Each year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe there are stand out shows which very quickly become difficult to get tickets for.
Whether it’s a new hour of stand-up from a rising comedian or a heartfelt theatre production with all the right elements to tug at the heartstrings, the busy festival programme can mean it’s easy for highlights to pass you by.
If you found yourself in that position last year, the good news is that some of the top shows from the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe will be returning to the city once more.
Based on The Scotsman’s reviews from last year, here are 14 of the highest rated returning Fringe shows.
9. Darryl J Carrington: Out of the Box
“What an utterly absorbing, charming and great fun show,” wrote our reviewer in his four star review of Darryl J Carrington: Out of the Box. The family show will be on at Underbelly, George Square from August 5-31. | Kyle Bunby
10. Ada & Bron: The Origin of Love
“Silly and sexy is a fiendishly difficult combination to pull off. Yet character comics and real-life couple Ada Player and Bron Waugh accomplish it, bringing gorgeous chemistry, total commitment and delightfully inventive playfulness to the rich confection of their late-night Fringe debut,” wrote our critic in their four star review of Ada & Bron: The Origin of Love which will be at the Pleasance Dome from August 12-17. | M Julings
11. Elouise Eftos: Australia's First Attractive Comedian
Elouise Eftos will return to the Edinburgh Fringe with her four star comedy Australia's First Attractive Comedian. Performing at Gilded Balloon at the Museum from August 22-27, our critic wrote that her act is “bound to cause a bit of a stir”. | Contributed
12. By A Thread
As the title suggests, the four star show By A Thread is a circus show with performers carrying out daring acts on ropes. The Scotsman’s four star review from last year said: “The seven performers climb up it, swing from it, twist it, walk on it and wrap themselves up in it. But the rope also forms the centre of the metaphor at play here - that each of our actions affects others, whether we’re onstage or not.” By A Thread is on at Assembly Rooms from August 6-30. | Contributed