Questions, answered · Edinburgh: Edinburgh Festival Fringe
What is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
The short answer
Edinburgh's Fringe fills three weeks of every August with the performing arts. Its story goes back to 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Fringe Society, which supports its performers and its audiences, was founded by artists.
The festival
Edinburgh's Fringe fills three weeks of every August with the performing arts. Its story goes back to 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Fringe Society, which supports its performers and its audiences, was founded by artists.
Recent editions
- 2026
- 2025
Sources
More questions
- When is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2027?
- How do I get from the airport to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
- How do I get home after a late show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
- What comedy festivals are on in May?
Facts as of 16 October 2026. Festivals change their plans: confirm on the festival's own site before you book. Every question