The Traverse Theatre has revealed its 2026 programme for the Edinburgh Fringe, featuring a mix of world, UK, and European premieres alongside international and Scottish co-productions. The season promises a diverse array of new plays staged across multiple venues in Edinburgh.

The 2026 Traverse Edinburgh Fringe season will run throughout August at the theatre’s two main auditoria and partner locations around the city. Highlighting the programme are three Traverse-led new productions, including the world premiere of Cathy, written and directed by Eilidh Loan. Cathy marks Elaine C Smith’s return to the Traverse main stage after 26 years, telling the story of a widow grappling with grief and family tensions ahead of Christmas. Smith will be joined by Alan Orr, Sally Reid, and Michele Gallagher.

Morna Young’s After Party, directed by Katie Posner and co-produced with Paines Plough and Belgrade Theatre, also forms part of the core season. The play is set during an actor’s 80th birthday party and examines themes of family conflict and end-of-life decisions. Another major Traverse production is Supposing:, written and directed by Zinnie Harris. This contemporary work explores belief and isolation through the story of a woman convinced her home is cursed, drawing inspiration from Greek mythology.

The wider programme includes the Scottish premiere of Bryony Kimmings’s Bog Witch. This autobiographical solo show marks Kimmings’s return to Traverse after more than a decade, focusing on a move to the countryside and a search for stability with nature. Musical collaborations also feature, with KT Tunstall and Cora Bissett’s new musical The Singer, produced by Dundee Rep Theatre and Solar Bear, exploring authorship, identity, and ableism through the story of a Deaf performer and a struggling musician.

In addition, the UK premiere of For Dolores by Eva O’Connor, directed by Jim Culleton and presented by Fishamble: The New Play Company with Traverse among other partners, is part of the lineup. Malaika Kegode’s spoken word and live music show Badgers, produced by Theatre Royal Plymouth in association with Bristol Old Vic, delves into true crime and storytelling ethics. The European premiere of Mrs Stern Wanders the Prussian State Library by Jenny Lyn Bader, inspired by Hannah Arendt’s 1933 arrest, is also included.

Some shows will take place beyond the Traverse building, notably Little Animals by Paul Ready, conceived, written, and performed by him and directed by Caroline Steinbeis, which will run at the Lyceum Theatre’s studio. The immersive European premiere of Transmission: Into the Dark by Australian company one step at a time like this will send audiences navigating Edinburgh at night guided by a mysterious voice.

The season also strengthens ties between theatre and other creative sectors with Sound Cave, an audio-based work presented in partnership with Edinburgh College of Art and First Stage Studios in Leith. Together, the 2026 Traverse Fringe season presents a broad and eclectic offering reflective of contemporary theatrical interests and international collaborations.