Edinburgh Fringe awarded funding to ‘safeguard’ its future

The Scottish government has announced new funding worth £300,000 for Edinburgh Fringe Society in 2025/2026, to help safeguard the event’s future.

The money will be used in part to develop the capabilities of the society’s data and digital infrastructure to make it more accessible for artists, audiences and venues.

It will also be used to fund work to explore how the Scottish government and the Fringe Society can help Scottish artists and the sector as a whole capitalise on international opportunities, by targeting agreed priority countries and regions.

The society has previously warned it was “falling through the cracks of existing funding mechanisms”.

Hailing the Fringe as “one of Scotland’s signature events”, Deputy First Minister and Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said that the funding recognised that the Fringe Society does “not neatly fit” into the funding streams available to other culture organisations.

“There is ample opportunity for the Fringe Society to work more closely with all the other organisations who play an important role in making the Fringe the annual success that it is,” she said.

“The Scottish government is committed to working with the Fringe Society and all partners who deliver, it to help safeguard the future of the Edinburgh Fringe as a world leading cultural asset, built on the principle of free access for all.”

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: “We welcome this new funding and thank the Scottish government for recognising the unique position that the Fringe Society has. T

“This will undoubtedly contribute greatly to Scotland’s economy, society and culture sector, and we hope that this is a first step towards long-term funding for the Fringe Society.”