The Edinburgh Fringe Shows Not to Miss In 2026
Every year, August becomes a month of excitement for the theatre community as it brings the Edinburgh Fringe. This month-long event is a place for writers to experiment with their ideas in front of audiences, and for those audiences to potentially discover the next big show. With West End favourites such as Six and Operation Mincemeat starting their journeys in fringe theatre, there is really no telling what could be the next big hit. With that in mind, here are a handful of shows that are worth keeping an eye on.
Remember, Remember - Pleasance Dome, Queen Dome (5th - 30th)
Winner of the Charlie Hartill Award, this camp comedy musical is an inaccurate retelling of the 1605 Gunpowder Plot. Set from the perspective of Robert Catesby, it is sure to give a different look at the history that we all know.
Alice By Heart - Greenside @ George Street, Forest Theatre (11th - 14th)
Set in 1940’s London during the Blitz, two friends find comfort and courage in their favourite story. The further down the rabbit hole they go, the stranger things become. Mind the gap between reality and wonderland.
1 Missed Call - theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall, Theatre 2 (24th - 29th)
This one man musical by Chris Duke is a contemporary story about masculinity, fatherhood and the quiet pressure that many men carry. Told through a series of phone calls, an ordinary man insists he’s fine, but each conversation exposes cracks beneath the surface.
Texas Annie: The Legend of the Moan Ranger - Space 3, The Space on the Mile (7th - 15th)
Inspired by a real life law, this show follows the campy musical adventures of a renegade sex toy dealer in Texas, where sex toys are declared illegal. Having won previous awards at the Cincinnati Fringe Festival and a sell out run at the NYC Fringe Festival, this show is worth keeping an eye on.
Bliss - Pleasance Courtyard, Grand (5th - 31st)
Following a 2025 workshop at Sadler’s Wells, this show is potentially the biggest new musical at the Edinburgh Fringe. From the Olivier Award-winning producers of Cabaret and Benjamin Button comes a hilarious, razor-sharp modern fairytale with a pop rock punch. Here princesses escape towers and rewrite the rules of happily ever after.
Bloody Mary’s - theSpace @ Venue 45 (14th - 19th)
In 1823 Edinburgh, Mary McKinnon rules the night with her brothel Bloody Mary’s in the South Bridge Vaults. What was once a place of pleasure turns to one of tragedy as blood creeps in under the velvet curtain.
Muse: The Shakespeare Mayhem Musical - Underbelly Bristo Square, Cowbarn (5th - 30th)
When a young Shakespeare is faced with an impossible choice that only one of his plays can be published, chaos ensues. His characters revolt, launching into a hilarious pop musical battle for literary survival.
Heated Rivalry: The Musical Parody - Gilded Balloon Patter House, Other Yin (5th - 30th)
After a successful Off-Broadway run, this parody of the popular hockey romance series makes its UK premiere. A full scale musical loaded with songs, sex jokes, and more pucking innuendos than should fit in one show.
Girlhood in the Bathroom - Gilded Balloon Teviot, Dining Room (13th - 22nd)
Girlhood in the Bathroom is an Australian musical set entirely in a club bathroom. Amidst all the chaos, five girls in their 20’s navigate love, friendship and the harsh truths about the world.
The Perfect Match - theSpace on the Mile, Space 1 (17th - 22nd)
After a powercut strikes, a knock on the door brings Charlie into Rowan’s life in a search for matches. This charming, intimate new musical asks if connections formed in the dark can survive the light.
Take our word for it, these are the shows you won’t want to miss out on at the Fringe this summer. You can see what Theatre and Tonic have rated on our Edinburgh Festival Fringe review page!
Written by Aimee for Theatre and Tonic, August 2026.
