Edinburgh Festival 2026: Highlights of Dance and Circus Programme

The Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026 are set to present a diverse array of dance and circus performances in August, attracting both classical and contemporary art enthusiasts.

Must-See Shows

San Francisco Ballet's 'Mere Mortals', which premiered in the US in 2024, will receive its European premiere at the Edinburgh International Festival. Choreographer Aszure Barton reinterprets the Pandora's box myth through an AI-themed lens, with live music by British producer Floating Points and an orchestra. Performances take place at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 28-30 August.

Belgian-Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui presents 'Ihsane', a meditation on his Moroccan roots and cycles of destruction and rebirth, grief and hope, featuring live music by Tunisian viola d'amore player Jasser Haj Youssef. It runs at the Festival Theatre from 18-20 August.

Danish company Himherandit follows up their hit 'Mass Effect' with 'Good Enough?', a completely different show featuring just three performers, each with a chair and microphone, sharing their life stories through physical theatre filled with queer joy and vulnerability. It is at Summerhall from 19-30 August.

Taiwanese choreographer Lai Yun-Chi, a former member of Hofesh Shechter's junior company, makes her Edinburgh debut with her own company Mailantia in 'Under Mask'. The work draws on her family's history as leatherworkers and uses intricate steampunk-style masks. It is at Assembly @ Dance Base from 6-30 August.

'Ballet Nights', a staple of the London dance calendar, goes on national tour including its first Fringe shows. It is a gala or cabaret format with a lively compere and a variety of acts, from classical ballet pas de deux to brand-new contemporary dance, plus live music. It is at Music Hall at Assembly Rooms from 24-30 August.

The Palestinian Circus from Birzeit, which performed at last year's Glastonbury festival, brings 'Step and a Half' to the Fringe. Inspired by the rhythms of the Palestinian folk dance dabkeh, the show blends traditional culture with contemporary circus. It is at Underbelly's Circus Hub on the Meadows from 8-29 August.

'Flamenc Oh!!' is a comedy flamenco show from Spain, co-produced with London's Sadler's Wells. It pokes fun at flamenco clichés with great affection, calling itself an 'irreverent tribute' rather than a parody, featuring proper flamenco dance and music with knowing humour. It is at Music Hall at Assembly Rooms from 6-30 August.

Belgian circus artist Piet Van Dycke's 'Exit' features a set of walls and doorways that transform into a maze of revolving platforms for four performers, each specializing in a different circus discipline. The show is a dance of continuous arrival and departure, appearance and disappearance. It is at Zoo Southside from 18-30 August.

Australian dancer Marc Brew's autobiographical 'Boys Don't Dance' reflects on his childhood love of dance and society's response, featuring dance on foot and on wheels (BMX, wheelchair) with an 80s soundtrack. It is at Assembly @ Dance Base from 7-23 August.

New York choreographer Marisa F Ballaro makes her Edinburgh debut with 'Twelve: Going the Distance', a dance piece set in a boxing ring. Five women try to go the distance over 12 rounds as allegiances and rivalries play out and exhaustion sets in. It blends raw physicality with American modern dance at Summerhall from 6-16 August.

French-Canadian circus company Les Foutoukours brings 'Glob', winner of the young audience award at Avignon's festival fringe. It features two fluffy creatures with clown noses, offering a peaceful break for children aged five and over. It is at Underbelly, Bristo Square from 5-30 August.

Finally, Riley Fitzgerald, who has danced with Sydney Dance Company and Ballet National de Marseille, presents 'Everybody's Got a Bomb' at his Edinburgh debut. Inspired by a documentary about Woodstock 99, the show captures the frustration, rage and chaos when society ruptures. It is at Zoo Southside from 7-16 August.