The best kids’ shows at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

What is it? There’s more to Edinburgh Fringe kids shows than bubble performers and bad science. Not a lot more, perhaps, but this show from Irish company Branar is certainly something a little different, being a kids’ adaptation of James Joyce’s famously impenetrable Ulysses. Presumably not that much is used for what is, after all, a 45-minute show. But the endeavour sounds admirably quixotic and the staging – based around intricate paper models and an original score – sounds compelling. Not one for the tots – the age advice is eight plus.

Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.

What is it? Louis Pearl’s bubblicious show is an Edinburgh mainstay that sells out every year for a reason. That reason being: he does cool stuff with bubbles! Big bubbles, little bubbles, artistic bubbles, bubbles demonstrating science, dumb bubbles, clever bubble – aaaaaaall the bubbles. It’s never the only bubble-based Edinburgh Fringe kids’ show but it’s definitely ‘the big one’.

Where is it? Underbelly, Bristo Square.

What is it? Stand-ups doing Fringe shows for kids have a variable provenance, but Olaf Falafel is an old hand at this and an annual fixture at the festival. The show offers an hour of ‘really stupid kids’ comedy plus maybe some drawing’ from stand-up, children’s author and former winner of Joke of the Fringe Falafel. Aimed at kids aged five plus, tickets are on sale on a pay-what-you-can basis. There is talk of a pogo stick being deployed.

Where is it? Laughing Horse @ The Counting House.