Edinburgh Festival Fringe set to be biggest ever with 4,202 shows

Now this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which kicks off today, is set to be the largest ever with 4,202 shows - smashing the previous record for the number of individual acts showcased at the annual festival.

At the end of the Fringe in 2019 - the previously biggest year before the Covid pandemic forced a hiatus of the event - the number of shows stood at 4,105, meaning this year is set to smash that figure.

However, Fringe leaders warned the figure does not mean the actual number of performances will be higher, due to many more artists now opting for shorter runs, rather than performing for the entire festival.

Many artists are choosing to stay in Edinburgh for a shorter period of time, due to rising accommodation costs making a full Fringe stay unaffordable.

Across the 4,160 shows, artists will undertake over 57,000 performances across the month in 299 venues - compared to 61,088 by the end of the Fringe in 2019. However, around 80 per cent of performers still commit to a full-length run.

Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said more shows were likely to be added to the programme by the end of the festival on 31 August.

Mr Lankester said: “The number of shows is currently up to 4,160, which is higher than it’s ever been. It is higher than in 2019 and it will still go up because things get added all of the time between now and the end of August.

“But just because the number of shows is up, doesn’t mean that everything is fine and healthy and easy, because it’s not. Instinctively, we’re finding shows are coming for shorter runs. That’s what we’re hearing from the venues. That does put extra pressure on the venues because they have to get them in and get them out and give them extra rehearsal slots - so this does have a knock-on effect.

“If that’s the trend, if that’s what the new world looks like, for whatever reason artists are coming for a shorter time, then we need to respond to that.”

He said the Fringe Society actively markets the benefits of a longer run to artists through workshops held overseas and digital marketing materials.

He said: “Artists, particularly those who come for the first time and choose to come for a week, are saying, by the end of that week, if their show has done well, that they are kicking themselves. We try to encourage them to stay as long as possible to make the most of the opportunities.”

He added: “I think the Fringe changes every year. Audience habits change, audience demand changes and artists step into that world. We want them to be as aware as possible what the different dynamics are and have the best possible experience for them.”

Last week, Gilded Balloon director Katy Koren told The Scotsman that fitting in acts looking for half runs was “like a jigsaw puzzle” for venue owners - warning that the finances of running a Fringe venue was “precarious”.

This year, the average ticket price at the Edinburgh Fringe is £13, according to new Fringe Society data, in addition to models which include 430 free shows and 796 pay-what-you-want or pay-what-you-can shows.

Performers are travelling from 74 countries, while 14 country showcases, and four spotlight projects will be represented across the festival. Over 1,600 arts industry and media from 53 countries have formally accredited with the Fringe Society for this year’s festival.

The Fringe Society is this year based at its new headquarters at Fringe Central on Infirmary Street, the new permanent home for the Festival Fringe.