Underbelly has officially announced its complete lineup for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, featuring a massive roster of 185 shows across four major hubs: Bristo Square, Cowgate, George Square, and Circus Hub on the Meadows. This season also marks a monumental milestone as the presenter celebrates 20 years of the iconic, upside-down purple cow venue, Udderbelly, situated in George Square.
A key highlight of the 2026 programme is international circus and physical performance. The Palestine Circus School will bring The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half to Edinburgh, combining contemporary acrobatics with traditional Dabkeh dancing. Additionally, the Japanese live-performance phenomenon The Sumo Show HIRAKUZA will make its highly anticipated UK debut, featuring live bouts by former professional wrestlers.
The star-studded comedy bill is led by household names making limited one- and two-night appearances, including Sara Pascoe, Simon Amstell, Russell Kane, Rory Bremner, Nina Conti, and BAFTA-winning writer Jack Rooke. Audience favorites are also set to return, highlighted by the high-energy, improvised hip-hop comedy styling of Abandoman’s new show, Afterglow.
Underbelly's theatre selection continues to champion original storytelling, featuring the debut of Goodbye Dandelion, a dark comedy exploring assisted dying. The production holds the distinction of being the first-ever recipient of Underbelly’s new Future Fund initiative, which is designed to support the ongoing development of new theatrical work beyond the Fringe cycle.
In a significant move for inclusivity, accessibility has been greatly expanded this year through a principal partnership with theater company Extant. Underbelly has committed to ensuring that every single show across its entire 2026 programme includes at least one visually impaired accessible performance.
The extensive month-long festival is scheduled to run from 5 August through 31 August. Co-directors Charlie Wood and Ed Bartlam expressed their excitement for the diverse cross-section of global talent, encouraging audiences to seek out both established stars and unexpected discoveries. Tickets for all scheduled performances are officially on sale now through the main Underbelly box office platform.
