Is Edinburgh’s Fringe still fringe, or has it — gasp — gone mainstream?

By Lauren Frayer

It began on the edgy margins of a mainstream festival — which it’s now eclipsed. But nearly 80 years on, performers and spectators say rising costs threaten the Fringe’s alternative vibe.

(Image credit: Ewan Bootman)

It began on the edgy margins of a mainstream festival — which it’s now eclipsed. But nearly 80 years on, performers and spectators say rising costs threaten the Fringe’s alternative vibe.

(Image credit: Ewan Bootman)

Source:: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/25/nx-s1-5496463/is-edinburghs-fringe-still-fringe-or-has-it-gasp-gone-mainstream