Pleasance Theatre Trust Fringe Season
Pleasance Theatre Trust gears up for another award-winning Fringe Season with their star-studded line up.
Summer is nearly here, and Pleasance Theatre Trust is delighted to return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe following a record-breaking year of award wins. Now entering its 42nd year at the heart of the world’s largest arts festival, the Pleasance will once again present a standout programme of comedy, theatre and dance across its iconic venues; the Courtyard, Dome and EICC, showcasing some of the most exciting productions at this year’s Fringe.
From the Olivier award-winning producers of Cabaret and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bliss – set to be the biggest new musical of the Fringe – turns the fairy tale inside out. With seventeen West End performers, electric vocals and a pop-rock punch, Bliss is a fearless musical about ripping up the rule book and the price of perfection. Hoax is the brand-new show from Colin Cloud, blending jaw-dropping mentalism with sharp psychological insight,
Pleasance is renowned for its world class comedy, and this year is no different. Cult favourite Joseph Morpurgo returns with his deliriously funny new show Highlander 70, Sophie Duker, is also back with a beefy hour about sex and privilege in Hot Beef Injection. Rosie Jones arrives with her loveable blend of cheek and charm in I Can’t Tell What She’s Saying and Elf Lyons brings Elf Lyons is The Woman on the Edge. There are also performances from Melbourne and Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated star Olga Koch, Jordan Brookes and Guinness World Record-holder NewsRevue delivers razor-sharp musical sketches and satire.
Pleasance also showcases the most exciting newcomers of comedy including Maia Tassalini, Dane Buckley and BBC New Comedy Award nominee, Dom McGovern.
Returning to Pleasance this summer is the international sell-out cult-hit sensation Garry Starr: Classic Penguins and the sell-out improv shows are also back with Kiell Smith-Bynoe and David Elms Describes a Room sees Elms, build a comedy mind palace before your very eyes. Showstopper! The Improvised Musical will once again improvise a hilarious new musical every show, totally inspired by the audience and Paul Merton and Suki Webster’s Improv Show is also back.
Finally Pleasance wouldn’t be Pleasance without its much-loved Fringe staple Tartan Ribbon Comedy Benefit giving us the best night of comedy and entering its 21st successful year in the Cabaret Bar, is the Best of Edinburgh Showcase offering a lunchtime comedy club showcasing established favourites and rising stars from across the Fringe with a new line-up daily.
With many more incredible shows to be announced, this is only the start of Pleasance’s outstanding programme for Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026.
Further Information: Welcome to the Pleasance | Pleasance Theatre Trust