The best theatre shows to see at Edinburgh Fringe and EIF 2026

What is it? The legendary Internationaal Theater Amsterdam have been frequest guests at the Edinburgh International Festival over the last decade or so, often bringing over some revered deep cuts that Brit theatre hipsters are liable to have heard of but not actually seen. Ivo van Hove’s monumental five hour production of Tony Kushner’s hallucinatory AIDS epic Angels in America (to be fair, it’s both conventional parts rolled into one) has long has a formidable reputation and now it finally makes its UK debut at the 2026 EIF. 

Where is it? King’s Theatre.

What is it? Heavyweight Brazilian director Christiane Jatahy joins forces with Brazilian star of the moment Wagner Moura – fresh off his best actor Academy Award nomination for The Secret Agent – for a fresh spin on Ibsen’s immortal An Enemy of the People. The Trial relocates the action to present day Brazil and calls on members of the audience to act as the jury deciding the fate of Moura’s Thomas Stockmann, on trial for his attempts to uncover a water pollution scandal. 

Where is it? Royal Lyceum Theatre.

What is it? You will not be shocked to hear that Flemish company Olympique Dramatique’s show [seagull] is in fact a version of Chekhov’s immortal The Seagull. What marks this one out as different is the fact that director Stijn Van Opstal’s production is performed in Flemish Sign Language by a cast of deaf and hearing performers of mixed ability, the idea being that this reflects the dysfunctional communications of Arkadina, Konstantin et al as they languish away in the country. It is naturally performed with (creative!) surtitles.

Where is it? The Studio on Potterow.

What is it? This enormously improbable mash up of Norse mythology and professional wrestling has been a sell out smash for four Fringes in a row and now returns for its fifth. The brainchild of Ed Gamester – who plays Loki – it follows the trickster god and his hench brother Thor as they team up and try and stop Ragnarök (aka the death of the gods and possibly the world) by, er, well basically by wrestling monsters. 

Where is it? Assemby Rooms.

What is it? As much a part of Summerhall experience as quirky old lecture theatres and constant uncertainly about the future, YESYESNONO return for the umpteenth time for this year’s Fringe and we’re certainly not complaining. As with most of their pieces, it’s a de facto solo vehicle for writer/performer Sam Ward, who will take us on a ‘hallucinogenic journey’ through the great unknowns of the world in an effort to understand why our world is going wrong.

Where is it? Summerhall.