Pleasance Theatre Trust has announced a major expansion to its 2026 Edinburgh Fringe programme, adding 139 new comedy, theatre and family productions to its already extensive line‑up.
This year’s programme features internationally acclaimed companies, emerging talent and returning Fringe favourites across comedy, theatre, children’s shows, physical theatre, cabaret and more.
Leading the comedy offering is Kristen Schaal with The Legend of Crystal Shell, alongside Joe Lycett hosting an hour of stand‑out talent. Ruby Wax returns with Absolutely Famous, while Ahir Shah brings Golden following his Edinburgh Comedy Award win. Larry Dean debuts Hellbent, Rhys James delivers Chop Logic and Mark Watson brings three final performances of Before It Overtakes Us.
Further comedy highlights include Selina Mosinski with a surreal, confessional new show, BAFTA‑nominated Spencer Jones with DOGS, and Li Jin Hao with Falling From a Moon. Standout returns also come from Elouise Eftos with Aphrodite, Hasan Al‑Habib with Stuck in the Middle (East) with You, and Amelia Hamilton with Moral Support.
Debut acts this year include Freddie Meredith, Emma Doran, Abby Govindan and Anna Leong Brophy, as well as Em Humble, Jonathan Oldfield, Omar Badawy, Emmeline Downie and Davina Bentley. The comedy programme also showcases bold sketch work from Crybabies, Britney, Metroland and twins Hugo and Patrick McPherson as Pear.
On the theatre side, Plexus Polaire will present Dracula – Lucy’s Dream, a visually striking reinterpretation of Bram Stoker’s classic. Voloz Collective return with REDACTED: The Cover-Up of a Cover-Up of a Cover-Up, while CODE explores County Lines and knife crime through physical theatre, parkour and live rap. Flabbergast Theatre’s muscular retelling of Beckett’s Endgame and the UK premiere of KEVIN!!!! add to a bold theatrical line‑up.
New writing highlights include Mohan: A Partition Story, Collaborator, Churchill’s Urinal and state‑of‑the‑nation comedy THE LIBRARIANS: A Very Serious Comedy!. Queer voices feature prominently with the musical ACID’S REIGN and Temi Wilkey’s Lover Girl.
Family audiences can enjoy Frogs in Bogs, the interactive mystery The Mystery of Pleasance Two and Mark Watson’s debut kids’ show Mark Watson Tries To Impress Kids, For Some Reason.
Further announcements are expected as the festival approaches, with Pleasance promising more comedy, theatre, circus, magic and children’s entertainment throughout the summer.
Listings and ticket information can be found here.
