbroken Spirits is a powerful modern musical that brings the lived reality of the Scottish care system to the stage. This is not just a show; it is a collective anthem written, produced and performed by young care-experienced people. Through an emotional, contemporary score, we follow a group of friends fighting for their futures while navigating love, loss and identity. In a world that often looks away, these voices refuse to be silenced. Raw, beautiful and deeply moving, this is the vital story of a generation's unbroken spirit.

5 - 17 AUG - 15:35
Dreamgun and special guests perform a different parody film script every night, rewritten with fresh jokes and read live by completely unprepared comedians. It's an unrehearsed, rapid-fire, cinematic mess. Previous guests include Dara Ó Briain, Rose Matafeo, Nish Kumar and Aisling Bea. From The Shawshank Redemption to Psycho to Jumanji, no childhood favourite is safe. Check the web listing for the full schedule. 'Merciless, hilarious' ***** (Irish Times). 'Kept us in stitches' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 19) - 15:40
When a dead body is discovered in a small and incredibly queer town, the audience must decide who committed the murder. Every queer stereotype is a suspect in this whodunnit!

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 19) - 15:50
69 sketches in an hour! 'Sketch perfection' ****½ (TheReviewsHub.com). Fresh off Hollywood Fringe, Biscuit Barrel return for their seventh Edinburgh run with more slapstick, songs, wordplay, biscuits and even beatboxing. 'Non-stop laughs. A wee masterpiece' ***** (TheMumble.uk). 'This show fires on all cylinders. Phenomenally talented troupe' **** (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). 'An excellent comedy show' **** (BroadwayBaby,com). As seen at Hollywood Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Leicester Comedy Festival, BBC Scotland and BBC Radio Bristol.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 16:00
What kind of person leaves an online review for a toilet brush? What happens when you bomb a job interview at Vogue Magazine? Can you post a thirst trap on Goodreads.com? American comedian Candace Bryan answers some of the most important questions of our time in this uproarious, joke-packed hour about trying not to become a shopaholic in a world where the mall is literally in your pocket. 'Sharp wit and expertly crafted stand-up... an extraordinary talent' **** (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 18) - 16:20
See how Mel Hudson revived her libido, courtesy of Richard Ashcroft. In 2022 Mel thinks her love life is over. She is prepared to go to her grave as a sexually redundant cat lady. Then 3 things happen: lockdown ends, the cat dies and Mel attends a momentously revitalising musical event at Crystal Palace Park Bowl. Suddenly men are not so paused. From Alan Partridge, The Catherine Tate Show, Hudson and Pepperdine. 'What an honest, funny show, cleverly insightful and life affirming' (Phil Clarke, Producer of Peep Show).

5,7,8,10,11,14,17,18,21,22,24,25,28,29 AUG - 16:20
Powerhouse vocals. Unfiltered comedy. Cabaret chaos. Sarah Hester Ross brings her viral songs and razor-sharp humour to a one-woman show that's part concert, part confessional and all hilarious. With over 3 million followers online, catch the internet sensation live onstage and find out what it really means to serve c*nt. Sarah Hester Ross is an internationally touring cabaret artist and viral social media creator whose musical comedy blends bold feminist takes with powerhouse vocals and sharp-as-hell satire.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 22) - 16:20
Kwami Odoom (winner: Max Turner Prize 2025) and Jack Henry (finalist: LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year 2025) need some help. Kwami is worried he'll be a bad father, Jack can't work out how to be gay, sane and sexy all at the same time. Two very different guys, two very different problems and not a single solution between them. They need some outside perspective. They need a support group. They need you. A sharp, honest and hilarious split-bill for anyone who's ever thought that whatever it is they're doing, they're doing it wrong.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 11, 18, 25) - 16:30
Trapped on the sleepy Scottish island of Cumbrae, seventeen-year-old Steven McPhail feels like an outsider dreading a dead-end future. He desperately needs an escape – and he's about to find it. When a dazzling encounter with a flamboyant stranger opens his eyes, Steven steps out of the shadows to embrace his authentic self. Crocodile Rock is a 'heart-rendering exploration of sexuality' (ScotsGayArts.com) and a hilarious, touching journey of self-discovery. With a soaring original score, this five-star show is a 'fabulous musical... a must-see' (The ReviewsHub.com), featuring a 'tour-de-force' (Herald) performance by Darren Brownlie.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 16:35
Back for its second year, 1 Hour of Insanity returns with brand-new performers alongside a couple of favourites from last year. This fast-paced, family-friendly show delivers non-stop chaos, jaw-dropping skills and laugh-out-loud comedy from start to finish. Blending circus, comedy and magic; this show is led by the exciting Joel Fenton, and features an all-star cast of international acts, including Tom Bolton, Miss Lily Phoenix, and Jeromaia Detto. Expect the unexpected in this hour of energetic entertainment. The perfect show for the whole family. 'A family-friendly version of La Clique' **** (WorldMagicReview,com).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 18) - 16:40
At 17, Eva moved from Livingston to Costa Rica on her own. She dropped out of school and moved to Costa Rica a boy mad wee bam. She came back a bald lesbian without shoes. A fast, brutally funny debut about how you can take the girl out of Livingston, but maybe Costa Rica is too far. 'One of the best young acts on the Scottish circuit' (One4Review.co.uk). 'A rising star' (List). Support for Kim Blythe, Sam Nicoresti and Susie McCabe.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17, 24) - 16:40
A Black, failed writer decides to take matters into her own hands and finally control the narrative of her life. She's going to kill herself and her suicide note may be her best work yet. From TikTok wars on screens to real wars in the street, Desiree doesn't see much hope left in the world. Feeling increasingly lonely, anxious and no longer sure of her purpose, Desiree has a reckoning with God, digital spectators, and a world that confuses survival with living and performance with connection.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 19) - 17:00
Hyp Me Baby One More Time! The unmissable smash-hit comedy hypnotist is back with a 90s party hypnoshow! Multiple sell-out Fringe runs, 200 million+ views online. Enjoy from stage or audience – you choose. All-ages friendly. 'The laughter is uncontrollable!' ***** (FringeFeed.com.au). 'Fun-filled show!' ***** (One4Review.co.uk). 'Laugh until your sides hurt!' ***** (WeekendNotes.com). 'Rollicking good time' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'Spectacular silliness! Absolute feel-good must-see show' ****½ (XPressMag.com.au). Hypnotist Matt Hale is a multi award-winner, seen on Best Shows, Top 10s and Picks of the Fringe.

5 - 31 AUG - 17:00
LuluLand is a one-act musical about Lucy, a girl who has always felt out of place. When she's abducted by an alien race exactly like her, she finally finds a world built to suit her brain. In LuluLand everyone understands, everyone agrees and everyone sings the same note. But when Lucy meets Matty – a human who doesn't quite fit their system – she begins to question the comfort of perfect sameness. As the two form an unlikely connection, Lucy must decide whether belonging is worth the cost of losing what makes her different.

5 - 31 AUG - 17:00
I return (again), industry plant, hat in hand, more jackets, sold out, similar. A version of a comedy show of a life manufactured, all to scale (1:1) but what if I broke it? Pockets are getting full, weighed down: stars, nominations, a urinal or a lid. Don't narrow your gaze, I'm stuck and cannot go back to your frownland. 'Post-modern yet old school... glorious' (List). 'A comic masterclass... like jazz' ***** (Scotsman). 'Clearly a case of emperor's new clothes' (Audience Review). ****** (Chortles.co.uk).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 18) - 17:10
Winner of the first season of BBC's The Traitors, Hannah Byczkowski digs into death in her debut hour. In her hilarious, no-nonsense style, Hannah explores everything from craft projects for loved one's ashes, funeral faux pas and why she's not running from serial killers. Hannah is the co-host and creator of the hit podcast Ghost Huns with over 5 million listens and 1.3 million followers on TikTok. NTA winner. TV also includes The Stand-Up Sketch Show (ITV2) and Celebrity Weakest Link (BBC One). 'Want to howl with laughter? See Hannah. She is a comedy goddess' (Claudia Winkleman).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 17:20
Between breaking up sexual activity in the steam room and reminding people it's maybe not a great idea to wear Ugg boots on the treadmill, this pathological people-pleasing gym receptionist does the best she can to tolerate the entitled whinging and elevated testosterone, at the side job that was meant to be temporary... ten years ago. Cancel that gym membership because these 60-tabata-minutes of apologetic comedy will be sure to leave you reaching for the defib. 'This is workplace comedy at its best' ***** (TheAge.com.au).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17) - 17:20
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).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 6, 10) - 17:30
Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey return for their fourth year as Insane Magic, bigger and more spectacular than ever before! Following multiple sell-out seasons, the trio present a fun-filled hour of jaw-dropping magic for everyone! Now in a larger venue; expect incredible new illusions, high-energy performances, and plenty of moments of wonder. With international acclaim and five-star reviews, Insane Magic has been hailed as 'truly a global phenomenon' ***** (WorldMagicReview.com). This is world-class magic that will leave the entire family amazed, laughing and believing in the impossible.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 17:30
Calling all Dungeons & Dragons fans! Tartan Tabletop are back after their biggest ever year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Get ready for improvised comedy at the roll of a dice as our four heroes blunder their way through an adventure like no other – aided by the weird and wonderful Noblin the Goblin, played by a different guest star comedian every night! Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the world of tabletop gaming, this show was made for you. Roll for initiative!

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 18) - 17:40
Edinburgh debut from BBC New Comedy Award 2025 semi-finalist, Leicester Square Theatre New Comedian of the Year 2025 finalist and So You Think You're Funny? 2024 finalist, Fab Goualin. A show about being mixed-race, middle class, and misunderstood. Growing up, Fab often being the only person of colour in the room meant a lifetime of awkward assumptions, accidental anthropology, and people confidently explaining his own identity to him. Too "something" for certain crowds, not "something enough" for others, he became a master of the code-switch. But the real confusion wasn't just external, it was internal.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17,24) - 17:40
Jenny meets her favourite A-List celebrity in Costa and they instantly fall in love. She knows that they are meant to be, but some jealous sceptics don't seem to agree. How far will she go in the name of love? Parasocial Activity is a dark comedy exploring parasocial relationships in the digital age. Praise for previous work: 'A triumph' **** (BroadwayBaby.com), 'Martha had my attention instantly' ***** (EdFringeReview.com), 'An intricately written, impeccably acted, and perfectly pitched piece of Fringe theatre' ***** (BingeFringe.com).

5 - 17 AUG - 17:40
Yvette's not like other girls. She's a guy's girl. She's going to spend an hour failing the Bechdel Test by doing jokes about a variety of topics including but not limited to situationships, gun violence and her dad. You'll laugh and maybe gasp if she crosses a line by accident and then wins you back after that, but you definitely won't cry!!

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 18:00
In just a few short years, Alan Jay has become one of Scottish comedy's most exciting newcomers. Acclaimed for taking a life fraught with adversity and turning it into sharp punchlines, clever writing and topping it all off with his happy-go-lucky style and charisma. Much like his life, Alan's comedy pulls no punches, and this long-awaited debut will showcase the Leicester Square New Comedian finalist and BBC New Comedy Awards semi-finalist at his most real, raw and refined yet!

5 - 29 AUG (NOT 17) - 18:00
After a sellout debut Edinburgh 2023 show, Fiona Allen star of Smack The Pony returns with her new show White Lies. Fiona needs a perfect lie to avoid her pet hate of social gatherings. Running out of time and patience she encounters every obstacle a day can throw at her. It all threatens to derail her quest to find the perfect lie. She must confront her worst fear: her neighbours party. It's a fate worse than death and the clock is ticking. She's going to have to war-game it. Honestly. 'Punchlines delivered with cutting execution' (Scotsman).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 18:00
Drew Lausch grew up gay in Fargo, North Dakota. So he did what any emotionally stable teenager would do: invented the world's first gay superhero. Years later, he's still trying to save himself. Friendliest is a dark, funny and quietly devastating solo show about first love, small-town repression and the creative impulse to rewrite your own origin story. Blending biting stand-up with raw storytelling, Drew unpacks the boy he hurt, the hero he built, and the mess in between. It's sharp, intimate and occasionally feral. Written and performed by Drew Lausch. Directed by Jenny Leon.

5 - 31 AUG - 18:20
Realising that his life is going nowhere, a man decides to go out in a mask and pick fights with random people on the street. He knows it's reckless and amoral, but he doesn't care – it's liberating. He feels like a "man". And as he gets a taste for it, the consequences of these bouts soon come back to bite him. Tap Out! is a dramedy story about violence, masculinity and morality; an examination of identity, purpose and male loneliness. It's Fight Club meets Fleabag meets James Graham's Punch.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17) - 18:30
As the sun sets, a new antihero awakens. Calling all big-hearted heroes! Award-winning comedian Juliette Burton is summoning YOU. Join the dark side in a comedy quest for grown-up geeks and justice-hungry joy seekers ready to battle the REAL dragons: inequality and bad sex lives. It's time to iron out the kinks! Burton brings armour of hard truths, high fantasy and hilarity. Live nerdgasms possible. 'Fun, fabulous, relatable, and a safe space for nerds. **** (Edinburgh-Reviews.co.uk). Praise for previous shows: 'Hilarious' ***** (EdFestMag.com). 'Marvellous' ***** (StarburstMagazine.com). ***** (VoiceMag.uk). ***** (FemaleArts.wordpress.com). 'Fringe favourite' (Guardian). 'Fringe legend' (FringeReview.co.uk).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 18:40
Stand-up meets storytelling in this unflinching and darkly funny solo show from comedian Krystyna Hutchinson. Raised by a mentally ill mother and an emotionally distant father, Krystyna confronts the moment she realizes her parents weren't the heroes she imagined them to be. Blending sharp comedy with raw honesty, the show explores childhood trauma, going no-contact, and the complicated freedom that follows. Featuring audio from a real psychic medium reading, this is a bold, cathartic voyage through grief, anger and radical self-reclamation.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 18:50
Shane Daniel Byrne is a fast-rising Irish comedian celebrated for his sharp writing, playful absurdity and effortlessly engaging stage presence. Hailing from Ireland, he has built a strong reputation on the national comedy circuit with a style that blends candid storytelling, observational humour and unexpected punchlines. His material often draws on personal experiences, modern life and social quirks, delivered with warmth and self-awareness. In addition, Byrne is also an accomplished writer and performer whose fresh voice and confident charisma continue to win over audiences at clubs, festivals and comedy showcases throughout Ireland and beyond.

5 - 31 (NOT 18) AUG - 19:00
Is fatherhood REAL or is it a lie made up by BIG childhood to sell MORE therapy? Join Adi Parmar (gay), as he recalls his unforgettable childhood in North India (India) and his unexpected fatherhood in North Holland (Netherlands) and makes sense of it all using the best medicine there is: Laughter (hahaha). 'Love, forgiveness and growth, all wrapped around with humour.' ***** (List). Winner Best Emerging Artist Adelaide Fringe 2026 weekly award. Soho Theatre London: Comedy Plus Lab 2025 Alumni. Newbie Comedian of the Year (Netherlands) 2024.

5 - 30 AUG - 19:00
After a mystery hiatus, credit card debt and, in an act of pure desperation, heavily-medicated starlet Tabitha Booth returns to the stage with a comeback show no-one was expecting... or asked for! A retrospective of her life's work with all the off-off-OFF-Broadway hits you've never heard and love. It's an evening of unhinged character comedy like no other. Tabitha Booth is the horrible brainchild of award-winning comedian Frankie McNair. Hello! WINNER: Best Newcomer, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2022.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17) - 19:00
Joe Casey and Pierce Higgins present a split-bill stand-up show from two of the Scottish scene's fastest rising stars. Joe Casey has been shortlisted for the BBC New Comedy Awards while Pierce Higgins has supported Paddy McDonnell, Stuart McPherson and Gary Faulds on tour.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 19:00
Sold out Fringe run 2025 and Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow nominee 2025 and 2026. CLUES – Single Item (1) Foolish Bird (5,5) Onstage Routine (5,2) Stage Presentation (4)

5 - 17 AUG - 19:40
Following a run of sold-out London shows, musical comedy star Alice Keys brings her one-woman Elton John sing-along romcom to Edinburgh. Expect silliness, glittering glasses and plenty of (optional) singalongs drawn from Elton's iconic back catalogue. Where will Alice's yellow brick road lead her? Will her story end happily ever after? Will her costumes fit behind the piano? Find out at Rocket Fan, 60 feel-good minutes of love, story and laughter.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19, 26) - 19:50
An exciting crowd-work show where the audience decide who gets married today, by the end of the show! You have the power, using our app, to decide who is getting married! Our comedians will find out what the audience is really like while you get to decide who makes the perfect pairing and decide who is going to get Married at Fringe (first) Sight! From the team that The Guardian called 'an institution' and Attitude Magazine called 'hilariously funny... inspirational'. 'A true masterclass in crowd work' (NorthWestEnd.co.uk). Don't forget your hat!

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 11, 18, 25) - 20:00
Secrets, songs and love lives of five legendary divas! Three make-up girls bitch, compete, harmonise and laugh as they entertain us with hilarious, heartbreaking, irreverent tales from the dressing rooms of Dolly, Doris, Judy, Liza and the filthiest Julie Andrews ever to grace the boards. Starring Gail Watson and featuring stories of backstage mammas, absent fathers, gay husbands, flunked auditions and sublime singing. 'Witty, impressive, rapturous' ***** (Glasgow Herald). 'A wonderful night at the theatre' ***** (AllEdinburghTheatre.com). 'Hilarious and heartbreaking with a soundtrack to die for' (Graham Norton).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 20:00
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).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 11, 18, 25) - 20:20
Welcome to the unhinged, razor-sharp, fluorescent universe of Charlene Kaye: guitar god, internet legend and 'breakout comedy star' (Rolling Stone). This Fringe, she will debut her brand-new show: Diversity Shredder! A madcap tour of Charlene's experience as an Asian woman guitar shredder – from trolling men in Guitar Center, to standing behind white pop stars just to get that bag, to starting endless all-girl cover bands like Guns N' Hoses and Labiahead. Being an Asian female guitar shredder is fun if you're a menace.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 11, 18, 25) - 20:20
Showman, jester, attention chaser, Christopher Hall is back with his sparkling new show Pizazz. Come along on the dream night out, he'll give you a hilariously fun soirée and you'll be tucked up in bed at a sensible time. Instantly recognisable from iconic Background Singer videos with Sugababes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Shania Twain and the Stay Hydrated podcast, Chris (1.2M Instagram and TikTok followers) is back IRL with his brilliantly hilarious stand-up show with a high possibility of an outbreak of dancing. 'Brilliantly relatable and funny' **** (Edinburgh Festivals Magazine). **** (EdFringeReview.com). ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 20:20
What does it take to become a legend? Fuelled by pork scratchings and a lust for glory, 2025's So You Think You're Funny? winner Madeleine Brettingham presents her highly anticipated debut hour of stand-up, exploring what growing up in a world of booze-soaked bad behaviour taught her about how man becomes myth. Praised for her "distinctive worldview" (Chortle), "tight and gag packed" writing (Bruce Dessau), and "knack for blending offbeat observations with pacey, unexpected punchlines" (List). As heard on Breaking The News and Drunk Women Solving Crime.

5 - 30 AUG - 20:20
2025 ISH Best Show nominee. Come and see a one-of-a-kind at this year's Fringe: a self-loathing middle class person telling jokes. After earning a number of positive reviews from audiences and critics alike in 2025, Ruaridh returns with a brand-new hour covering topics such as gentrification, middle-class pets, hair loss, religion in football and people called Maureen. 'The audience loved him' (One4Review.co.uk). 'Sharp writing and natural charisma' (Comedy.co.uk). **** (One4Review.co.uk, BroadwayBaby.com, TheRealChrisParkle.com).

5 - 31 AUG - 20:30
Emmy and Golden-Globe winning comedian Guy Branum goes on a joke-dense slide show journey through religion and science arguing that he, as a clinically obese gay man, does not serve any practical purpose. Guy recruits his audience to look at the origins of homophobia and anti-fat bias and asks how correct they might be. He uses this journey to explore how we tell stories about people traditionally ignored, why he's bad at telling stories, the 1984 Tony Awards, the first and only time he's been in love, and, of course, the biology and evolution of fruit.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 19) - 20:40
Playful, chaotic clowning meets existential confusion as one man desperately tries to make sense of life. Perpetually derailed, deluded and paralysed by overwhelm, Big Loz Dodd arrives to do something very special indeed – something that might just deliver the kind of profound insight that shakes our contemporary situation to its core. Blending performance art and contemporary clowning, This Can't Be It is a semi-improvised, feverish and open-hearted exploration of how we stay open to the mystery when everything is closing us down. Directed by Lara Ricote, with Rachael Dobbie on tech.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 12, 18, 15) - 20:40
A clown (Sevrin Willinder) needs the audience's help to deliver letters across time and space. Through joyful participation, you are invited to embrace the unexpected, explore the beauty of human connection, and make sure the postman completes his galaxy-spanning paper route. A new show from Devon Loves ME! Productions (Melissa Ingle and Sevrin Willinder).

5 - 31 AUG - 21:00
An unmissable line-up of fresh talent starring Reb Day, Joel Walker and Rachel Porter – finalists from the UK's biggest new comedy competition! See the best emerging comedians before they become household names. Previous winners and finalists from the competition include: Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and many more. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk).

5 - 18 AUG - 21:00
Henry VIII has returned to the land of the living to discover he is exclusively remembered as that bloke with six wives. So there was only one thing for it. Henry is clearing his name in a musical drag extravaganza. Featuring parodies of songs by Meatloaf, Celine Dion, Ed Sheeran and more, this bonkers show explores the lesser known side of the Tudor king. Inspired by the drag performers of the Victorian Music Hall, melodramatic rock music and musical theatre, EIGHT is a parody musical written and performed by Hannah Clift.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17, 24) - 21:00
Aussie comedian Joshua Hauville presents a spectacular comedy cabaret that shares the story of a gay Australian trying to make it as a creative superstar in the piss-ridden streets of Paris. Like Emily in Paris but gay and broke, told through a camp blend of stand-up, cabaret and clowny burlesque. After touring the show throughout Australia, Europe and the UK, this show is glitzier, grungier and gayer than ever. Join Joshy as he braves a slew of ridiculous scenarios. Will he triumph over Paris, or will France smoke this fag just like every other?

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17,24) - 21:00
Your favourite movies translated badly. Each night, we take a different classic film script, run it through an online translator a dozen times and then read the results live on stage in character! The final twist is that the guest stars read the scripts on stage for the first time. To get the most enjoyment, we recommend you watch the film beforehand. Films are listed on https://tickets.gildedballoon.co.uk/

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 17) - 21:00
Since coming to England from Iran in 1980, if Patrick had £1 for every time someone called him a terrorist, he'd have enough money to run his own terrorist organisation. He has more in common with Freddie Mercury than Hezbollah. He has had visas turned down, extra checks and restricted access. He has 60 minutes to prove: I'm not a terrorist. 'His kind of funny is an irresistible force' (Scotsman). 'Monahan is clever, very funny and hugely likeable' (Scottish Field) 'Has his audiences in stitches from the off' ****½ (One4Review.co.uk).

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 18) - 21:40
(No) Refunds is an interactive game show play hosted by Tiffany Gold, an old-school American host and model presenter all-in-one who quite literally depends on your entertainment. One premium ticket holder, dubbed the Star Player for the evening, will compete in three games designed to amuse the audience and showcase their talents. Only those best-suited to handle the demands of stardom will walk away with a full refund. Do you have what it takes?

5 - 17 AUG - 21.40
Stephen Jobs 80 Words: A show about Stephen's jobs. Stephen Colfer, creator of Dreamgun Film Reads, looks back on twenty years of taking side jobs to support his main job (comedy). Somewhere between alphabetising CDs, demoing tech that doesn't work, saying one line in two films and having one hundred trainee doctors practice on his ears, he hopes to answer the question: Where does Stephen end, and jobs begin?

5 - 18 AUG - 21:05
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).

5 - 30 AUG - 22:00
Come play the legendary Fringe live-action videogame! Win money or ya die! New deathtraps for 2026! The Dark Room fuses improv, gaming and stand-up into the Fringe's most deranged gameshow! Sold out 2019-2025. Best-reviewed comedy show of Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025 (Comedy.co.uk). 'Hilarious' (Independent). 'Rocky Horror for nerds... I howled' **** (Telegraph). 'Not to be missed' (Guardian). Viral on TikTok and Instagram, as seen at Glastonbury, Download, PAX, MCM Comic Con and on national UK tour. Winner: Legends of Lockdown Chortle Award. Nominated: Best International Act, NZ International Comedy Festival 2025. Find out more: thejohnrobertson.com.

5 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 22:00
Sophia Wren is an electrifying Irish stand-up whose comedy crackles with intelligence and heart. Drawing on family folklore, modern dating disasters and the beautifully absurd realities of Irish life, she crafts tightly written sets that feel both personal and universal. Her stage presence is warm yet mischievous, inviting audiences to laugh at the chaos of adulthood while finding unexpected tenderness in the punchlines. Whether commanding a packed theatre or an intimate club, she delivers fearless crowd work, sharp social commentary and stories that spiral hilariously before snapping back with precision.

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 10,17,24) - 22:15
The critically acclaimed, sell out, unmissable late-night hit is back, bigger than ever! Join Jake Bhardwaj and "celebrity" guests for the most chaotic, high-energy quiz show in town. Expect music, comedy, interactive bonus rounds and surprise appearances. 'I can confidently say this is the best show I've seen' ***** (GetYourCoatsOn.com). 'You leave feeling like you have just been at the greatest... late-night party' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Breathless, non-stop fun' ***** (Ralph Magazine). 'One of the most entertaining and mad things I've seen' (Joe Lycett). 'One of those rare shows that makes controlled chaos look effortless' (Jordan Gray).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19, 24) - 22:20
A mixed-bill line-up of the best LGBTQ+ stand-up comedians from across the Fringe from the UK's first LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy club, The Queer Comedy Club. Fresh from our two TV series on OUTtv we're bringing you an incredible line-up of different queer comedians every night, including TV comedians and rising stars. In the past we've had Larry Dean, Sarah Keyworth, Kemah Bob, Felicity Ward and more! You never know who you're going to see! 'Inspirational' (Attitude). 'An institution of London's LGBTQ+ scene' (Guardian).

5 - 30 AUG (NOT 19) - 22:40
A chaotic, chronically online, sketch comedy version of the Oscars. You'll meet all the usual award ceremony characters – hosts, winners, fashion correspondents and Stephen Graham. We explore this year's best documentaries, celebrate the celebrities we lost in 2025 (and predict those we'll lose in 2026) and even enjoy some lovely adverts. A statement on behalf of Chuck'n'Jeck: Whilst surprised, Chuck'n'Jeck are honoured to have been asked to host this year's Oscars. Please respect our privacy at this time whilst we learn, listen and digest this information and listen and learn with our families. x

6 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19, 26) - 13:15
Returning to Fringe following sell-out 2023 debut and London transfer. Based on the life of Simon Wiesenthal, who survived the Holocaust and devoted the rest of his life to bringing Nazi war criminals to justice. Filled with hope, humanity and humour, it is the story of an ordinary man who did extraordinary things. Intelligent, flawed and noble, Wiesenthal's heroism is honoured in this play which takes place on his final working day in his Vienna office in 2003. By Tom Dugan, performed by Christopher C Gibbs, directed by Mark Liebert. 'Impeccably conceived' ***** (Scotsman). 'Immaculately constructed' ***** (BroadwayBaby.com).

6 - 30 AUG (NOT 2, 19, 25) - 16:15
Three amateur archaeologists... One fedora... A whole lot of snakes. Join our fearless troupe as they parody the legendary Indiana Jones trilogy live on stage! Brand-new breakneck comedy of chaos by and starring Daniel Clarkson (co-creator of Potted Potter and Panto, director of Biff To The Future) and Brendan Murphy (creator of FRIEND and Buffy Revamped), joined on stage by a female Indy. Directed by Olivier nominee Owen Lewis. Armed only with sheer misplaced confidence, can this heroic adventure stay on the mine-cart rails? Buy the ticket, take the ride and find out whether... you have chosen wisely.

6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27, 30 AUG - 16:20
Celebrating the milestones nobody throws a shower for... until now. Join comedians Sarah Hester Ross (all the way from Las Vegas) and David Ian (all the way from London) for live recordings of This Is My Baby. Their new podcast celebrates achievements that don't come with a ring or a registry. Because not all life milestones are weddings or babies; some are quitting a job, surviving a year, or finally choosing yourself. Featuring engaging interviews and real stories, we give flowers to the wins that usually get a polite nod instead of a party.

6 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19) - 17:05
Feel-good comedy brings you the beloved characters, romance and action of Tom Cruise's aerial blockbuster, alongside the heartfelt story of father and son superfans. Can Maverick and best friend Goose beat Iceman to the Top Gun trophy? Can instructor Charlie order drinks without anyone singing at her? Can one Fringe First-winning nerd reenact the movie's signature dogfights – alone? This very unauthorised parody marks 40 years since Top Gun's cinema release – essential viewing for Top Gun veterans and rookies alike. From creators of international smash Yippee Ki Yay. 'Epically entertaining' **** (Times). 'Lovely, witty, delicious' ***** (Independent).

6 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19, 26) - 17:55
From down under to the top of the podium! The riveting true story of Cadel Evans, the only Australian to win the Tour de France. Returning after a sold-out 2025 premiere, Connor Delves delivers a powerhouse performance, pedalling live on the actual bike Evans rode to victory. Grit, storytelling and heart-pounding energy combine in a breathtaking theatrical ride. A high-octane homage to endurance, ambition and sportmanship. 'Delves is magnificent and brings Cadel to life in a grueling physical performance' (TheatreWeekly.com). 'Vivid, compelling energy. A tour de force of the Tour de France' (Scotsman).

6 - 30 AUG (NOT 12, 19, 26) - 18:45
Arthur Hull returns with an updated version of his blockbusting musical cabaret celebrating Theatreland's casualties. This love letter to Broadway and the West End features a motley assortment of the misunderstood, critically panned and financially catastrophic musical misfires, including forgotten gems and pleas for redemption! Best Entertainment Award (DarkChat, Edinburgh Fringe 2025). Best Emerging Artist Award (Adelaide Fringe 2025). 'Arthur Hull's an absolute joy' ***** (List). 'FLOP! is an utter triumph' ***** (WestEndBestFriend.co.uk). 'Brings the house down' ***** (SeeDoEatReview.com). 'Undoubted smash' ***** (TheRecs.co.uk). 'A star is born!' ***** (TheRealChrisparkle.com). 'Stand-out' ***** (TheatreDiaries.adl).

7 - 31 AUG (NOT 17) - 13:00
Part stand-up comedy, part actual pub quiz. Quick-witted quizmaster, Alex Love, returns to test trivia and split the audience into teams to compete in this highly interactive hour. Prepare for points, prizes and a pedantic host. The show has four sold-out Edinburgh Fringe runs, been performed in seven countries and almost caused a riot in a small Dorset town. 'A Fringe cult smash.... outstripping some of the festival's top-rated comedians in terms of both quality and quantity of laughter.' ***** (Broadwaybaby.com). 'It is hilarious.' (ArtMurmurs.nz).

7 - 14 AUG - 13:00
When two loyal guardsmen accidentally kill their king, they must scramble to set things right. This play is a rollercoaster hour of non-stop gags, demonic jesters and crab rangoon. Will our heroes make it out alive!? Probably not. Amadan and Mortair: Kill the King is the writing debut of Alex Bathe and Josh Aitken, the creatives behind the hit Dungeons & Dragons live show Tartan Tabletop.

7 - 16 AUG (NOT 12) - 13:00
Is this NHS doctor and comedian completing his Edinburgh Fringe registration months before hospital rotas come out again? You bet. Does he know if he has the time off? Well, come see if this anaesthetist makes it to the Fringe where he'll be working on a new show. Expect bits of paper on stage. As seen on BBC One's Have I Got News For You. 'Had the audience in fits of laughter' (Scotsman). 'Packed with funny anecdotes' (Guardian).

7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 AUG - 22:30
Join the greatest comedians from across the globe as they blur the line between arteFACT and arteFICTION in a wholly improvised set, prompted by genuine artefacts housed in the National Museum of Scotland! This unrehearsed and unrestrained show-and-tell might not be historically – or even culturally – accurate but it's guaranteed to be utterly entertaining. With different comics taking to the stage each night to deliver their unscripted, uneducaTED talks on Scotland's most cherished relics, what could possibly go wrong...? 'Hugely enjoyable' **** (Scotsman). 'One of the more ingenious late-night shows' **** (Herald).

7 - 31 AUG - 23:55
The original late-night show returns with stellar line-ups of your favourite acts from the festival, hosted by the best MCs in the country, every single night of the Fringe. 'The best late-night show on the Fringe' (Scotsman). 'A Fringe institution for a reason' (TheRecs.co.uk). Previous acts include Johnny Vegas, Bill Bailey, Rich Hall, Jason Byrne, Mawaan Rizwan, John Bishop, Larry Dean, Maisie Adam, Reuben Kaye, Jordan Grey, Viggo Venn and just about every notable name in comedy. Late'n'Live guarantees an unforgettable night of live comedy and is an essential addition to any Fringe bucket list.

10 - 19 AUG (NOT 17) - 13:15
Scotland's most unbiased commentator brings his broadcasting brilliance to the Fringe for the first time, in a show that will feature some new and classic live commentaries, 100% true stories, and perhaps some very special guest appearances. As seen on BBC Scotland, ITV Sport, CBS, The Rest is Football, and Scotchsport. As heard by more than 500 million people across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and the people next to them.

10-16 AUG - 18:20
He's the #1 'young sketch comedian to watch' (Telegraph). He has over 400 million views on social media. He is one half of Durk & Ski. He is 'very funny and genuinely gripping' (Telegraph). He is 'frantic, innovative, effortlessly likeable' (LeftLion). He's going to bring some NEW characters, sketches, jokes, videos and zingers for you. You don't have to bring anything (apart from your laughs haha... okay cheers, Dave).

15 - 31 AUG (NOT 24) - 13:00
Mikey's decided two things: he's ready to propose to his partner and he's going to practise his proposal speech on a balloon first. Coming to the same park bench every day, a strange relationship develops and soon, the balloon starts talking back to him. Written by stand-up comedian and So You Think You're Funny finalist, Mark Daniels, this ridiculous dark comedy is a story of love, loneliness and a gay man's relationship with his city. Oh, and it's also about a passive aggressive b*tch of a talking balloon.

15 - 30 AUG - 14:45
Fancy five free drinks? Good. Because the Thinking Drinkers are back with a totally new tasting show. The world's most entertaining drinks experts return with a poignant, pedal-powered tale of their epic, emotional thousand-mile tandem bike ride from Land's End to John o'Groats – during which they only stopped, ate, drank, slept (and applied soothing botty cream) in beautiful yet beleaguered British boozers. Incredibly funny, immensely fascinating and featuring five free drinks for all, this uplifting, amusing, elbow-bending odyssey is the ideal aperitif to any Edinburgh evening. 'Pioneers of alcohol-based comedy' ***** (Times).

15 - 30 AUG (NOT 24) - 16:00
Join the Scottish stage and screen legend for a laughter-filled hour in conversation, as he shares stories and anecdotes from his life and career, which has seen him bring iconic characters to life in such classic titles as the multi BAFTA award-winning Rab C Nesbitt (BBC Two), Naked Video (BBC Two), The Baldy Man (ITV), Love Actually, and most recently BBC One's hit sitcom Only Child. The show promises plenty of laughs, a few surprises and a bit of honesty about the daft and wonderful journey Gregor's had over the decades.

17 - 29 AUG (NOT 24) - 13:00
With a track record of acclaimed performances across the UK and on Broadway, Aquapella returns to the Edinburgh Fringe for their tenth consecutive year, ready to captivate audiences all over again. With breathtaking harmonies, unique arrangements and boundless energy, this award-winning a cappella group brings an electrifying mix of vocal music to the stage. Whether delivering heart-wrenching ballads or upbeat pop anthems, their passion and precision make for an unforgettable viewing experience. From moments of raw vulnerability to pure exhilaration, Aquapella takes audiences on an emotional journey like no other. 'Forget Pitch Perfect, Aquapella are the real deal' (TheWeeReview.com).

17 - 31 AUG - 14:20
Join BBC New Comedy Award's Carwyn Blayney as he works out his first hour of stand-up. A journey full of nostalgia and niche references from rural Wales to the mean streets of London. Carwyn Blayney is a So You Think You're Funny finalist and Welsh Unsigned Stand Up of the Year 2024 winner, with appearances on BBC Three's New Comedy Awards, BBC Radio 4's Live From the UK and Radio Wales' What Just Happened?.

17 - 31 AUG - 14:20
Fabled is an entirely improvised fantasy adventure tale that features a hilarious cast of improvisers with live musical accompaniment. Featuring actors from Final Fantasy Tactics, Crimson Desert, Dragon Quest, Warhammer: Age Of Sigmar, Anno, Evil West, Arknights, Hellblade and more. 'A delightful hour of improvisational theatre' **** (LittleLarkOfLondon.com). 'Very entertaining and extremely impressive!' ***** (TheAudienceClub.com). 'A talented and hilarious band of improvisers. This show is worth questing for!' (Graham Dickson, Austentatious).

17 - 22 AUG - 15:00
How a 2cm wildflower changed an artist's life. Through live music and immersive imagery, songwriter Siobhan Wilson celebrates Scotland's often overlooked wildflowers, exploring themes of preservation, belonging and resilience through music and immersive imagery featuring flower videography and flower art by Scottish artists. A show designed by Sufrecs in collaboration with Trench One and Edge Photography, produced in partnership with Gilded Balloon and Unique Events, funded by Made in Scotland, this compelling must-see show is not to be missed.

17 - 27 AUG - 17:00
Edinburgh ISH Awards Best Show nominee 2025 (****, Scotsman, ****, Guardian, ****, Telegraph). In a ten-year marriage, eventually your partner sees it all. Every bad idea. Every silly decision. Every unfiltered thought... and somehow, they still say they love you. Fresh from her critically acclaimed show Slinky (Winner: Best Show, Women in Comedy Festival and twice nominated Best International Debut, New Zealand International Comedy Festival), multi award-winning comedian Laura Lexx returns with a brand new work-in-progress. As seen on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo.

17 - 30 AUG - 18:20
A brand new work in progress hour by one of Australia's most exciting and distinctive comedians. 'A rich source of edgy jokes' **** (Chortle.co.uk). 'A very assured, natural raconteur' **** (Scotsman). 'Relatable stories and meaningful punchlines' **** (Artshub.com.au). 'The comedian other comedians go to see' (TheatreTravels.org). Winner, Adelaide Fringe Best Emerging Artist Weekly Award 2017. Nominated Best Comedy, Perth Fringe World 2018. Nominated Best Newcomer, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2018. Moosehead Award Recipient, Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024.

17 - 30 AUG (NOT 27) - 19:00
Chin Music has two meanings: one is idle talk, the other is a brushback throw in baseball or cricket to intimidate the batter. Both describe Rich Hall's comedy. Idle but intimidating. Sharp, quick, splenetic and sublimely improvisational. If you've never seen him, you need to hustle down and grab a seat because he never disappoints. Ever. 'Blissfully funny' (Guardian).

18 - 24 AUG - 12:05
Internationally renowned jazz a cappella ensemble 'The Oxford Gargoyles' return to the Fringe, bringing their unique blend of close harmony, slick choreography and black-tie charm. Performing a range of styles from Sinatra's swing and Simone's soul to the drama of West Side Story and classic pop hits, this show has something for everyone. Expect their characteristically decadent sound, rich with sumptuous harmonies and vibrant rhythms. Do not miss this eclectic hour of music and chat, showcased by the brightest young talents in jazz vocal harmony and sure to leave you dancing in your seats!

18 - 31 AUG - 20.05
I came here to tell jokes and figure out who's going to betray me. And I'm all out of jokes. After months spent touring worldwide, Reuben returns with knives in his back and a camera on his head. For glory. For redemption. For revenge. A fully updated rendition of 2025's sold-out show. As booed on America's Got Talent. Nominated ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Show 2025. 'Offers nothing personal and almost no actual content' **** (Chortle.co.uk). 'Egotistical delusions' **** (Scotsman). 'Indescribable' **** (List). 'Disorderly' **** (IsolatedNation.com).

19 - 30 AUG (NOT 24) - 21:00
Benjamin Quirk has it all. Good hair. Hot boyfriend. Near non-existent waist. But death comes for us all – and for him it's coming sooner than he thought. At the ripe old age of 28, he's facing death one new chest hair at a time. Join Benjamin in this whirlwind, genre-bending new solo show as he feverishly chases immortality and begs for a redemption arc not seen since Christ himself. 'The masterful work of someone very smart making jokes that are very stupid' (Magazine6000.com). 'Messy, chaotic, effortlessly blending comedy with vulnerability' (List).

19 - 26 AUG - 21:45
The search for comedy's next big star continues as contestants battle for a place in the Grand Final of the UK's biggest newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases across the UK and Ireland, see the future faces of comedy before they make it big! 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.

20 - 23 AUG - 19:30
Join comedian Deborah Frances-White and guests for stand-up and conversation in a special episode of The Guilty Feminist, part of our Road to Gilead Project. The Handmaid's Tale flashbacks look like scenes in the USA today. The far right across the world is organised, connected and well funded, and has been gaining ground in the UK, looking to strip back our rights. We can make a U-turn on this road, but we need to start now! Join the joyful resistance today. Recent guests include Annie Lennox, Gillian Anderson, Desiree Burch, Sindhu Vee, Hannah Spencer and Zack Polanski.

23 - 30 AUG - 19:40
What's your name, and what's your game? Go to pieces over this crackpot quiz placing porcelain under the hammer! Decide the fate of a delicate pottery item: the crown jewel of your crockery set or total obliteration. Taskmaster meets Shooting Stars meets Antiques Roadshow. Contestants could be walking home with a snazzy teapot, commemorative plate or delicate figurine – but only one lucky soul is destined for the Bonanza Digital Experience. Sharkira's on hand singing the blues to those less fortunate. Expect absurd challenges, questionable judgement, and dramatic decisions from you, the audience. Participation optional.

24 - 30 AUG - 21:00
Schalk Bezuidenhout is back with a brand-new show. His first and (hopefully, for the love of all things good) only show post divorce. Schalk hasn't checked in with you all in some time and he wants to talk to you. Actually... he needs to talk to you! Why? Because it's cheaper than therapy. That's why! 'Rapid-fire gags and manic energy. Highly recommended' **** (TheAge.com.au). As seen on Amazon Prime, Netflix and Comedy Central. Arena tour support for Trevor Noah. ***** (EdFringeReview.com). **** (Mervyn Stutter's Pick of the Fringe). **** (BroadwayBaby.com). 'Fast-rising talent' (Guardian).

27 AUG - 19:30
Finalists battle it out to take the crown in the climactic stage of the UK's most prestigious comedy newcomer competition! Following months of regional showcases around the UK and Ireland, see comedy's rising stars give their best performances in a bid to win So You Think You're Funny? 2025. 'Showcasing the stand-up stars of the future' (Comedy.co.uk). Previous winners and finalists from the competition include Aisling Bea, Tommy Tiernan, Maisie Adam, Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Fern Brady, Rob Beckett, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Daniel Sloss and more.