Edinburgh who? The Camden Fringe is back this summer — with over 400 shows staged in the pint-sized theatres and pubs of north London.
Returning for its 20th year, the performing arts festival runs from 3-30 August 2026, bringing with it a riot of theatre, sketch, comedy, dance and spoken-word performances spread across 20+ of Camden’s small venues. (These days, shows also spill over the border into Islington and Westminster.)
With such a glut of stuff, we’ve compiled an amuse-bouche of highlights that sound particularly good fun/intriguing, but do browse the full programme.
And get booking — shows sell out!
LONDONGRAD: Sounding like The Thick of It but sillier, Londongrad yanks us into a Westminster of loathed prime ministers, hapless foreign secs, unhinged tech billionaires and power-crazed Russians who want to buy London. Wherever do they get their ideas… The Courtyard Theatre, 3-10 August
SECRETS OF THE SIMPSONS: Mike Reiss has penned countless episodes of The Simpsons, and for two nights in Highgate, he opens up, spilling some secrets behind the show, and answering audience questions like “How do you always manage to predict the future?!” Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 2-3 August
BITCHES IN STITCHES: “The funniest people I know bring different perspectives to the table and that’s what keeps comedy surprising, sharp, and full of life.” That’s what Bitches in Stitches founder Fran Ayala-Rock told us about this female and non-binary-only comedy club — and in August their New Grrrl Order show gives you another chance to plug into comedy that’s loud, bold… and strangely therapeutic. Camden Comedy Club, 6 August
BEATS + STRINGS: Kansas City’s Beats + Strings bring Soul Renaissance to north London, with a smorgasbord of soulful tunes performed on acoustic strings, electronic vibes and percussive beats. Nice. Hen & Chickens Theatre, 9-14 August
DOING REALLY WELL: A phrase we’ve all blurted out to some high-achieving pal, Doing Really Well, Actually! bills itself as a cross between Fleabag and Bridesmaids, in which three prosecco-soaked friends await their mate at the Bridal and Prom Dress Emporium. Except the bride to be is nowhere to be seen… Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 10, 16 and 17 August
BABYBRAIN: You may know her best as Josie from Fresh Meat, but at the Camden Fringe, Kimberley Nixon spins a ‘slightly true story’ as Cass, a new mother with mental health issues, who dreams of being a stand-up comedian. Bridewell Theatre, 10-12 August
SYNCING: You remember NSYNC, right? Well now they’re back — kind of. Syncing is set in the troubled days of 2002 when Justin Timberlake has abandoned his boyz for a solo career. With their frosted tips fading and egos bruised, Lance, Joey, JC and Chris must figure out how to keep the band together. (It’s a comedy. We hope.) Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 10-12 August
DANCE PLAGUE: Runaway princesses, medieval music festivals and maniacal high priests riddle the ‘contagious’ Dance Plague of 1518, a comedy unabashedly cashing in on the trend for historical musicals, with the caveat that the cast and writers know zilch about their subject matter. (To be fair, that never stopped Oh, Mary!). Upstairs at the Gatehouse, 11-13 August
FABLE OF FRITZ: The wider fringe is largely for adults, but The Untold Fable of Fritz is squarely aimed at kids — a spin on Philip Pullman’s short story, Clockwork, about an everlasting stone-cold ice age king and his dying son. Three actors play fives times as many characters, in this play described as ‘Horrible Histories meets Narnia’. Rosemary Branch Theatre, 16 August
GREAT DIVINATOR: As the only show currently listed under the festival’s ‘mentalism’ category, we had to include The Great Divinator, in which Katie Trantor plays the eponymous 19th century spirit medium, who’ll cajole you into some spooky audience participation. “Fake Moustache! Real Mindreading!” is the guarantee. The Water Rats, 23 August
3 PHONE CALLS: Mother & Son Productions are just that: the theatrical twosome of Alby and Elric Stockley, who deliver a play based on real calls made between them. With themes of queer abuse and assault, 3 Phone Calls promises to be hard-hitting stuff. It’s followed by a Q&A. Lion & Unicorn Theatre, 23 and 30 August
CHRONOS: Among the smattering of dance shows across the festival is Chronos, an ethereal piece inspired by the Buddhist Dunhuang frescoes discovered in caves in China. But as dances of flowing ribbons, layered tulle and ritualistic movement unfold, the timeless scene is interrupted by fingers on keyboards and a phone ringing. Just make sure it’s not yours. The Courtyard Theatre, 30 August
Camden Fringe runs 3-30 August 2026.
