Of the hundreds of shows reviewed by The Scotsman at this year’s Fringe, only a handful are worthy of a five-star review.
There are just over twenty shows which our critics have given such a high rating, despite 2026 marking the largest festival to date with more than 4,000 shows included in the programme.
Whether you’re a fan of comedy, or enjoy spending some time immersed at the theatre, there is a huge range of entertainment to explore at the Edinburgh Fringe - including the many excellent four-star productions running.
If you’re looking to pick the best of the best, however, here is every five-star show at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
5. Border Bodies
A show about humanity and our search for connection and association even despite differences, Border Bodies comes from Brazilian company T.F. Cia de Dança as part of the São Paulo showcase. Scotsman critic Kelly Apter wrote: “From their shoes and clothes, to their hair and skin colour, Border Bodies is a coming together of people with their own heritage, desires, technical training, and attitude. But the human need to connect pulls them into a warm, exciting embrace that spills out into the crowd.” Border Bodies is on at DB3 at Assembly @ Dance Base (Venue 22a) until August 30. | João Benz
6. Buggers — Theatre
Written and starring Alistair Hall, Buggers is a play about renowned painter Francis Bacon’s turbulent love affair with London criminal George Dyer. With specific praise for the play’s movement director, set designer, and director, in her five-star review of the show Roisin McMullan also highlights its stars, writing: “These actors have a real grasp of the world they find themselves in, particularly Peter Clements as George Dyer. He is vulnerable and adrift, and he gradually disappears: ‘I used to have control of it,’ he whispers, ‘my temper and my heart.’” Buggers will be Upstairs at Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) until August 30. | Giulia Ferrando
7. Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All — Comedy
Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Dan Tiernan has earned himself another five-star review with his new show Quartz and All. Critic Claire Smith writes: “He’s hilarious, inventive and original, and beneath his outrageous posturing, there are some big, intelligent and beautiful ideas. Although he paints himself as a tortured soul, he seems to be having a whole heap of fun. I had a whole heap of fun as well.” Dan Tiernan: Quartz and All is on at Monkey Barrel Comedy (Venue 515) until August 30. | Contributed
8. Dracula: Lucy’s Dream — Theatre
A reimagining of Bram Stoker’s classic by French-Norwegian theatre company Plexus Polaire, Dracula: Lucy’s Dream focuses on the vampire’s first victim, Lucy Westerna, blending puppetry, movement and technical ability. In his five-star review for The Scotsman, Rory Ford writes: “The startling puppetry blurs the line between the living and the undead as Lucy begins to succumb to spell of vampirism and become a mannequin herself, weightless as her personality splinters and multiplies. You can see it as a representation of trauma, addiction or psychosis if you wish but this spellbinding production never loses sight of the fact that the enemy Lucy faces is simply evil itself. Dracula: Lucy’s Dream will run at Lennox Theatre at Pleasance at EICC (Venue 150b) until August 29. | Christophe Raynaud de Lage