Keep It Fringe recipients named

Comedians Abbie Edwards and Ele McKenzie plus comedy musical Mothman are to each receive £2,500 to help them stage a show at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.

They are the only comedy shows amid the 16 recipients of bursaries from the Keep It Fringe fund administered by the society that coordinates the festival.

Originally launched in 2023, the scheme helped 180 shows in each of the past two years with financing from central government. However, this year that funding has ended.

A total of 402 shows applied for a share for an initial pot of £30,000, which has since grown to £40,000 following donations from actor Miriam Margolyes, theatre producer James Seabright, the Williamson family and snack brand Cheez-It. It is not immediately clear who the Williamson family are. 

Tony Lankester, chief executive of the Fringe Society, said the number of applications showed how important the fund had become and solicited donations to help more acts in the future.

The full list of 2026 recipients is: Abbie Edwards: Knee Touch (pictured); Crush; Ele McKenzie: Bringing It All Back Home; Fantasy World Adventures Mega Park! The Musical; Giraffe; Half-Time; hame. teeth. CLUB; The Hypnotist & Mind Reader Live; One Dog One Nutter – PTSD to Pleasure; paywall; The Poetical Life of Philomena McGuinness; A Simply Beastly Murder; SLAY; Target Audience; The Wreck.

The bursaries were initially established with a £50,000 donation from the Fringe Society’s honorary president, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, via her Fleabag for Charity fund.

This year’s Fringe runs from August 7 to 31.

Published: 9 Apr 2026