Children and young people at Edinburgh Fringe 2026
Once again, the world’s largest arts festival returns to the capital. Children and young people remain at the heart of the festival’s vision for the future.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival has demonstrated a strong commitment to children and young people again this year. They remain at the heart of Fringe’s vision for the future, which is brilliant to see.
We’ve looked at what initiatives are going to encourage participation, and identified a few shows led by children and young people that we think are definitely worth seeing!
Initiatives for young people at Edinburgh Fringe
The Young Fringe Performers project is designed to encourage and enable young people from local community groups to perform during the festival. Each year, the Fringe Society partners with an Edinburgh-based community group and a local Fringe artist, working together over eight weeks to develop an original performance that is later presented on the Fringe Community Stage. A key aspect of the initiative is that the work is co-created with ideas, themes and creative direction coming directly from young participants.
Speaking of which, the Community Stage is a great public platform for children and young people. It’s a place for local community groups and schools to showcase their talent and features a brilliant line up of theatre, music, comedy and storytelling performances by all ages. It’s located on the High Street near St Giles Cathedral, with half hour performance slots between 11am and 6pm.
Fringe ASN is a programme working with additional support needs schools and community groups to make the Fringe more accessible for young people who may face barriers to engaging with the festival. Rather than requiring groups to navigate the challenges of visiting Fringe venues, the programme actually funds projects to bring performances and workshops directly to them in schools. Martin O’Gorman, Drama and English teacher at Woodlands College, praised the experience in a previous year as “entertaining, thought-provoking and unforgettable.”
Generation Fringe is another porgramme helping young people aged 12 to 15 explore careers in the arts beyond performing on stage. Working with pupils from schools across Edinburgh, the project introduces participants to a wide range of professional opportunities including technical theatre, costume design, hair and makeup, marketing, and many other artist services. Industry professionals share their insights so young people can understand the breadth of careers available in Scotland’s creative sector.
New to 2026 is a pilot of an artist residency at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, inviting a Fringe artist to adapt an existing show into one compatible with a hospital setting, allowing children who would otherwise miss out on the Fringe to get a taste of the creativity and joy that the festival brings to the city.
SHOWS
An Island of Bad Ideas: The Tempest
One of the notable youth-led productions appearing at Fringe 2026 is presented by the Edinburgh Youth Theatre, a comedic performance “packed with magic, mischief and spectacularly poor decisions.” Audience members are told to expect “physical comedy, a foot stomping soundtrack and a storm of bad choices as power, revenge and forgiveness spiral hilariously out of control.” Perfect for “families, Shakespeare connoisseurs and newcomers alike.”
Venue 9 – Lower Theatre at theSpace on Niddry Street
50 minutes, 12.50
Tickets: An Island of Bad Ideas: The Tempest | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
9 to 5 JR
Another showcase for young talent is 9 to 5 JR, performed by Stage Skool LIVE.
Featuring a cast of young performers, the musical brings Dolly Parton’s well-known story to the Fringe, inspired by the hit 1980s film. The show combines the original story’s humour with a youthful energy designed to entertain family audiences.
Venue 53 – Grand Theatre at theSpace @Surgeos’ Hall
1 hour, 11.55
Tickets: 9 to 5 JR | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Common Ground
Dance plays a big role in youth participation at the Fringe. Common Ground brings together Lothian Youth Dance Company, which works with young people aged 14 to 21, and PRIME, Dance Base’s company for over 60s performers. It’s an intergenerational production exploring the pressures people face at different stages of life in a series of dance.
Venue 22a – DB1 at Assembly @ Dance Base
14.40, 1 hour
Tickets: Common Ground | Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Other shows including the bright and amazing talents of children and young people can be found in abundance on the website for this year’s festival.
