Guide to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025

I’m lucky enough to live in Edinburgh, so I cannot wait to go to Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025. I’ve been to previous years, and I always had a blast. Every year, for one month, Edinburgh becomes crazy busy. The streets are full of performers and tourists alike. The 2025 fringe festival will be held between 1- 25 August all over Edinburgh.

If you are interested in experiencing the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025, there are a few things you should plan ahead. Here are a few tips to make the most of this year’s fringe.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival Short History

Before we dig deep into the tips and trips, here’s some information on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is one of the biggest performance arts festivals in the world. It is also on the list of things you must experience once in your lifetime.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival started in 1947 as an unofficial version or a fringe of the Edinburgh International Festival. It’s been every year in August since.

In 2024, over 50,000 performances were held across 270 venues during the festival’s three weeks. The most prominent type of show was comedy, followed by theatre. However, you can also see many other types of shows, such as cabaret, music, spoken word, exhibitions, circus, musicals, and opera.

Now that the short history lesson is over, back to tips and tricks.

1. Get accommodation well in advance

It’s always smart to get accommodation at least three months in advance to find a decent place and not spend a fortune. Hotels and Airbnb usually raise their prices right around festival time, and the prices are usually insane. Some Airbnb accommodations rent their place for £ 10,000 for the whole month.

If you are on a budget trip, you can also look for accommodation in the nearby cities. Just make sure they have either a train or bus connection. I’d recommend looking no further than Dunfermline, Livingstone, Queensferry, Preston Pans, and Musselburgh so you can easily access Edinburgh.

2. Buy Plane tickets in advance

Since the festival is in August, when it’s summer vacation, all plane companies spike up their prices. This means it’s best to buy plane tickets in advance to get the best offers. You can also check out offers for both Edinburgh and Glasgow’s airports to see which one has the best deals. Many low-budget airlines fly to both locations so that you can pick the best.

3. Pack for all seasons

Although the festival is in August, Scottish weather has a mind of its own. One day, it can be pretty nice and warm, with a clear sky. The next day, it can be the end of the world, with strong winds and non-stop rain.

Packaging for both the summer and winter seasons is the best thing you can do. This will include T-shirts and sweaters at the same time. Also, a big must is to bring a lightweight waterproof jacket. Trust me, you will thank me later!

4. How to choose shows

The easiest way to find what’s on is to download the festival’s app. It will only be available to download from the app store close to the festival. Once it’s live, you can select which shows you want to see and plan accordingly.

If you don’t want to install the app, the official festival website works just fine, and you can find all the shows. All Edinburgh Fringe Festival tickets are e-tickets so you can only purchase them online.

You can even walk around the town, receive flyers with shows, and check out all the posters. Most shows run multiple times a day throughout the month, so you can just try again the next day.

5. Donations, Paid Shows, Street Performers

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has something for everyone. From well-known paid shows to upcoming artists, where you pay a donation to get in. Usually, donations vary from £5 to how much you can afford. There are also shows that offer a 2for1 ticket, which is fantastic. The most important thing is to book early and reserve your spot.

If you want to enjoy the festival without the hassle of running around and trying to book the next best gig, simply walk around town. In August, the streets are full of performers of all kinds. From comedy gigs to circus to live music shows.

The most important thing if you find yourself in Edinburgh in August is to enjoy life as it is. Don’t stress if you don’t find the venue or miss a show. There are plenty more to see. I hope you will have a wonderful time at the festival.

For more updates on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, follow me on all my social media channels.

Until then, unwind and explore.