Running from 1 to 25 August 2025, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is once again transforming the city into a vibrant playground of performance and creativity. With thousands of shows across hundreds of venues, it’s the ultimate destination for anyone who loves live entertainment—including creative entrepreneurs looking to soak up the best of what’s on offer.
Whether you’re into sharp stand-up, genre-defying theatre, or musical comedy with a twist, this year’s programme is a diverse and exciting mix. Packed with performances that are generating buzz and drawing crowds, here are eight stand-out shows to catch while you’re in town.
1. Hot Mess
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Genre: Musical / Satire
After a billion years of bad dates, Earth has finally found the one… Humanity. But things go downhill fast in this cosmic show from the creators of 42 Balloons. Hot Mess is a pop musical packed with catchy tunes, heartbreak, and witty wordplay, as the universe’s most iconic couple navigate the ultimate breakup. It’s smart, surreal, and gloriously original—ideal for anyone who enjoys their musicals with a clever plot.
2. A Jaffa Cake Musical
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard
Genre: Musical Comedy
Time to settle the debate once and for all: is it a cake or a biscuit? This brilliantly bonkers musical comedy from Gigglemug Theatre turns the 1991 VAT tribunal into a toe-tapping courtroom showdown. Expect ridiculously catchy songs, jam-packed puns, and a celebration of British snack culture that’s as nostalgic as it is absurd. With rave reviews and West End-ready energy, A Jaffa Cake Musical is a sweet treat for Fringe-goers of all ages (8+).
3. Tomatoes Tried to Kill Me but Banjos Saved My Life
Venue: Summerhall
Genre: Solo Theatre
This award-winning one-person show by Keith Alessi is a heartfelt and humorous journey through illness, resilience, and rediscovery. After a successful corporate career, Alessi was diagnosed with cancer and told he might not survive—but instead of retreating, he picked up a banjo and found healing through music. Blending personal storytelling with live banjo playing, the show is warm, witty, and deeply human, offering a moving reminder of the power of creativity in the face of adversity. 100% of ticket sale proceeds will benefit Summerhall this year (one of Edinburgh’s most iconic arts venues).
4. Thanks for Being Here
Venue: ZOO Southside
Genre: Contemporary / Interactive Theatre
Belgium’s Ontroerend Goed—Fringe favourites with a trophy cabinet full of awards—return with a show that’s less “sit back and watch” and more “you’re part of this now.” Thanks for Being Here is a gentle, interactive experience that celebrates the simple act of showing up. Through video, movement, and a few quietly profound moments, it invites you to reflect on what it means to be present—in a theatre, in a community, in the world. It’s thoughtful without being heavy, participatory without being pushy, and just Fringe-y enough to make you feel clever for choosing it.
5. Ohio
Venue: Assembly Roxy
Genre: Musical / Storytelling
From the Olivier Award-winning producers of Fleabag and Baby Reindeer comes Ohio—a soul-stirring musical that’s equal parts indie-folk gig and personal reckoning. Created and performed by married duo The Bengsons, it tells the true story of Shaun’s break from the church and his journey through degenerative hearing loss. But don’t expect gloom—this show is a celebration of joy in the face of uncertainty, packed with heart, humour, and harmonies that hit deep. With creative captions and a live score that’s part concert, part confession, Ohio is a Fringe debut that’s already making noise for all the right reasons.
6. Josie Long: Now Is the Time of Monsters
Venue: Pleasance Dome (Queen Dome)
Genre: Comedy / Storytelling
Three-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Josie Long returns with a show that’s part stand-up, part storytelling, and entirely delightful. Now Is the Time of Monsters tackles extinction, discovery, and the end of the world—with jokes. Expect charismatic megafauna, apocalyptic vibes, and a surprisingly helpful tip about silt. It’s whimsical, warm, and wonderfully weird, with Long’s trademark optimism shining through even the darkest subject matter. Also, her daughter has a hamster, and yes, that’s relevant.
7. Club NVRLND
Venue: Assembly Checkpoint
Genre: Immersive Musical / Party Theatre
Peter Pan meets pop bangers in this high-energy, nostalgia-soaked immersive musical set in a nightclub that never wants to grow up. Club NVRLND reimagines Neverland as a millennial party palace, soundtracked by early 2000s anthems from Britney, Katy, Kesha, and Bon Jovi. Wendy’s runaway bride moment kicks off a night of glitter, chaos, and confetti-filled existentialism, as Peter (now a club owner) tries to keep the lights on and the rent paid. With drag royalty, inflatable palm trees, and a plot that’s mostly vibes, it’s less about narrative and more about dancing like it’s 2005. Bring your happy thoughts—and maybe a portable fan.
8. 1984
Venue: Pleasance Courtyard (Above)
Genre: Theatre / Visual Storytelling
George Orwell’s dystopian classic gets a handcrafted twist in this new adaptation from Fringe favourites Box Tale Soup. Known for their inventive puppetry and minimalist sets (often made from pizza boxes and recycled foam board), the company brings 1984 to life with eerie precision and original music. Expect Big Brother, doublethink, and a puppet that looks uncannily like a cast member. It’s bleak, yes—but also strangely beautiful, with enough warmth and humanity to make you forget you’re watching the slow collapse of free will.
With thousands of shows popping up in theatres, tents, basements, and maybe even a few broom cupboards, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025 is a glorious overload of creativity. Whether you’re visiting for the laughs, the tears, the puppets, or the pop bangers, there’s something on every corner worth discovering. Browse the full programme here.
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