Social Enterprises operate year round and at the busiest time of the year in Edinburgh, they’re in the middle of the action!
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the worlds largest performing arts festival. Taking place from the 7th to the 31st of August across the city with over 2000 shows, in 2025 they held 55,942 performances and sold 2,604,404 tickets.
Social Enterprises perform at the fringe, host the huge number of incredible artists, provide space for practice and rehearsal, provide catering, transport and much more. The money made from this, then goes back into the local communities in Edinburgh to improve the lives of the residents.
If you’re a member of the network involved in the fringe that isn’t listed, please let us know at info@esen.scot
Jump to:
🎪 Fringe Shows |
⛪ Fringe Venues |
🤝 Festival Support |
🏘️ Community Ticketing Initiative |
🎪 Fringe Shows
Be United “Rhythm & Bass”
Rhythm and Bass brings the heartbeat of African and Caribbean music to the Fringe. Be United invite you to three nights of world-class music, dance and connection at the Leith Arches. Join them and experience the Fringe at its most inspired.
🗓️ 20th – 22nd August 2026
🕰️ 7pm
📍 Leith Arches, EH6 8LY
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Hot Mess Productions “Our Town Needs A Nando’s”
Growing up isn’t easy, but it’s even harder when you are from a place where no one expects anything of you. Especially if you’re queer or the new girl at school. Make sure you catch the debut show from Hot Mess Productions at The Fringe this year!
🗓️ 7th – 15th August 2026
🕰️ 2:30pm
📍 Space on the Mile, EH1 1TH
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Space at The Broomhouse Hub “Broomhouse Street Party”
The Broomhouse Street Party returns this August with free food, Edinburgh Fringe acts, entertainment for all ages, and more! Stay tuned to Space at The Broomhouse Hub’s social media channels for more information, including a list of partners and on-the-day performances.
🗓️ 6th August 2026
🕰️ 12pm – 4pm
📍 79-89 Broomhouse Crescent, EH11 3RH
🎟️ check here for updates.
Scottish Storytelling Centre
The Scottish Storytelling Centre on the Royal Mile is at the centre of the festival with a variety of shows throughout the entirety of the month. From exhibitions, theatre, puppetry, poetry, comedy and much more there’s something for everyone.
🗓️ 3rd – 30th August
🕰️ Various times
📍 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Eric Liddell Community – Various Shows
Head along to The Eric Liddell Community in August for “The Life of Eric Liddell” (7th & 18th August) and “Mesmerising Mechanisms”, a free hands-on exhibition (22nd August).
🗓️ Various dates in August
🕰️ Various
📍 Eric Liddell Community, 15 Morningside Road, EH10 4DP
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Citadel “Punchline on Leith” Fundraiser
After last year’s sell-out, they’re back for another comedy fundraiser at Leith’s newest, coolest venue. Doubling the laughs with two shows, both with different line-ups. Check @punchlineonleith Instagram for announcements.
🗓️ 12th August 2026
🕰️ 3pm-5pm & 7pm-9pm
📍 Citadel Leith, 175 Commercial Street EH6 6JE
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Pianodrome Various Shows
Join Pianodrome at their new Bruntsfield home for 25 days of folk, jazz, comedy, classical, surreal cabaret, free lunchtime concerts and life drawing inside a piano amphitheatre!
🗓️ 5th – 30th August 2026
📍 St Oswald’s Centre, EH10 4NB
🎟️ Tickets available here.
LifeCare Various Family Shows
LifeCare Centre provides services for older people and community activities. Join them for a variety of family shows including Dragon Babies, Sing a Long Scotland and Dragon Tales throughout August.
🗓️ 3rd – 30th August
🕰️ Various times
📍 LifeCare Centre, 2 Cheyne Street, EH4 1JB
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Laugh for Life “Behind the Laughter”
Travelling up from Liverpool, Behind The Laughter is the journey of a mental wellbeing comedy teaching course.
🗓️ 10th-15th August 2026
🕰️ 12:05pm – 12:50pm
📍 Haldane Theatre at theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Cyan Clayworks “Ceramics at the Shore”
An open studio event showcasing ceramics and artwork created by resident artists Fiona and Chris.
🗓️ 12th August 2026
🕰️ 11am-5pm
📍 Cyan Clayworks CIC, 5 Commercial Street EH6 6JA
🎟️ Tickets available here.
Active Enquiry “Platformed”
“The warehouse is normally a quiet place where the statues of Edinburgh can rest…”
🗓️ 12th-14th August
🕰️ 6:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8RG
🎟️ Tickets available here.
⛪ Fringe Venues
Greyfriars Charteris Centre
During the fringe also known as “Just The Tonic Nucleus” Charteris Centre will be hosting a variety of comedians throughout the fringe festival in 3 different rooms including Craig Hill, Serkan Altunigne, Clinton Baptiste, Simon Evans, Karen Dunbar & more.
📍 138-140 Pleasance, EH8 9RR
Out of the Blue Drill Hall
A focal point of the arts sector in Edinburgh, Out of the Blue will be host to “Platform” Active Enquiry’s theatre show running from the 12th to the 14th of August. Alongside this, they are a rehearsal space for many of the Fringe acts preparing for the busiest month of the year!
🗓️ 12th-14th of August
🕰️ 6:30pm – 7:30pm
📍 36 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh, EH6 8RG
🎟️ Tickets available here.
🤝 Festival Support
Grassmarket Community Project
Previously the primary Hub of The Fringe, this year GCP will be providing all of the catering for the Fringe Society at their new home for artists and events and hosting Festivals Edinburgh for their Momentum Programme as their delegate centre.
The GCP members will also be returning to the Community Stage for an incredible performance!
The Bike Station
Setup by Comedian Dion Owen, the Cyclopath programme gives artists performing at the festival access to free bikes for the duration of the festival. In collaboration with The Bike Station, The Fringe Society, The Counting House @ Pear Tree, Dion volunteers his time to fixing up the bikes that are shared out with support from The Bike Station.
Find out more about the programme here.
Aerial Art House
Just outside of the city centre, Aerial Art House provides facilities for Fringe Performers to hone their act with multiple studios for aerial artists, dancers and creatives before they step onto the big stage!
If you’re looking for a space to get ready, please get in touch with them.
Find out more here.
The Yard
The Yard is a haven for young adventurers, offering adventure play for disabled children, young people and their families.
Just before the official launch of the Fringe Festival, a fantastic mix of acts, facepainters, magicians, dancers & musicians are holding a special event for the families using these vital services, they’re also hosting a stall for the Festival Fring’s Community Ticketing Initiative.
Community Ticketing Initiative
The community ticketing initiative (CTI) provides free Fringe tickets for people in and around Edinburgh who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend, with tickets generously donated by Fringe artists and companies. It was previously known as the Children and Young People (CYP) ticketing scheme, and expanded in 2023 to allow eligible children and adults to take part.
CTI is run by the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society and developed in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council and EVOC, an Edinburgh-based umbrella organisation for third-sector organisations. Tickets are distributed through social, family or youth workers in the council or through local community organisations and charities.
We’re open to involving new organisations in this project as long as we have capacity. If your organisation would like to be part of CTI, please check the eligibility criteria for ticket recipients below and get in touch by emailing communitytickets@edfringe.com
Eligibility Criteria
CTI tickets are intended for people who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend the Fringe.
Ticket recipients must live in Edinburgh or the Lothians and fall under one of the following categories:
- At risk, vulnerable, marginalised or isolated
- Experiencing additional barriers to attending the festival.
