Edinburgh Fringe 2026: BWW Scotland Editor’s Top Comedy Picks

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The Edinburgh Festival Fringe runs from 7-31 August 2026

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With over 3000 shows now on sale for the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, trying to narrow down what to see can be a bit of a task. BWW Scotland editor Natalie O'Donoghue has selected her top ten picks across different categories in the festival programme to highlight the comedy shows you really don't want to miss this year!

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Rachel Fairburn: Vexy Beasts

Stand-up comedian and co-host of hit podcast All Killa No Filla returns to Edinburgh with her second character show, Vexy Beasts . Following on from the success of 2024's Side Eye , Rachel will introduce audiences to some new characters that will no doubt be as terrifyingly relatable as the ones in her recent Instagram reels.

Rosco McClelland: The Bones

Rosco McClelland's 2025 show How Could Hell Be Any Worse was one of my favourite comedy shows of the Fringe so I'm pretty confident recommending The Bones as one of my top picks for this year.

Kim Blythe: Puzzle

Rising comedy star Kim Blythe brings her third stand-up hour to the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe after the success of her 2025 show Cowboy (5 stars, BroadwayWorld ). Kim Blythe just seems to go from strength to strength and Puzzle is bound to be another sell out year.

Julian Clary : Fully Dialated

Fully Dialated is Clary's first Edinburgh Fringe show in 17 years and with a limited ten day run, its bound to be a hot ticket. The show blurb promises that there will be no hiding behind a stage persona and the 17:30 stage time is allegedly "too early for filth". We'll see!

Sofie Hagen: I Think Some Of This Is My Fault

Stand-up comedian, podcaster and author Sofie Hagen is back this year with I Think Some Of This Is My Fault , a show about how she never saw the fascist takeover coming. I've been a loyal Sofie Hagen fan since her debut with Bubblewrap in 2015 and you can always count on her for some thought provoking clever comedy.

Britney: Holy Mackerel!

Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson return to the Fringe as sketch duo Britney. I saw their 2022 debut (5 stars, BroadwayWorld ) and I'm still not over it. Think clever sketches with a strong through line and consistent laughs throughout.

Ayo Adenekan: Homeland Insecurity

After a sold out debut, Edinburgh comedian Ayo Adenekan is back with a new hour about romance. The SNL UK writer is an epic storyteller who brings big laughs so this is not one to be missed.

Tamsyn Kelly: Rat's Ass

Rat's Ass is about Tamsyn Kelly's recent financial success. The show blurb is reasonably cryptic but I may have been let in on the content of this show which has put it to the top of my must see list. A show about class, money and doing things you don't want to do.

Ifrah Qureshi: 48 Flaws of Power

Middle child Ifrah Qureshi applies the 48 Laws of Power to everyday life. After a brilliant set at the Glasgow Comedy Festival Gala, Ifrah Qureshi is one to watch for dark comedy.

Chris Forbes: Father Christmas

Another favourite from the Glasgow comedy scene, Chris Forbes brings a heartfelt story about a Christmas that changed everything. A skilled standup who always gets the perfect blend of big laughs and touching storytelling Father Christmas is set to be a pretty unique festive show in August.

Photo credit: Drew Forsyth

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/scotland/article/EDINBURGH-2026-Pick-of-the-Programme--Comedy-20260604)._