Each year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe there are stand out shows which very quickly become difficult to get tickets for.
Whether it’s a new hour of stand-up from a rising comedian or a heartfelt theatre production with all the right elements to tug at the heartstrings, the busy festival programme can mean it’s easy for highlights to pass you by.
If you found yourself in that position last year, the good news is that some of the top shows from the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe will be returning to the city once more.
Based on The Scotsman’s reviews from last year, here are 14 of the highest rated returning Fringe shows.
5. Kanpur: 1857
Based on historical events, Kanpur: 1857 is set in North India in the aftermath of a rebellion against British rule. A man is strapped to the mouth of a cannon awaiting his death as punishment. The Fringe First-winning play — which our reviewer described as “beautifully written”, with “richly complicated performances” — will be at Pleasance Courtyard from August 5-16. | Phil Wilkinson
6. Youth In Flames
Another Fringe First 2025 winner, Youth in Flames is a play inspired by the real events of Hong Kong’s proposed extradition bill in 2019, written and performed by Mimi Martin. In our four star review of the show, we said: “Martin’s writing is tight and urgent” and that her performance is “perfectly pitched”. Youth in Flames is running at Pleasance Courtyard from August 5-31. | John Devlin / The Scotsman
7. Garry Starr: Classic Penguins
Garry Starr is back for the third year with his hugely popular five star show Classic Penguins. “This is a show about literature – particularly Penguin classic paperbacks – which are lined up in a bookcase at the front of the stage. It also features Garry Starr, a very funny man who is peculiarly averse to wearing trousers.” Garry Starr: Classic Penguins will run at Pleasance Courtyard from August 5 to 30. | Matt Crockett
8. Fly, You Fools!
American troupe Recent Cutbacks will be at Pleasance Courtyard with Fly, You Fools! – their DIY take on the Lord of the Rings films – from August 5-31. Perfect for fans of the film, our reviewer gave the show four stars for “glorious theatrical inventiveness”. | Mike Bryk