Some of the acts appearing free (kind of) at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.Some of the acts appearing free (kind of) at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Some of the acts appearing free (kind of) at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe. | Contributed

Fringe Best Free Shows 2024: Here are 11 must-see free shows at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe

You don’t have to spend a fortune to see a great show in Edinburgh this August.

It’s nearly time for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to take over the theatres, gyms, hotels, streets and pubs of Scotland’s Capital.

Taking place from August 2-26 (although there are previews in the days running up to the official launch), there are over 3,500 shows taking place, from music and dance, to theatre and spoken word.

As with everything, ticket prices have been steadily rising in recent years - meaning that the festival is arguably less affordable than it once was.

But luckily there are two ‘free’ programmes of events, where you pay what you think the show’s worth and pop it in a collection bucket at the end.

Founded by comedian Peter Buckley Hill (pictured) in 1996, the PBH Free Fringe was the first of its kind, before being joined by the Free Festival in 2004.

And other venues also put on some free shows over August.

Here are 11 of the free shows that have caught our eye this year.

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