Shedinburgh Fringe Festival has wrapped its inaugural live season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with resounding success, announcing its return for 2026.
This year’s programme saw over 4,000 audience members attend more than 20 sold-out performances, featuring 100+ artists and 20 brand-new shows. The festival also awarded £15,000 through its Shedload-of-Future Fund, supporting emerging talent.
Created by Francesca Moody Productions, the Olivier Award-winning team behind Fleabag and Baby Reindeer, and managed by Gilded Balloon, Shedinburgh reimagines the traditional Fringe model. Artists receive financial guarantees, travel and accommodation support, while audiences benefit from pay-what-you-can ticketing.
The 2025 season at The Wee Red Bar featured Fringe favourites including Jayde Adams, Mark Watson, Jack Rooke, Deborah Frances-White, Marlow & Moss, Flo & Joan, and Chloe Petts. It also introduced five new Shed Originals from writers Nick Cassenbaum, Rosaleen Cox, Tia Renee Mullings, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth, and Joanne Thomson.
Jack Rooke said:
“At a time where risk-taking at the fringe can often feel discouraged as it now costs so much money (too much money), Shedinburgh is a bold step in giving artists of varied backgrounds a shot at doing something brand new, off the cuff and potentially a bit oddball, but without the panic that you’ll be massively out of pocket… So, long live the shed and let’s continue to think about how we can reform the rest!”
Rosaleen Cox added:
“What a bloody dream to have MERCURIAL as one of the Shed Originals this year! Shedinburgh is the Fringe at its best… If not for Shedinburgh, it’s very likely I’d still be stewing over whether or not I should bankrupt myself to talk about Colin Farrell’s eyebrows on stage.”
Sophie Duker commented:
“The Fringe should be all about subverting expectations and spotlighting brilliance – and Shedinburgh is both a brave new space for fresh ideas and a reminder to us that taking risks is essential.”
Festival founder Francesca Moody said:
“We have had an incredible month bringing Shedinburgh to life, live and in person for the first time… I hope that Shedinburgh has shown that there is a different way of doing the fringe and that we have carved out our own tiny and positive corner of the incredible ecosystem that makes up the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”
More information can be found here.
