Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 Reviews
- Lauren Hance
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
This year I arrived at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe during the last week of the festival. The energy was comparably different from my experience last year during the first week of the festival. Crowds were smaller (but not abysmal), performers were very tired, but the shows were still crackin’!
I don’t know if there’s anything like this festival in the entire world. For any performer who chooses to produce here, I give you a huge round of applause because it takes an incredible amount of mental, emotional, and physical stamina. If you’ve done it, you should be proud of yourself.
I had a blast reviewing shows, and I hope these reviews help artists in their future endeavors. This is the first time I have ever given out a new accommodation: ABSOLUTE MUST SEE. Two shows had me so quick to my feet, I’m sure my flippy-flappy theatre seat smacked the people behind me.
This year I also produced my first-ever live special episode of the podcast. In the vein of our World Fringe Day episodes, we featured various artists pitching their shows and sharing fringey stories. I reached out to artists who had pitched directly to me, and then it was a mad dash for them to sign up on the Google form before it closed. It was delightful to meet the artists in person and feature their incredible shows. (You can find the episode link at the bottom of this post).
I do owe an apology to a few of the shows I reviewed; I am notoriously bad at spelling, and my IG reviews had more mistakes than I would like to admit (even with spell check.... palm to face). Hopefully I got everything right here.
Now on to the slew of reviews. Hold on to your britches, because this baby is long.
ABSOLUTE MUST SEE SHOWS
Steve Burns: Alive
This show was PERFECTION. Steve lays his story and heart on the stage. A world-class performer. One of the most moving pieces of theatre I have seen in a long time.
You and Me (And Whoever Comes Next)
Breathtaking. One of the most moving stories about what it means to care for each other. Keron is charming and spot on with his comic timing. Beautifully written, directed, and performed.
MUST SEE SHOWS
Baby Wants Candy
Improv done right! The flan fugue was everything I could have ever wanted. Excellent ensemble work, such beautiful give and take, and knowing where the story needed to go next. The 5-piece band made the show so special.
Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It
A razor-sharp, executed to perfection commentary on what we are willing and maybe need to believe. Impeccable character work. Xhloe & Natasha have proven again they are absolute legends.
Big Stuff
Exceeded my expectations. A moving piece of theatre. Brilliantly crafted. The performers are warm and welcoming; they take you on a journey that most of us must experience, but never want to face. (While I couldn’t say her name during the show, it’s Kay.)
Fake
Mind blowing magic!! Chris is a fantastic storyteller. I’ve been waiting over a year to see this show, and it exceeded all expectations. So many WOW moments!
Goodbye Dandelion
Spellbinding storytelling. A feel-good show about death and living. The entire audience hung on every word and note. A beautiful reminder to never be afraid of living.
KEVIN!!!!!
Recent cutbacks have done it again! A hilarious take on the classic Christmas film. While the puppets have a DIY aesthetic, nothing about this production is DIY. Meticulous movement, spot-on comic timing, and perfect ensemble work. Enchanting from start to finish.
Linus Karp Was Hit With An Umbrella
YASS QUEEN! The Queerest Campiest show I’ve seen. Linus handles this very traumatic and disturbing event with humor, and shall I even dare say humility? An absolute delight and a story everyone needs to hear.
Mark Vigeant: OUT THERE
“Mark is a legend! The audience participation is brilliant! The tech is brilliant! Everything I want in a comedy show. Sit in the front row or the back! Volunteer, and you have a guaranteed good time!”
The Van Gogh Shogh
BRILLIANT! A triumph of a show. Heartbreaking commentary on the work of artists. Absolutely volunteer, you won’t regret it.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SHOWS
A Foot is Not an Appropriate Prize for the Tombola
This may have been the most British show I saw all festival- and I loved every moment of it! A hilarious romp through murder and mayhem. Be sure to volunteer; it’s a KILLER experience.
Always, Sometimes, Maybe
A heartwarming puppet and clown show. The audience work was beautiful. A reminder that life and love are all around us.
BIRDS: Alex Hines and Sarah Stafford
Satire at its best, filled with wild Australian spirit! These ladies will have you reapplying and never lighting your own ciggie.
Earth to Squiggy: A Lenny and The Squigtones Musical
A romp back in history. The camp and vaudeville-esque styles are performed to perfection. Spectacular singing! I’m looking forward to where this new work is headed.
I AM JOHNNY
Exceptional! I’m pretty sure I know this dude. Parr is spot on through the whole show, never flinching. The ladies were blushing & the men were jealous of our dear Johnny. The end was COMIC GENIUS.
NESTING
Superb acting from the entire cast. Mack & Guest had stunning physical transformations. A grounded yet quirky tale wrestling with end-of-life care. Creative set design.
The King of All Birds
Stunning storytelling. Knight takes her time, giving the audience room to breathe as she soars through the tale of the King of birds. Beautiful costuming and thrilling tracks.
RECOMMENDED SHOWS
A Better Memory
A thought-provoking story on where we could be headed as a society. A beautiful first work by Ihsan Kerr, he has a bright future. There were some lovely twists in the story. A beautiful performance by Codge Crawford.
BearGirl
Brilliant premise. The story keeps unraveling with twists and turns. Great chemistry between the performers.
Casual Receptionist of the Quarter
Nicole brings high energy and even a bigger heart to this one-woman show exploring the service industry. The story builds well with a poignant end. She takes some artistic risks that work beautifully. A fun show!
I Think I Hate Actors
A sharp-witted coming-of-age comedy. Roo is one to watch in the world of comedy. She has a knack for what is funny and excels in writing and delivery.
Maya Ricote: Ay Am!
A stunning commentary on what is expected of women, particularly in entertainment. Some really fun moments and great audience interaction.
Planet of the Grapes
A thrilling, adventurous and zany puppet show. Full of camp, lots of laughs, and bad dad jokes. A really GRAPE show.
The Last Mad Man
This though provoking show plunges into the dark world of marketing and its impact and asks: What is really destroying us? Lots of fun wordplay and laugh out loud moments.
Under the Influence
A high energy, double the fun show. The Gilbert Twins put their hearts on the stage and belt songs that pop!
OTHER GREAT SHOWS
Henry VIII and His Groom
Such a brilliant premise. Funny and heartwarming.
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE SPECIAL PODCAST EPISODE
A huge shout-out to these amazing artists who found me all over Edinburgh. Give it a listen, check out the shows if they are near you, and enjoy all the fun fringe stories!
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