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Edinburgh festival costs put pressure on performers and audiences
A venue director says housing expenses in August have risen most sharply over the past decade, adding to operating costs like utilities and insurance.
Edinburgh’s summer festivals, including the Fringe, the International Festival and the Military Tattoo, have faced renewed scrutiny over affordability as complaints about soaring prices continue. BBC Scotland analyzed key costs for both festival-goers and the people running events to assess whether expenses have been rising.
The outlet found that festival attendees often feel squeezed by everyday spending and ticket costs. A 25-year-old Edinburgh Fringe regular, Kaitlyn Smith, said cost is the biggest barrier for local people to get the full festival experience, citing typical prices for items such as a pint and food, before even accounting for show tickets.
BBC Scotland also quoted Darren Neale, venue director at Greenside Venue, who said most costs tied to operating a Fringe site have increased significantly, including utilities, insurance, technical equipment and transport. Neale added that housing has seen the most dramatic change, with August accommodation costs rising “exponentially” over the last decade.
The report links the broader price picture to festival economics, saying a slump in Fringe sales in 2022 was blamed on rising accommodation costs, before sales recovered in later years, topping 2.6 million last year. It also notes Edinburgh lost the city hosting the TV festival to Manchester earlier this year, with organizers citing “accessibility, affordability and sustainability,” and it cites hotel pricing data provided to BBC Scotland by CoStar.