Fringe by the Sea to start a week early to avoid festival clash

Fringe by the Sea was held over ten days with around 250 events last year. | Canva/Getty Images

Fringe by the Sea is to schedule a week of events before the start of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for the first time in its history in a bid to avoid a clash with the world's biggest arts festival.

The ten-day festival, in North Berwick, also announced the first acts in its line up seven months ahead of the event, which will start on 31 July, while this year's Fringe will officially kick off on 7 August.

Kool & The Gang, Scottish indie-pop icons Belle & Sebastian, acclaimed documentary-maker Louis Theroux, adventurer Ben Fogle and Scottish trad band Capercaillie are among the initial acts to appear.

Fringe by the Sea was held over ten days with around 250 events last year. | Canva/Getty Images

The festival has also announced a new tie up with Happy Bus to provide direct late-night buses home from Fringe by the Sea to destinations across East Lothian, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Festival director Rory Steel said: “We’re incredibly excited to unveil the first acts for our 2026 programme. From the legendary Kool & The Gang, Scottish indie icons Belle & Sebastian to the storytelling of Louis Theroux and Ben Fogle, the powerful tradition of Capercaillie and the unstoppable energy of Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, it is already shaping up to be a standout year.

“We’re also thrilled to introduce our new partnership with Happy Bus, offering visitors another option for returning home after our biggest shows.”

Last year, some passengers faced difficulties in returning home from North Berwick on one day of the festival, when trains were cancelled following an incident on the line to Edinburgh.

Louis Theroux will appear at This year's Fringe by the Sea. | Fringe by the Sea.

ScotRail tried to source replacement bus services, but many customers were asked to make their own arrangements, despite few taxis available, leaving some stranded.

Belle & Sebastian is to perform album If You're Feeling Sinister, plus fan favourites, on Thursday 6 August - more than 30 years after the album was first released. Meanwhile, the following day, global funk legends Kool & The Gang, which has sold over 70 million albums sold and was recently inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, will entertain crowds.

Documentary pioneer Louis Theroux will hold an in-person conversation event on Sunday 2 August, where he will share stories from a career spent engaging with some of the world’s most fascinating and extreme characters.

Also announced for the festival is explorer and storyteller Ben Fogle, who joins the festival on Saturday, 1 August for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary life of adventure - from living on Taransay during the BBC’s Castaway to rowing across the Atlantic, racing to the South Pole, and crossing deserts and continents.

In 2025, the festival drew over 100,000 visitors to its stunning coastal setting, staged more than 250 events with a mix of local and international stars, launched its bold new film strand Wavelength, and delivered an economic boost of over £11 million to the region.

Tickets for the events already announced are on sale from today.