In Pictures: All the fun of the Fringe

17 August 2025

News image — Cast members walk the streets of Edinburgh handing out leaflets to attract visitors to their shows

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A doll-like clown in a yellow and red dress, bright red wig and doll clown make-up poses with a kiss while holding flyers advertising her show — Cast members walk the streets of Edinburgh handing out leaflets to attract visitors to their shows

Edinburgh is a riot of colour, sounds, smells and sights to behold as the 2025 Fringe hits its peak.

From street performers to tourists and flyer givers vying for audience attention, we have selected some images of what's on offer at the world's biggest performance arts festival.

All photos are subject to copyright.

Jane Barlow/PA Wire Miss Frisky - a blonde curly-haired woman, crouches inside a mirror box, reflecting her bright orange sequin dress onto dozens of mirrors around her. — Miss Frisky, star of the show Frisky's Reshuffle, explores the kaleidoscope at the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions on the Royal Mile.

Jane Barlow/PA Wire Six members of the Theatre Re ensemble cycle ad run through the Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh. A young man in a green school uniform leads the way on a bike, pointing ahead and two girls and three men run alongside him, smiling and pointing. — Members of the Theatre Re ensemble ran through the Colinton Tunnel in Edinburgh to publicise their show the Nature of Forgetting

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A black and white image taken from behind a street artist as he performs to a circle of people on a cobbled square in Edinburgh. A suitcase sits behind him on the ground, a table in front where he seems to be performing a trick of some kind — Street theatre is one of the big draws of the Fringe

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A middle-aged man and a woman sit on a street bench enjoying a couple of ice cream cones as the crowds pass by. The man wears a rain jacket and blue shirt as he takes a big lick of his cone, the woman, wearing a pink visor cap holds her mint choc chip cone. — Time for a rest - two Fringe-goers stop for a break and an ice cream

Jane Barlow/PA Wire A young Ukrainian girl in a white dress smiles and holds a big red flower over her head while on stage. Similarly-dressed children stand in a group behind her under the theatre lights. — Ukraininan settlers perform the show Life in One Suitcase at the EICC, the story of their journey in Scotland

Jane Barlow/PA Wire Three people dressed as giant red, black, and white feathered chickens cross the road on a zebra crossing in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, during a photocall for their show Three Chickens Confront Existence. — Three chickens cross the road... to promote their Fringe show

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A young boy in shorts and a baseball cap gives out flyers standing on a street security bollard as people walk through the gate — The promotion starts young - a boy gives out flyers standing on a street security bollard

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A man in a white suit and bow tie makes a fist beside a "bride" in a white dress, veil and with a grimace on her face as she grabs him by the lapels — Performers get into character as they mingle with people on the street

Jane Barlow/PA Wire Lookalikes of Liam and Noel Gallagher get into character in The Grassmarket, Edinburgh. "Liam" is in a khaki Adidas jacket and "Noel" in a denim jacket. Both are wearing shades. — Definitely maybe some Oasis lookalikes publicise their show on the Grassmarket

Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Five musicians from How to Win Against History match the green tones of the Ross Fountain, in green costumes as they pose on the edge of the round Victorian iron structure, holding up their instruments. — Performers from How to Win Against History during a photocall at the Ross Fountain in Princes Street Gardens

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A dark-haired bearded man wears a Bourbon biscuit headpiece as he gives out flyers on the Royal Mile — Some of the promotional staff take the biscuit as they try to attract audiences

Andrew Milligan/PA Wire Ceili O'Connor, a blonde glamourously-dressed woman in a green dress and heels, kicks a football alongside fellow performers from Footballers Wives: The Musical - a group of men and women dressed in smart suits and dresses. — Ceili O'Connor hits the ball alongside fellow performers from Footballers Wives: The Musical

Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images Three members of the cast of circus company Flip Fabrique perform a human pyramid in Victoria Street. They are wearing trousers with braces and are in front of the famous street with coloured buildings that curves behind them. — Street acrobats entertain visitors on Victoria Street

Ewan Bootman/Anadolu via Getty Images Male and female street performers in floral bright costumes pose on a metal ring prop with bubbles around them. People have gathered around them and are smiling and clapping. — Smiles all round as street performers entertain passers-by on the Royal Mile

Ken Jack/Getty Images Brightly coloured posters advertising shows are pasted on a board with Edinburgh Castle in the background and the green trees of Princes Street Gardens below. — Any surface in the city becomes an advertising board for the many shows

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A bearded man in a black top and jeans plays the accordion as he lies on the cobbled street and sings. People are walking behind him. — A musician gives his all on the cobbles of the Royal Mile

Roberto Ricciuti/Getty Images Gabriel Aragú Fernando and María Garcia Lola pose in front of the Stockbridge Market during a photocall for ‘Lola: A Flamenco Love Story’ He is wearing smart, burgundy trousers and she is in a beautiful white Flamenco dress, her hair in a pony tail. They are both looking at each other in a dance pose intensely. — Every street's a stage during the Edinburgh Festivals.

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A group of performers sing as they hand out leaflets. They are young and wear trendy clothes. — Singers get attention as they promote their show on the city streets

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A man with a long, white beard holds a white cockatoo-type bird as he hands out flyers. He is wearing a yellow waterproof jacket and brightly coloured dungarees. He also has a blue and red spotty bag round his neck — Any gimmick for attention - a man with a long, white beard holds a white cockatoo-type bird as he hands out flyers

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A monochrome image of two women, facing opposite directions and wearing bonnets with their faces covered, hand out promotional materials in the street. — Performers dress in their stage costumes to promote their shows

Chris Foote/BBC Scotland A balloon model maker on stilts holding his hands wide as he smiles. He is wearing a green and white balloon hat, a checked and rainbow shirt, yellow and orange satin trousers and a red clown nose. He is standing on the corner of Princes Street with a big stone building behind him. — Traditional street entertainers mix with the more "out there" characters

What's going on at this year's Edinburgh festivals?

Miriam Margolyes: 'We'll all die but I'm not going yet'

'I made plans for my own funeral - now I'm on stage at the Fringe'

Fringe performers say show must go on in memory of teacher

Scotland

Edinburgh

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Man who raped teenager caught after fleeing court

Aaron Strachan escaped a prison escort before he was due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh.

19 hrs ago

22 hrs ago

Two police vehicles in front of a cordon on Drum Brae Drive in Edinburgh.

Man, 44, taken to hospital after police close street

The man was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for treatment after the incident on Tuesday.

22 hrs ago

1 day ago

Iain Wares is wearing a navy suit jacket, blue checked shirt and blue tie. He has white hair and glasses. A man is placing a hand on his shoulder as they speak. A court of police officer can be seen in the background.

Ex-teacher accused of Edinburgh school abuse faces extradition hearing

Iain Wares faces 90 charges of historical sexual and physical abuse at schools including Fettes College and Edinburgh Academy.

1 day ago

Firefighter sitting on the bank of the pond with the huge swan in her lap. She has a red helmet on with a torch attached.

How many firefighters does it take to rescue a swan from ice?

The cygnet was stuck in an icy pond in Edinburgh for four days before the fire service were called to help.

1 day ago

2 days ago

An orange lifeboat with four crew members wearing white helmets and red life jackets. There is a mattress on the water.

Man trying to reach island on inflatable mattress rescued from sea

The man was able to haul himself back onto the mattress after falling into the Firth of Forth and dialled 999.

2 days ago

In Pictures: All the fun of the Fringe

What's going on at this year's Edinburgh festivals?

Miriam Margolyes: 'We'll all die but I'm not going yet'

'I made plans for my own funeral - now I'm on stage at the Fringe'

Fringe performers say show must go on in memory of teacher

Emergency services lose out on extra funding in Scottish Budget

University of Aberdeen to open India campus this year

Contract secured for one of world's largest offshore wind farms

Man who raped teenager caught after fleeing court

Man, 44, taken to hospital after police close street

Ex-teacher accused of Edinburgh school abuse faces extradition hearing

How many firefighters does it take to rescue a swan from ice?

Man trying to reach island on inflatable mattress rescued from sea