Comedian Susie McCabe has accused the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society of failing performers after a later-than-usual start allegedly contributed to weak ticket sales and half-empty venues in the final week. She said artists had cancelled shows or would leave dissatisfied, arguing that high visitor costs, poor digital services and the timing after Scottish schools returned had reduced attendance. The dispute matters because the Fringe is a major international arts and comedy event whose costs and audience levels can strongly affect individual performers’ ability to take part.

This year’s Fringe began on 7 August, rather than an earlier first-Friday date, leaving much of the event after Scottish school holidays ended. McCabe cited venue data suggesting final-week demand would decline and called for more advertising, while comedians Billy Bremner and Toby Foster also criticised the cost of participating; Foster said he paid £1,800 for a week in a two-bedroom Airbnb. Chief executive Tony Lankester rejected the claims, saying the final week was quieter but the first was significantly busier and total attendance was higher than last year; he said start dates would not be reviewed.