The Edinburgh Festival Fringe opened on 7 August and runs until 31 August 2026, presenting 4,202 shows across 299 venues in Edinburgh. The programme represents 74 countries, includes 14 country showcases and four spotlight projects, and has added 553 shows since the printed programme launched on 4 June. Across the month artists will give more than 57,000 performances; average ticket price is £13, with 430 free shows and 796 pay-what-you-want or pay-what-you-can events. The Fringe Street Events programme runs daily from 11am until 30 August along the Royal Mile and Mound Precinct. Fringe Central, the festival's new permanent home at 6 Infirmary Street, opened officially on 7 August offering one-to-one media and marketing support and free mental health support with Health in Mind. More than 1,600 arts industry and media professionals from 53 countries have accredited with the Fringe Society this year, and Fringe Society chief executive Tony Lankester thanked artists, venues and promoters while encouraging audiences to buy tickets and support performers at every stage of their careers. Programme additions named since June include Pray For Me at Deaf Action, Sign Slam, BENCHES at The Baking Room, Matthew Hayhow: Bring Out The Gimp, and the Islam Festival Edinburgh at Edinburgh Central Mosque.
