What to See & Do at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024

The world-famous comedy festival is back for 2024, but when does Edinburgh Fringe start? Starting on Friday 2nd August and running until Monday 26th August, the festival attracts performers and spectators from all around the world.

With thousands of comedy, music, theatre and spoken word shows happening throughout August, along with more suitable shows for Children, there really is something for absolutely everyone.

From internationally loved comedians to debut musicals, you’ll see both familiar faces and brand-new ones on all stages spread all throughout the city. The full programme is now live on the Fringe website, ahead of the festival next week there is also an official EdFringe app that you can download.

Overview of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2024

The roots of the beloved festival trace way back to 1947, when eight theatre groups turned up uninvited to the (at the time) newly established Edinburgh International Festival. The festival grew in size and popularity, snowballing into the extravaganza we know and love today, still ensuring to embody the original spirit of artistic rebellion and creativity!

Unlike any other festival, Edinburgh Fringe operates on a unique open-access model, which means that there’s no central governing body or a single organiser. Each individual show is independently organised by artists, performers, producers and venues. The festival utilises this model to encourage artistic freedom and creativity, making it truly one-of-a-kind.

Events range from ticketed (from cheap to more on the pricier side, depending on the act), free to street performers you can just turn up to. They also have The Half Price Hut, where you can find half-price tickets for shows the day of, or the next morning – a great incentive to discover new shows without eating into your budget!

Must-See Comedy Shows

With hundreds of shows happening every day during the festival, it can be hard to decide what to see at Edinburgh Fringe. You can see the full timeline on the Fringe website, showing every show that’s on over the three-week span.

You’re probably asking yourself ‘What should I see at Edinburgh Fringe?’ Well, as resident experts in the field of comedy, cabaret and entertainment, let us tell you the top comics we’re keeping an eye on this year...

Actress, comedian, presenter and writer Sara Pascoe is a regular on TV show favourites 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, QI and has appeared on Taskmaster. Since her first Fringe show back in 2010, she’s skyrocketed to the top of the comedy circuit and has hosted Last Woman on Earth with Sara Pascoe and The Great British Sewing Bee. You can see Sara Pascoe: I Am A Strange Gloop, at Monkey Barrel Comedy, July 29th-31st, August 1st-9th.

Host of Mock the Week, The Panel and The Apprentice: You’re Fired!, Dara O’Briain is a widely loved and recognised face on the television comedy circuit. The Irish comedian has collected countless accolades for his devishily good humour and excellent comedic timing. Dara O’Briain: My Life Is a Work in Progress (Work in Progress) is on at Assembly Rooms, August 12th-25th.

Scotland’s queen of comedy, Fern Brady, has been featured on Taskmaster, Live at The Apollo, Roast Battle and The Last Leg. Her memoir, Strong Female Character, is a Sunday Times Bestseller and her previous stand-up show, Power & Chaos, was broadcast on BBC1. See Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk to Drink, Thursday August 22nd, at the Playhouse.

A familiar and well-loved British comedian, Nish Kumar, has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News for You. One of The Guardian and The Telegraph’s 50 Best Comedians of the 21st Century, Nish Kumar’s Fringe show this year features his latest work-in-progress show for his upcoming tour, Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe, at Monkey Barrell Comedy, August 2nd-16th and 19th-25th.

The ground-breaking ventriloquist, actress, BAFTA nominated filmmaker and British Comedy Award Winner, Nina Conti returns to Fringe with her beloved monkey sidekick for her new show Whose Face Is It Anyway? At Pleasance Courtyard Grand, July 31st and August 1st-6th, 8th-12th, 14th-18th and 20th-25th.

The UK’s favourite Aussie and host of The Last Leg, the ‘effortlessly brilliant’ (The Guardian) Adam Hills, is back with a brand-new show that combines positive stand-up comedy with rampant spontaneity. Described as ‘Achingly funny and uplifting’ by The Telegraph, catch Shoes Half Full at the Assembly Rooms, Music Hall, July 31st-August 11th.

Star of Have I Got News for You, Jo Caulfield’s Fringe runs have been award-winning. Known for her razor-sharp observations and scandalous one-liners, in her 2024 Fringe show, Pearls Before Swine, she digs her claws into everything that annoys her. See her at The Stand 3 on August 2nd-11th, 13th-18th and 20th-25th.

Winner of the 2018 comedy award and star of her own sitcom Starstruck, Rose Matafeo is a pretty big deal these days. The loved New Zealander is back at the Fringe this year with a brand-new show, that she describes as ‘Do you ever feel like you’re meeting yourself again and again in a bad way?’ See Rose’s show On and On and On at the Pleasance Courtyard on August 9th-16th and 18th-25th.

Ania Magliano has quickly established herself in the British comedy circuit since her Fringe debut back in 2022. Her entire 2023 run sold out in advance, with audiences loving her slick, sardonic tales of Gen-Z life. She returns this year with her brand-new show Forgive Me, Father, which she describes as ‘You know when you’re trying to wee on a night out, and you’re interrupted by a random girl who insists on telling you all her secrets even though you’ve never met? Imagine that, but she has a microphone.’ See Ania at the Pleasance Courtyard, August 2nd-11th and 13th-25th.

Star of our very own 2023 Comedy Collective, Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week and QI, Olga Koch makes her return to Edinburgh this year, where she ‘finally addresses the elephant in the room’. Olga Koch Comes From Money, at Monkey Barrel Comedy, Monkey Barrel 3, August 2nd-25th.

Dan Tiernan’s completely sold-out debut at last year’s Fringe gained him a Best Newcomer nomination, and huge success since! The well-loved ‘Mancunian wild-man' (The Guardian), former BBC New Comedy Awards winner and English Comedian of the Year winner, Dan has been described as ‘A stand-up set for stardom’ by List. Watch him in Stomp at Monkey Barrel Comedy, Monkey Barrel 1, August 2nd-11th and 13th-25th.

Booking Entertainment & Comedy Acts for Your Own Event

Have you got your eye on any Edinburgh Fringe 2024 acts? Are you in need of a comedian for an upcoming corporate event?

Successful Fringe acts tend to get booked up quickly, following on from the hype of their great Fringe run, so it’s important to get in quick, just in time for awards season at the end of the year!

See more of our comedians here, or get in touch with our friendly and impartial team by giving us a call on 02076077070 or emailing us at info@speakerscorner.co.uk