Today, 12 March 2025, marks an exhilarating moment as the first wave of shows for the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe is unveiled. With over 556 diverse performances now available for booking on edfringe.com from noon today, this year’s festival promises to be a spectacular celebration of creativity and talent.
Spanning a multitude of genres—cabaret and variety, children’s shows, comedy, dance, physical theatre and circus, music, musicals and opera, spoken word, and theatre—these initial offerings will grace over 100 venues across the city. As we eagerly anticipate more announcements leading up to August’s grand event.
This year sees an inspiring trend with more artists than ever opting to showcase their work early. This bold move allows them ample time to promote their shows and connect with audiences eager for fresh experiences. The courage of these artists and companies in bringing their creations to life at the Fringe is truly admirable. They face challenges head-on—from managing rising costs to navigating logistical complexities—all in pursuit of making this August unforgettable for locals and visitors alike.
The Fringe Society remains steadfast in its advocacy for greater support within our vibrant festival community. From affordable accommodation initiatives to sustaining the Keep it Fringe fund—they call upon those who can lend a hand or resources to join us in fostering this artistic haven.
With over 500 shows sale today from 12:00 alone! The society urges people far-and-wide: to seize this chance! Discover emerging talents; explore unfamiliar venues; immerse yourself fully into what promises already as another phenomenal year at Edinburgh’s beloved arts expo!
Shona McCarthy—the passionate Chief Executive behind it all—expresses her excitement: “Witnessing these first show announcements brings such joy—it makes everything feel so real again! The sheer range & depth showcased by participating artists fills me with awe.”
More performers have chosen early ticket sales than ever before—a testament not only towards planning but also overcoming barriers like production costs which often deter participation altogether… Their dedicated Artist Services team stands ready offering guidance every step along your journey.
Below lies just glimpse into what’s available starting today—but do visit edfringe.com where full listings await discovery:
Cabaret & Variety:
– In ‘1954: Ella Etta Eartha’ (The Jazz Bar), Melissa Western pays homage through swinging jazz powerful soul cheeky kitsch.
– Returning favourite La Clique dazzles once more inside iconic Spiegeltent while Sexy Circus Sideshow ventures boldly into alternative realms blending underground burlesque cabaret magic!
Children’s Shows:
– Join Baby Shark unravel mysteries amidst musical mayhem (Gilded Balloon) or march merrily alongside CeilidhKids’ traditional Scottish tunes (Laughing Horse).
– Experience Milly’s Musical Adventure unfold magically via illustrations new compositions alike…
Comedy:
– Dungeons Dragons enthusiasts unite under Tartan Tabletop banner improvisational hilarity awaits dice roll!
– Laugh heartily during Chonk-hosted body-positive buffet featuring comedians galore across entire fringe landscape…
Dance Physical Theatre Circus:
At Greenside witness Tales From Your Queer Elder blend movement spoken word crafting powerful testaments authenticity dream-following encouragements abound…
Music
For an ‘evening of classics from the silver screen’, check out Tutti Orchestra: At the Movies at Canongate Kirk, or ‘experience the beauty of Italian and Neapolitan love songs’ at La Dolce Vita: A Celebration with Philip Contini(Valvona & Crolla).
MASSAOKE has two runs at Underbelly this year, 90s Live – ‘everything from rock to rave, girl power to grunge and Britpop to boybands’ – and Sing The Musicals – ‘Mamma Mia, Hamilton, Frozen, The Greatest Showman, Dirty Dancing, Les Mis, Jungle Book, We Will Rock You, Phantom, Mary Poppins and many more’.
Ali Affleck comes to the Fringe with five shows this year: she’s with her band The Vagabond Jacks playing Hot Roots Jazz, Highway Honky-Tonk, Rags and Blues at the Argyle Cellar Bar; paying tribute to Billie Holiday with Sophisticated Lady at The Jazz Bar; and revisiting both venues with Ali Affleck Presents: A Hot Time in the Old Town – Celebrating the Wild Trailblazers of Blues and Jazz; Ali Affleck and the Traveling Janes – Bringing Bold, Brassy Bedlam to Swing, Blues and Trad Folk/Roots Jazz; and Ali Affleck’s Queens of Swing.
Head over to Footstomping: Live Scottish Music (WHISKI Bar & Restaurant) for a ‘vibrant foot-stomping good time’ or listen to ‘up-and-coming young musicians’ at Marchmont Music (Marchmont St Giles Church).
Journey to Stolen Identity (Saint Stephen’s Theatre) explores ‘women’s rights through a blend of musical genres, starting with classical but evolving into jazz and rock’. At Edinburgh New Town Church,Andrii Kymach: Ukraine is a ‘new recital, Ukraine, specially devised for 2025’s Day of Ukraine Independence’.
There are a number of tribute acts across venues, including Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac and Celine Dion at theSpaceUK, Abba at Greyfriars Hall at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh andJoni Mitchell at Le Monde.
Dive into the exhilarating world of musicals and opera, where passion and creativity collide! Don’t miss Charles II: Living Libido Loca at PBH’s Free Fringe for a bold, adult historical comedy that delves into the vibrant life of Charles II. Or rock out to powerhouse vocals and epic guitar solos with all your favourite 80s anthems at Rock of Ages in Paradise Green.
Experience the tragi-gorgeous comedy musical How to Win Against History at Underbelly, a true story exploring expectations, masculinity, privilege, and failure on an epic scale. At Greenside, witness a prince break free from his fairytale confines in To Be a Prince as he sings his own songs and dreams of what life could be. Meanwhile, ancient meets modern in Dunhuang at theSpaceUK as centuries-old murals come alive along the Silk Road.
Updated for 2025 with fresh tunes, I Wish My Life Were Like a Musical returns to Gilded Balloon with its delightful musical comedy revue that unveils everything about musicals and their ardent fans. For those craving intrigue with their melodies, The Detective’s Demise at Just the Tonic offers showstopping songs amidst devilish twists in this murder-mystery comedy musical.
In spoken word events that stir both heart and mind: join Jeremy Corbyn for insightful conversation at The Stand or enjoy an amusing yet truthful take on life with What Are You Laughing At? at theSpaceUK. Peter delivers a stirring tribute to his great-grandmother’s suffrage fight over 100 years ago in Alice Hawkins – Working Class Suffragette at Arthur Conan Doyle Centre.
Theatre lovers rejoice! Shakespeare for Breakfast is back at C Venues offering sensational Shakespearience perfect for everyone from die-hard fans to newcomers alike. Witness Alfie Cain’s raw solo performance Dropped exposing football’s harsh realities or immerse yourself in Timestamp’s sonic verse duet challenging societal norms at Dovecot Studios.
Explore Faith’s poignant battle against Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder through A Period of Faith’s moving narrative on Hill Street Theatre stage while Brown Girls Do It Too: Mama Told Me Not to Come (Underbelly) delves into British Asian women’s messy realities filled with fantasies & sexpectations!
Celebrate Italian literature amidst looming deadlines during No Shakespeare sessions held within Valvona & Crolla walls; embark upon Jeremy’s heartwarming journey towards self-discovery via The Boy from Bantay shown exclusively inside spaceUK venues!
Miriam Margolyes enchants audiences once again this August alongside Dickensian tales brought vividly alive through Margolyes And Dickens More Best Bits performed brilliantly under Pleasance lights! Familiar favourites like Trainspotting Live return triumphantly here too plus Xhloe Natasha present three captivating shows including A Letter To Lyndon B Johnson Or God Whoever Reads This First And Then Rodeo Burned Down What If They Ate Baby?
Finally unleash your competitive spirit by joining Robot Vacuum Fight Club hosted inside Outhouse Bar where teams customise knockoff Roombas before battling it out fiercely against rival machines across knockout rounds galore; alternatively find inspiration within Tomatoes Tried Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life (Summerhall), sharing true stories about overcoming obstacles pursuing passions healing power of arts itself.
So get booking from 12:00 today on edfringe.com