The largest arts festival in the world is also the largest comedy festival in the world– there’s nothing quite like the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (August 7-August 31 2026). And indeed, for many punters the Fringe is a comedy – pretty much any British stand-up (and many foreign ones) who has a show, will take it to the Fringe.
With literally hundreds of comedy shows to choose from, flicking through the phonebook-like Fringe programme can be more than a little daunting. So we’re here to help. From stand-up legends to award-winning newcomers, these are the comedy shows we’ve either seen and reviewed or are most excited about at this year’s festival.
Got some downtime between gigs? Then check out our pick of the best pubs, restaurants and afternoon tea in Edinburgh.
RECOMMENDED: Your ultimate guide to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
What is it? Famously, Ahir Shah’s last Edinburgh Fringe show Ends came to the festival in 2023 as a work in progress that turned out to be so good that not only was its WIP status rescinded but it won the main comedy award that year. Whether or not newie Golden can top it – we know basically nothing about it so far – expect another personal but also cerebral tour de force from a master.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? ‘If you laugh it's comedy, if you don't it's performance art’ runs the undoubetdly laughter-worthy tag line Frankie Thompson’s new show, which not only points to how weird her work is but also to the fact that the genre is genuinely uncertain. Assuming she’s not radically changed her MO, the key thing to remember here is that her performance is in no way done in a stand-up style, but rather involves her lip syncing disquietingly to a mad collage of vidoe clips, like a sort of Adam Curtis fever dream.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
What is it? A lot has happened to Ania Magliano since she took a new show to the Fringe: last year she starred in Taskmaster, and this year she’s been one of the brightest stars of SNL UK. Will it have boosted her profile? Probably! She’s playing her biggest venue to date at this year’s edition, albeit she still seems wedded to a nice mid afternoon slot. Peach Fuzz is not a high concept show but more of the youthful stand-up’s signature gossipy observations and ironic send up of Gen-Z narcisissim. Expect a treat.
Where is it? Monkey Barrel Comedy.
What is it? Paddy Young probably went into SNL UK the more obscure one out of him and his younger Weekend Update co-star Ania Magliano. But he’d certainly been making waves before that, with a furious post-pandemic workrate that saw him bring up a new Fringe show every year since 2021. Now is his moment to really grab the spotlight with the latest outing for the Scarborough stand-up’s imaginative, hyperactive observational comedy.
Where is it? Monkey Barrel Comedy.
What is it? Even by the fairly vague naming conventions of stand up comedy shows, it’s hard to imagine what sardonic Anglo-Russian Olga Koch’s new show Fat Tom Cruise will be about. Apparently it revolves around a story Koch has to tell. And furthermore, it’s a genre-defying show with immersive elements. In the world of solo stand-up shows this could mean everything or nothing, but Koch is an undoubtable pro and if she’s stretching her wings a bit formally then so much the better.
Where is it? Pleasance Courtyard.
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