Greetings to the Fringe-addict and Fringe-curious alike, and welcome to our carefully curated guide to the finest cabaret, burlesque and variety shows appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026.
Cabaret is always a powerful feature of the festival, standing out for delivering far more than a simple stage show—it creates a raucous, inclusive atmosphere that champions a fierce sense of community. While embracing wildness, the best cabaret is meticulously structured to conjure mischief, whimsy, and spectacle, leaving audiences with an undeniably life-affirming spirit. This year sees the return of major Spiegeltent icons taking over grand venues, alongside intimate, speakeasy-style gems tucked away in historic haunts like The Voodoo Rooms and The Caves.
So, with no further ado, and in no particular order, here are our recommendations for cabaret shows you’d be mad to miss at the Edinburgh Fringe 2026…
Surreal Ventriloquism in An Evening with Dame Granny Smith
Cabaret is celebrated for celebrating the bizarre, and David Salter’s award-winning show makes an undeniable case for absurd artistry. While ventriloquism typically brings wooden dummies to mind, this production introduces audiences to the world’s most celebrated apple: Dame Granny Smith. In an intimate on-stage interview, the Dame recounts her storied career, spanning a vaudeville debut at age five to her breakthrough role in Disney’s Snow White. Brought to life with trademark candour and wit, Salter’s hilarious creation is a triumph of surreal character comedy.
- Dates: 8th – 31st August (excluding 18th)
- Time: 14:50
- Venue: 300 Underbelly, George Square – The Wee Coo
- Tickets: £14.00 (£13.00 concession)
- Book Direct: Book An Evening with Dame Granny Smith on EdFringe.com
Late-Night Wildness with The Kaye Hole Hosted by Reuben Kaye
Reuben Kaye didn’t bring The Kaye Hole to the Edinburgh Fringe last year, and the festival certainly felt his absence. Fortunately, this late-night extravaganza is well worth the wait. Utterly wild, enchanting, and delightfully unhinged, it is late-night cabaret done right. Kaye curates a lineup of daring, world-class variety performers—expect everything from bullwhips and lightsabers to fire-breathing. At the centre of it all is Kaye himself, possessing a sensational singing voice backed by a live band. Queer, messy, and outrageously funny, this remains one of the hottest late-night tickets in town and a consistent five-star sell-out.
- Dates: 21st – 22nd, 28th – 29th August
- Time: 23:30
- Venue: 302 Underbelly, Bristo Square – McEwan Hall
- Tickets: £22.50 Stalls (Concession £20.50, Sirloin £28.50, Sirloin Concession £26.50)
- Book Direct: Book The Kaye Hole Hosted by Reuben Kaye on EdFringe.com
Debauched Spiegeltent Spectacle in Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett
The quintessential kabarett provocateur Bernie Dieter returns with a debauched night of dark variety. Club Kabarett is rebellious, hilarious, and renowned for showcasing breathtaking acts from the premier cabaret talents on the global circuit. Backed by a razor-sharp live band, Dieter blends gender-bending aerial arts, fire-breathing, and jaw-dropping circus tricks. More than a mere variety showcase, the production stands as a proud, joyous middle finger to the mundane, delivering pure, unadulterated escapism inside the Spiegeltent.
- Dates: 7th – 29th August (excluding 17th and 24th)
- Time: 19:20
- Venue: 360 Underbelly’s Circus Hub on the Meadows – The Beauty
- Tickets: £24.00 (£23.00 concession, Sirloin Seat £30.00)
- Book Direct: Book Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett on EdFringe.com
Inclusive Glamour at All-Stars Burlesque 2026
Launching as part of the International Fringe Burlesque Festival, All-Stars Burlesque delivers an expansive celebration of dance, circus, and glamour. Moving seamlessly from traditional showgirls draped in bouncing feathers to contemporary, silly, and nerdy adaptations, the showcase champions body positivity and radical inclusivity. Held across historic venues including The Caves and the Bijou Tent, it offers a welcoming, comprehensive introduction to burlesque through a diverse, world-class lineup of artists.
- Dates: 6th – 30th August
- Time: 21:00
- Venue: Just The Big Room at Just The Tonic at The Caves
- Tickets: £19.50 (£18.50 concession)
- Book Direct: Book All-Stars Burlesque 2026 on EdFringe.com
Weimar Satire with The Creative Martyrs: CABAPOCALYPSARET
Musical duo Jakob and Gustav, better known as The Creative Martyrs, epitomise the dark, satirical roots of European cabaret. Looking as though they have stepped straight out of a 1930s Weimar club—complete with pale faces, dark eye makeup, and vintage suits—the pair blend cello, ukulele, and kazoo to deliver sharp political commentary. Their dark satire addresses contemporary social issues with a lightness of touch, generating roars of laughter through clever songwriting, storytelling, and vaudevillian charm.
- Dates: 8th – 30th August (excluding 17th and 24th)
- Time: 21:05
- Venue: 68b PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms – Speakeasy
- Tickets: Free (Part of PBH’s Free Fringe)
- Book Direct: Book CABAPOCALYPSARET on EdFringe.com
Twice-Daily Chaos in Sir Dickie Benson’s Midnight / Midday Mania Cabaret
A staple of The Voodoo Rooms’ Speakeasy for over a decade, this riotous cabaret doubles its presence this year with two daily editions at midday and midnight. Hosted by certified Hollywood hellraiser Sir Dickie Benson—a chaotic octogenarian character known for handing out Ferrero Rocher chocolates to audience favourites—the show joins forces with award-winning burlesque star Scarlett Whispers. Expect an off-the-cuff compilation of burlesque, magic, music, and comedy featuring a rotating roster of top Fringe talent.
- Dates: 8th – 30th August (excluding 20th)
- Time: 12:35 & 23:55
- Venue: 68b Speakeasy at PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms
- Tickets: Free (Part of PBH’s Free Fringe)
- Book Direct: Book Sir Dickie Benson’s Midnight / Midday Mania Cabaret on EdFringe.com
Gentle Circus and Solo Charm in Trying My Best
Proof that cabaret does not always have to be loud and wild, Trying My Best offers a heartwarming, family-friendly blend of magic, circus, sideshow, and gentle clowning. Performing curious feats ranging from wine glass balancing to sword swallowing, creator Luke Taylor delivers a light, vulnerable message about learning in public and perseverance. Shaped by performances across twenty-one countries, it brings street theatre intimacy directly into the venue.
- Dates: 8th – 30th August
- Time: 17:00
- Venue: 276 PBH’s Free Fringe @ Liquid Room – Liquid Room Warehouse
- Tickets: Free (Part of PBH’s Free Fringe)
- Book Direct: Book Trying My Best on EdFringe.com
Intellectual Performance Art in Critique Cabaret
Drawing on the academic and political roots of the genre, multimedia artist and cultural critic Mandy Harris Williams brings Critique Cabaret to C ARTS following its premiere at Performance Space New York. Blending oration, original music, dance, and projected video, the performance functions as part lecture and part pop assemblage. Williams directly engages with critical theory to reflect on attention, survival, and the cost of public political coherence in the digital age.
- Dates: 17th – 30th July
- Time: 19:25
- Venue: 21 temple at C ARTS, C venues, C aquila
- Tickets: £15.50 (£13.50 concession, £11.50 under 18s)
- Book Direct: Book Critique Cabaret on EdFringe.com
Fierce Political Activism in Hot Flush – A Bold, We’re Old(ish) Burlesque Show
Hot Flush is a fierce, funny, and defiantly political burlesque show featuring performers aged 40 and over. Reclaiming space, visibility, and power on stage, the production actively challenges ageism, conventional beauty standards, and the taboo surrounding menopause. Combining classic glamour with humor and personal storytelling, the cast uses burlesque as both art and activism to spark necessary conversations around body ownership and ageing.
- Dates: 13th – 15th, 20th – 22nd, 27th – 29th August
- Time: 16:15
- Venue: 241a The Speakeasy at The Royal Scots Club
- Tickets: £13.50 (£11.50 concession)
- Book Direct: Book Hot Flush on EdFringe.com
Improv Comedy and Drag in Angela Bra’s Absolutely Dabulous Drag Bingo
Award-winning drag sensation Miss Angela Bra brings her hit touring show to Scotland for its Fringe debut. Combining comedy cabaret with interactive bingo, the show features music, stage games, and razor-sharp crowdwork. Angela Bra’s quick-witted improv ensures a light-hearted, joyful late-night atmosphere, making for a delightful mix of drag performance and competitive gaming.
- Dates: 6th – 30th August (excluding Tuesdays)
- Time: 22:30
- Venue: 85 Laughing Horse @ City Cafe – Las Vegas
- Tickets: Pay What You Can (£6.50 – £14.00)
- Book Direct: Book Angela Bra’s Absolutely Dabulous Drag Bingo on EdFringe.com
And with that, so ends this list of cabaret, burlesque and variety shows coming to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2026 that we strongly recommend for your ticket booking consideration. There is, as we always think, something for everyone – though do check the age ratings before booking – and if you do catch one of the above and love it, let them know who sent you! If you hate it, keep it to yourself. Until you visit again, happy Fringe planning!
Featured Image: Bernie Dieter’s Club Kabarett Hero
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