How affordable are Edinburgh's festivals?
The city is no stranger to complaints about soaring prices during August - but are costs on the rise?
Edinburgh is renowned for its extensive festival season, drawing crowds from around the globe. The city hosts the Fringe, International Festival, Military Tattoo, and various film, art, and book festivals throughout August. However, concerns have been mounting about the rising costs associated with attending these events. BBC Scotland has examined the main expenses for festival attendees to gauge the affordability of Edinburgh's festivals.
One attendee, Kaitlyn Smith, reports that a day at the Fringe can cost anywhere from £100 to £200, citing high prices for food, drinks, and show tickets as significant barriers. Similarly, venue director Darren Neale notes that operational costs have skyrocketed, especially housing, which has increased by 300% over the past decade.
Despite these challenges, the average ticket price for the city's festivals has remained relatively stable, rising from £10 to £12.80 in real terms over the past decade. However, ticket prices for the Military Tattoo have seen a more substantial increase of 36%, now averaging £48. Festival organizers acknowledge the affordability concerns, particularly regarding accommodation, which has seen a dramatic rise, with the average hotel price in August 2025 reaching £260, a 9% increase from the previous year and a 64% rise compared to pre-Covid levels.
Written by urgent.news from BBC News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
