FRINGE BY THE SEA 2026
10 DAYS OF ‘FEEL GOOD’ COASTAL MAGIC AT FRINGE BY THE SEA 2026
The award-winning Fringe By The Sea in North Berwick (31 July – 9 August 2026) will present more than 300 events over 10 days in “Scotland’s Best Seaside Town” (Daily Telegraph) in this year’s ‘feel-good’ programme.
Tickets for all shows are on sale from 9am on Friday 29th May 2026 at www.fringebythesea.com.
The multi-arts festival offers up top names and globally celebrated acts alongside the best of Scotland, as well as emerging artists, a showcase of local talented creatives and a host of community events. A vibrant free to enter hub (open daily 10am-11pm) in the town’s Lodge Grounds offers live music from The Lighthouse Live stage, kids’ zone, Coulter’s Makers Market, street food, bars and this year, a new restaurant offering – Còmhla by the Sea.
Also set to feature at this year’s festival is work supported by The Scottish Government’s Expanded Festivals Fund through Creative Scotland. The multi-strand project – LOVE OF LIFE – in collaboration with Kelburn Garden Party, will see some of Scotland’s most original creatives offer their take on ‘biophilia’ – our innate desire to connect to nature. This will include the presentation of new work from Emmy-nominated, multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper, inviting audiences to ‘feel more, feel good and feel your way forwards’.
MUSIC
Fringe By The Sea continues to attract big names to the stages with Alex James’ Britpop Classical, Belle & Sebastian, Maribou State, Rudimental (DJ Set), Kool & The Gang, LEVI.SCT, Bay City Rollers, Capercaille, Tinderbox Orchestra with special guest Kathryn Joseph, Rianne Downey, Auntie Flo Live Band, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, Bombskare, Philip Contini, Ali Affleck and Fayne & The Cruisers.
COMEDY
Bringing laughter to East Lothian will be Lou Sanders, Russell Howard, Marjolein Robertson, Fred MacAulay, Greg Hemphill and Corbett’s Comedy Cabaret as well as Flop! The Best Songs from the Worst Musicals.
CONVERSATION
The ever-popular in conversation events continue with Louis Theroux, Ian Hislop, Sarra Hoy, Ben Fogle, Michelle Ogundehin, David Olusoga, Off Air with Jane & Fi and guest Jan Ravens, Greig Laidlaw, Hannah Lavery & Michael Pedersen and Gardening Question Time.
BOOKS
Book worms will be welcoming Maggie O’Farrell, Joseph Coelho, Jenni Fagan, Doug Johnstone, Alastair Chisholm and Morag Hood.
FAMILY
Fringe By The Sea caters for all ages with MASSAOKE: Sing the Movies, The Black Blues Brothers, Big Top Ceilidh with The Jacobites, Edinburgh’s Circobello, Artie’s Singing Kettle, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Fischy Music, Monski Mouse, Kevin Quantum, Mr Boom, Circus Skills Workshop, Hansel & Gretel and Musical Mill Theatre.
WAVELENGTH
Last year’s film festival within a festival is back, supported by Screen Scotland, with screenings, director chats and film-panel-gigs including: Belle & Sebastian On Film, Scottish film director and writer Grant McPhee plus screenings of ‘Pauline Black: A 2 Tone Story’, ‘God Help The Girl’, ‘Recomposing Earth’, Teenage Superstars and The Herring Queen and performances by Adrian Leung – Drexler and Justyna Jablonska, Unforeseen.
DISCOVER/MAKE/WELLBEING
During the days of the festival there will be many workshops and masterclasses, from cocktail making to wicker weaving and underwater drawing.
Festival Director, Rory Steel said, “Our 2026 programme is as eclectic as ever and packed with ‘feel-good’. Whether you want to dance, laugh, make, sing or reflect – it’s all happening here in North Berwick this summer and we look forward to welcoming visitors for a magical ten days.
“Having secured funding from Creative Scotland, we are excited to present a new strand of work in addition to our usual programme, offering even more for audiences to delve into this summer as leading artists including Erland Cooper offer their take on LOVE OF LIFE.”
As a not-for-profit festival rooted in its community, Fringe by the Sea is proud to collaborate with partners who enhance the visitor experience while supporting local enterprise and sustainable practices.
Master Partners include: Magners Irish Cider, The Times & The Sunday Times Scotland and North Berwick Trust. Community partners include The Famous Grouse, Scotland’s number one whisky, alongside Monkey Shoulder, Drambuie and De Kuyper who are part of the independent, family-owned distiller William Grant & Sons. The Lighthouse, the co -working and office space in North Berwick, presenting The Lighthouse Live stage, and Coulters Property, supporting the Makers Market.
A full list of presenting partners can be found at www.fringebythesea.com