The Free Fringe is 30 this year.

Well, approximately. If it had not been for Covid in 2020, we’d be 31 years old.

Even in that blighted year, we put on six performances, broadcast from Edinburgh, obviously without a live audience.

But whether we’re 30 or 31, we’re proud of what we have achieved.

In our record year, we put on 10,200 performances of 600+ shows in the 23 days of the Fringe.

Every one of them free admission to the public; every one of them charging performers nothing for the use of the space, nor for listing in our printed programme, nor for advertising, nor for anything.

Since the Covid shutdown, we’re not as big. But still, in 2026, we’ll be putting on about 6500 performances of at least 430 shows. And still charging public and performers nothing.

These 31 years have been a wild ride. We’ve faced hostile takeovers, last-minute venue collapses, accusations, lack of reviews, and soaring accommodation prices. But we’re still here, doing things the way we believe things ought to be done. And we’re not going away.

What’s most important to us? Our performers and our audience. Unless both are happy, there can be no fringe.

We want to give audiences the opportunity to try shows without the upfront financial commitment that a ticketed system demands. That way, they can see new things and take risks. If there aren’t risks, how can an event call itself Fringe?

We want to give performers the opportunity to perform without having to invest huge sums of money in venue rent and publicity. And we do that.

Of course, we also support our venues, the majority of which are Scottish-owned businesses. Our programme is printed in Scotland. We are a charity and a non-profit organisation. We run as a collective, with all work being done by our performers themselves.

Our success has motivated some other organisations to give free admission to the public. But, if those organisations charge for venue rent, application, or programme listings, they’re not free. And if these organisations make a profit, it’s at the expense of the performers, who make a loss.

Is this news? It’s not an earthquake or a royal death. But it’s a long-term achievement. Imagine the Edinburgh Fringe without us.

Ticket prices would have soared to unacceptable levels if there were no free-admission shows to give the public an alternative. So many performers, some now famous, couldn’t have afforded to play the Fringe at all.

Our printed programme goes to press as late as possible, so it can be as accurate as possible. It will be on the streets on Friday 7th August.

In the meantime, we have show listings online. They update in real time. You can see them on https://bit.ly/PBH2026 .

We have spoken words, cabaret, magic, theatre, children’s, horror and sciences, as well as comedy.

The Free Fringe (aka PBH’s Free Fringe).