Edinburgh’s summer festivals are becoming increasingly expensive for both audiences and performers, with accommodation, food, drink and ticket costs creating barriers to participation. The issue matters because the city’s cultural events rely on being accessible to local residents, visitors, artists and the workers who support them.

A regular Fringe attendee said a full day can cost £100 to £200, including £7–£8 pints, £10–£12 meals and show tickets. A Fringe venue director said accommodation costs for his organisation had risen by an average of 300% over a decade; Edinburgh hotel rooms averaged just over £260 a night in August 2025, 64% above pre-pandemic levels and far higher than Glasgow (£110) or Manchester (£81).