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Welcome to the Fringe

Expore the 2026 Free Fringe Festival: August 6th to 30th

The Free Edinburgh Fringe festival is back for 2026, with over 350 shows around Edinburgh this August.

Check our programme, and discover an affordable way to enjoy the 2026 Fringe, with our Free Entry and Pay-What-You-Can Ticketed Shows. The Best in Fringe Comedy, Cabaret, Theatre, Kids and more at a price you can afford.

Shows at the Fringe

Welcome to our 2026 Edinburgh Programme...

We're excited to share our 2026 programme, which is packed full of shows, featuring old favourites and fresh new productions to entertain, excite and give you an amazing Fringe in August.

You can browse our 2026 programme on this site - We are back with a bang again in our 23rd year in Edinburgh, with another huge programme of art, entertainment and laughter which comes to you from venues all around town.

You can discover something new, something amazing and all of the best things Fringe!

Laughing Horse Free Festival is one of the biggest comedy producers at the Fringe - but don't forget we also have cabaret, theatre, music, children's shows and much, much more!

In 2026 we have over 6,700 performances of more than 360 shows across our venues, raging from the very best in new talent through to well-know names. Just what a Fringe should be - and at a bargain price where you just pay what you want!

See the 2026 Programme

Would you like Free Fest shows in YOUR venue?

If you have a central Edinburgh venue, and would like to host Fringe shows click here to find out more about all of the benefits of being a Free Fest venue.

Latest News & Reviews

The 2026 Free Fringe Fest programme is Live!

 Click Here For Article

Article about Broadguess

Dee Ryan's Broadguess

 Click Here For Article

Review of Who Killed the Plot

Article about Eryn Tett: Tasting Menu

Erynn Tet Debut 4 stars

 Click Here For Article

Review of Who Killed the Plot

Everything a Fringe show should be

Review of Broadguess

"Now, I am Alone": Solo Shakespeare

 Click Here For Review


See All News & Reviews
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Best in Free: Best of the Fringe

With an award winning programme, Festival director and many award winners and nominees for shows and projects which are part of Free Festival over the years, we've had many critically acclaimed Fringes, alongside a bucket-load of four and five-star reviewed shows.

This means our shows are free and also some of the best of the Fringe - while we allow performers and audiences experience the freedom to experience the Fringe, with a chance to experiment and enjoy, just without the huge costs.

'Free & Unticketed' and 'Pay What you Can' shows - how show entry works

Our shows are either 'Free & Unticketed' or 'Pay What You Can' depending on how the performers have chosen to run their shows. This is how it works:

Free & Unticketed: Entry to a show is first-come, first served at the venue - just turn up and then donate to the show in the collection at the end.

Pay What You Can: For these shows you can book a ticket to guarantee entry and choose your price from the Fringe Box Office, up to 30 mins before a show. After that all remaining space is free at the venue on a first-come, first-served bases. Donations for walk-ins at the end of the show.

As always 100% of the ticket price or donations for each shows goes directly to the performer, which helps them benefit as much as possible from what audiences can give to them, after a tough couple of years for performers and show producers.

Free Fringe Festival shows in Edinburgh
We had over 6,700 Performances of 355 Shows in August 2025

And we pulled out all the stops to put our 21st annual programme together... So have a look around, and look forwaed to what we may have for you in 2026!

Running the Free Festival costs a lot of Money

Some of this money is recouped through sponsorship & advertising. If you would like to contribute and help keep these venues free for performers and audiences click here