Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world's largest performance arts festival, which in 2019 spanned 25 days and featured more than 59,600 performances of 3,841 different shows in 322 venues. Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place in Edinburgh every August. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has become a world-leading celebration of arts and culture, surpassed only by the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of global ticketed events. As an event it "has done more to place Edinburgh in the forefront of world cities than anything else" according to historian and former chairman of the board, Michael Dale.
A street performer on the High Street in 2010
1971 Festival Fringe Club Membership Card
The Fringe Office at 180 High Street
Entrance to the High Street, street performances.
Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is an annual arts festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, spread over the final three weeks in August. Notable figures from the international world of music and the performing arts are invited to join the festival. Visual art exhibitions, talks and workshops are also hosted.
Nicola Benedetti, Director of the Edinburgh International Festival from 2023
Bruno Walter, who appeared at the festival in 1947, 1949 and 1953.
The conductor John Barbirolli appeared at seven festivals between 1947 and 1966.
The King's Theatre in 1981. This venue was used for opera in the early years of the festival.