Everything you need to know about the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe including tickets, venues & highlights

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is set to take over the Capital with a massive programme of shows and events lined up for August.

Kicking off on Friday, August 2, there are more than 3,000 productions included in this year’s festival. From big name stars to breakout comedians, there is something for everyone at the Fringe.

Throughout the Edinburgh Festival Fringe you can enjoy a walk down the Royal Mile where you can catch snippets from many of the shows, alongside plenty of street performers, jugglers, magicians and the dreaded human statues. | Getty Images

Having first started as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, which will run alongside it, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has only grown in popularity across the years.

And with past shows from then unknown performers such as Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd, those attending could be in for the show of a lifetime.

For those looking to enjoy August in Edinburgh, here’s everything you need to know about the Festival Fringe from where to get tickets to highlights and more.

When does the Edinburgh Fringe start?

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe will kick off on Friday, August 2, with a month full of shows lined up across the city.

When does the Edinburgh Fringe finish?

The 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe will end on Monday, August 26.

EdFringe Programme

If you’re looking for Edinburgh Fringe shows, you can visit the festival’s official website or app. Alternatively, venues such as Underbelly or Assembly also offer show and ticket information on their own websites.

In addition, each year the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society publishes a thick programme containing most shows and timings which can be picked up at locations such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Hub on the High Street.

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe shop sits at 180 High Street. | Wendy - stock.adobe.com

Edinburgh Fringe venues

With so many performances during August, there are more than 280 venues taking part in this year’s Fringe. Ranging from bars to theatres, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch shows even in the unlikeliest of places.

Some of the biggest Edinburgh Fringe venues include the Assembly, Pleasance, Underbelly and the Gilded Balloon. Meanwhile, other locations such as Summerhall are set to host a wide array of entertainment including a drama by Edinburgh Comedy Award winner Adam Riches who will step into the shoes of American tennis legend Jimmy Connors.

However, with countless locations participating in the festival here is a full map of all Edinburgh Fringe venues.

How to book 2024 Fringe tickets

Whether you have a specific show in mind or you’re waiting to see what catches your eye, tickets can be purchased through the Fringe website or via the EdFringe app.

Tickets can also be booked over the phone by calling [phone], in person at some venues or at the Fringe Box Office on the High Street, which is open from 10am to 6pm in August. The box office also operates the Half Price Hut, where hundreds of half-price tickets for shows taking place on the same day or the morning after will be available.

All 2024 Fringe shows are e-ticketed which means that once you’ve booked you will receive an email with a QR code ticket. These can be found in the “My Tickets” section of the official app and you can add them to your Apple or Google Wallet.

Edinburgh Fringe ticket prices

While there are a variety of free events running for those attending the Edinburgh Fringe the majority will cost to see.

Members of the public walk past posters advertising shows ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. | Getty Images

Edinburgh Fringe ticket prices vary from show to show, however some will also offer “pay-what-you-want” tickets or discounts for those who meet certain criteria such as students, those with disabilities or pensioners.

In addition for the early days of the festival, Fringe organisers run ticket schemes such as 2for1 day available on Monday, August 5 and Tuesday, August 6.

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2024 highlights

Wondering where to begin with such a large programme on offer? From comedy to theatre, here are some just some 2024 Edinburgh Fringe highlights.

Comedy at the Fringe

Urooj Ashfaq won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for best Newcomer in 2023 and will return to this year’s Fringe festival. | Getty Images

Whether you’re looking to see a wide variety of comedians or check out those who could be up for the 2024 Edinburgh Comedy Awards, this year’s Fringe is packed full of talent.

If you’re looking for familiar favourites, there are a range of Taskmaster contestants on this year’s schedule including Joanne McNally, Fern Brady and Tim Key. In addition, big names in comedy such as Dara Ó Briain, Bobby Davro and Miriam Margolyes will also be putting on a show during this year’s festival.

If you’re wondering which acts are most likely to entertain you the most, then you could always take a look at shows from previous Edinburgh Comedy Award winners such as Urooj Ashfaq or Hannah Gadsby.

Or if it’s some of this year’s favourites you’d prefer to see, try Sarah Keyworth’s show “My Eyes Are Up Here” or Chris Grace’s latest work 'Sardines: A Comedy About Death'.

Free shows

If you don’t have much money to spend on Fringe tickets, there are plenty of free shows running across August. Chris Cook will mix magic with storytelling as part of PBH’s Free Fringe while some performers, such as Russian comedian Olga Koch, will host free events outside of their main show.

Theatre

V.L.  will be performed at the Roundabout at Summerhall as part of this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Fringe may be best known for its comedy, but it has helped launch hugely successful shows including musicals such as Six and even Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag.

This year you can catch shows from Shakespeare For Breakfast, which is now in its 33rd year at the Fringe, or those such as Traverse Theatre’s ‘A History of Paper’ which is set to make its theatrical premiere.

But with so many shows on offer, perhaps one which could be the Fringe’s next big hit would be more appealing, such as ‘Mary, Queen of Rock’ a new rock opera or VL, a Scottish high school comedy.

Music

If you’re perhaps in need of a break from theatre or comedy, there will be plenty of musical entertainment also on offer at this year’s Fringe with highlights including tributes to acts including Elvis, Adele and even Meat Loaf.

Politics

Mhairi Black will be performing during this year’s Fringe. | Getty Images

If you’re interested in politics, there are a good number of events at this year’s Fringe which could be worth checking out. Former SNP MP Mhairi Black will be performing her comedy show 'Politics Isn't For Me' while other figures such as Anas Sarwar, Alex Salmon and even Liz Truss will appear during the festival.

For children

For those taking along their children, there are a host of child-friendly shows including last year’s sell out ‘Plague, Poo n Punishment’ which features performers previously seen on CBBC’s Saturday Mash Up.

Circus

While there will be plenty of circus acts entertaining crowds in Edinburgh during festival season, there will also be a number of performances dedicated to the art as well - including the UK premiere of Japanese show ‘YOAH’ from Cirquework.