Edinburgh Fringe organizers have refuted claims made by Scottish comedian Susie McCabe that a later start to the festival negatively impacted ticket sales and led to half-empty venues during its final week.
McCabe, who performed her show ‘Coming of Rage’ at the festival, suggested that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society ‘let down’ artists by beginning the event later this year. She argued that the festival’s traditional early August start, which shifted to the seventh of the month in 2026, meant a significant portion of the festival occurred after Scottish schools had already resumed classes. This, she stated, hampered attendance and led to some shows being cancelled.
"The Fringe this year has started [too] late," McCabe posted on social media. "Starting at the tail end of the first week in August is absolutely ludicrous, no consideration of when Scottish schools go back which is within days of the festival starting. It’s the last Friday of the Fringe and people are sitting with half full rooms."
She also criticized the festival's website and app as "an abomination" and noted that individual venue data indicated attendance was declining in the final week, with no corresponding mainstream advertising efforts.
McCabe further contended that rising hotel prices are deterring potential attendees who might have visited annually. "We need to make the arts accessible and not just a playground for those with a disposable income," she said. "The arts would not happen without the artists so those in their fancy office chairs need to help us out."
Other performers echoed concerns about the cost and perceived lack of support. Comedian Billy Bremner stated he did not find the Fringe Society helpful in shifting tickets, while Yorkshire comic Toby Foster commented on the prohibitive expense for new performers, recalling paying approximately $1,800 for a week in a two-bedroom Airbnb.
However, Fringe Society chief executive Tony Lankester rejected McCabe’s criticism. He presented an alternative perspective, suggesting that the end of school holidays can free up parents to attend shows. Lankester stated that while the last week may have been quieter, the first week was significantly busier, and on balance, the overall event saw increased attendance compared to the previous year.
"On balance the whole event has been busier than last year, significantly so, and I think audience habits may have shifted," Lankester said. "We have to step back and look at the global picture – how many people attended the fringe this year in totality versus last year or whenever. And looking at that picture, I don’t think Susie’s argument holds up."
When asked if the festival would consider starting earlier in future years, Lankester definitively stated, "No, we won’t."
