Summerhall unveils further spread of Edinburgh Fringe shows including Shaparak Khorsandi work-in-progress play

Summerhall Arts has announced the final 30 shows in its 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme, completing this year’s line-up ahead of the festival’s return from 6 to 31 August.

The announcement also confirms the launch of Sauna Theatre, described as the UK’s first purpose-built theatre sauna and the largest sauna in the country. The 80-seat venue will occupy Summerhall’s rear courtyard throughout August and host a programme of theatre, music, spoken word and Aufguss performances. The project is presented by Sauna Sessions Arts Club, a new company from director James Grieve and designer Lucy Osborne, who previously collaborated on Paines Plough’s Roundabout theatre.

Among the newly announced productions is Kismet (قسمت), a work in progress debut play written and performed by comedian and author Shaparak Khorsandi. Based on her novel Nina’s Not Okay, the piece explores the experiences of her Iranian family following the 1979 Iranian Revolution and includes live music from Jean Delkhaste, also known as Smiling Beth.

Hannah Maxwell premieres Turn Your F**king Phones Off, a new autobiographical and interactive work exploring digital misinformation and online culture, with dramaturgy by Ursula Martinez and Rachel Mars.

Thaddeus McWhinnie Phillips returns to the Fringe with ArounD the WorlD in 80 ToyS, inspired by the work of filmmaker Georges Méliès and combining micro-cinema, puppetry and magic. theatregoose will premiere The Plot, a new play written and directed by Emma Howlett and set around the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

House of Oz returns to Summerhall with four productions, including Concerts of the Future, a participatory VR experience created with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and The Sonicrats, allowing audiences to perform Beethoven’s Symphony Number Seven virtually.

Other international work includes the UK premiere of Joel Bray Dance’s Daddy, Emily Steel’s How Not To Make It In America, The Farm’s Glass Child, Sophie Smyth’s The Subplot: A hyperfixation on the Titan submersible and The Cram Collective’s Meteors.

The programme also includes Corpse by Kirsty Mann, The Distance by Ben Norris, Women of Will by Siofra Dromgoole, Thermodrama by Coco Cottam, Bull / Fight from Mythography and Macrobert Arts Centre, Bunny! by Craig Manson and Nesting from Trolley Problem.

Further productions include Boogie on the Bones from withintheatre, We Had Fun by Emmeline Hartley and Jack Mullings, Homecumming by Magalie Rouillard-Bazinet, Man or Bear by Katie Hurley and Sarah Hehir, Baby Everythingby Lee Minora, Good With Faces by Oisín Kearney and Gina Donnelly, Horrorshow by Chronic Insanity, Toast

by Jude Green, Sitting (In Silence) by Kitty Falcon, The Trials of Magnus Coffinkey from Give or Take Productions and Magic Lantern Anthology by The Drolly Theater.

Summerhall Arts Surgeries will return with two showcases supporting eight artists or companies developing new work, while Summerhall Yoga also returns throughout the festival.