Edinburgh Fringe 2021 registrations open 5th May

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has announced that registration for the Edinburgh Fringe 2021 will open on Wednesday 5th May.

This is much later than previous years, as festival organisers have been trying to work out what shape the festival may take in light of coronavirus safety measures.

At this stage, May will still be too early for many most shows to commit to a registration, as it isn't clear which venues will be open. (Update: The Free Festival, which runs 25 venues, says safety restrictions mean it's unlikely to be able to operate any of its rooms this August: Read the article)

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2021 is set to take place from 6th to 30th August.

The Fringe team say: "Artists and venues will be able to register Fringe shows right up until the end of the festival. The Fringe's world-class programme will be available to browse and book at edfringe.com, with tickets going on sale for audiences in early summer.

"As Scotland navigates its roadmap out of lockdown, much is still unknown about what the Fringe will look like this August. However, a range of scenarios are being prepared for, from socially distanced live events to digital offerings.

"The Fringe Society is supporting artists and audiences to find and book work online across a range of platforms, including the brand-new Fringe Player. This online platform aims to bring some festival magic into homes across the world, while providing a secure platform for artists, companies and venues to host their shows. The platform is available to any registered 2021 Fringe show or venue to use if they wish.

"Any live performance registered as part of the 2021 Fringe will be expected to adhere to public health guidance from the Scottish Government."

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, says: "We're delighted to be able to open registration for 2021. Of course, we're still very much in planning mode as we await further updates from the Scottish Government, but this feels like a hugely positive step in the right direction.

"Through the work being created across the various digital platforms, including the Fringe Player, artists have a brilliant opportunity to reach audiences and communities all over the world. I look forward to seeing how our Fringe creatives use these platforms in 2021 and beyond."

The festival's website is edfringe.com