Best Edinburgh Fringe Theatre 2026: Every show with a four or five star review from The Scotsman so far
Looking to enjoy some excellent theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe this year? Here are all of the best shows of 2026 according to our critics.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is well and truly back, with this year’s programme bursting with exciting new theatre.
Performers from near and far will flock to the Scottish capital for the month, with thousands of shows due to take over almost 300 venues around the city.
Whether you’re interested in catching a one-person play or are looking to enjoy the controlled chaos a full cast production can inspire, there are so many shows to see - and such little time.
If you need a little guidance when it comes to booking tickets, we can help. Our critics have been busy reviewing theatre from across the Fringe with just a handful of productions truly standing out from the crowd.
Here is every theatre show with a four or five star review from The Scotsman so far.
Further information about each show, including where to buy tickets, can be found on the official Edinburgh Fringe website.
The Scotsman has been covering the Edinburgh Festivals since 1947; the year they first began. As the festivals have grown over the years, so too has our reporting — from interviews and features, to reviews and beyond.
We also celebrate the best of new writing with our Fringe First Awards, the longest running awards at the Edinburgh festivals. Sponsored this year by Queen Margaret University, previous winners include Billy Connolly and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who premiered Fleabag at the Fringe in 2013. She continues her support of the festival to this day.
As well as the Edinburgh Fringe, our comprehensive coverage includes the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh Art Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival. You can find out more about our 2026 festival coverage, here.
To stay up to date, why not sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter? There’s no need to miss out on any of the action with our reporters sharing all of the latest from the festival and beyond.
If you aren’t already, now is the perfect time to subscribe to The Scotsman. For just £2 a month you can enjoy our unrivalled festival coverage and unlimited access to our website, plus 2-for-1 Fringe tickets. You can find out more here.
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