The 2026 Edinburgh Fringe festival opened on Friday, with organisers encouraging audiences to "mix it up" and dive into the thousands of shows on offer over the next four weeks.
More than 4,202 shows are awaiting audiences across 299 venues in the Scottish capital, with artists set to perform over 57,000 times during the month.
Ticket prices and free shows
The Fringe Society, which supports and promotes the festival, said the average ticket price this year is £13. There are also 430 free shows and 796 pay-what-you-want or pay-what-you-can performances.
In total, 74 countries are represented at this year's festival.
CEO's message
Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "To everyone taking part, the key message is to enjoy this unique experience. The Edinburgh Fringe is one of the greatest spectacles of performing arts and culture, and you are the heart of it."
He added: "This year we encourage audiences to mix it up and fully jump into the kaleidoscopic variety of performances on offer. The best way to support all artists, from established names to those making their Fringe debut, is to buy a ticket and attend a show."
Lankester also thanked the artists, venues, producers, promoters and others who have worked to bring the festival to life. "Without your creativity and commitment, the Fringe simply would not be what it is today," he said.
Festival details
The Edinburgh Fringe will run until Monday August 31. The Fringe Street Events programme will take place daily from 11am until August 30 across the Royal Mile and Mound area, with performers showcasing their skills throughout the day.
Audiences can explore shows and tickets on edfringe.com and in the official Fringe app.
