Cabaret shows across the Fringe feature a revolving cast of performers, showcasing a real range of artists, artforms and styles across the entirety of the festival.
There are also major productions with many shows under their wings, including Scotland International Burlesque Festival, which runs as a layer over the Festival.
Another thing we see is how cabaret pops up in the most unusual spaces – as it always has down throughout history! There is cabaret to be found in all the nooks and crannies across the city, from the ancient chambers underneath Edinburgh to magnificent tents to shopping centres.
Here’s our guide to cabaret shows to see at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025.
Scotland International Burlesque Festival
Scotland International Burlesque Festival brings an entire showcase of headline burlesque stars from across the world. Five shows present burlesque, cabaret and variety acts in different arrangements.
Three shows run at Just the Tonic at The Caves, the historic whiskey caves tucked away beneath the bustling streets of Edinburgh. These chambers turn into an unusual and memorable venue for back-to-back cabaret shows.
All Stars Burlesque at 7:30pm, Best of Cabaret at 9pm and After-Hours Burlesque Club at 11:30pm are a chance to see award-winning performers from across the world. The cast features international headliners and winners of former editions of the World Burlesque Games, a highly esteemed, prestigious talent show.
In the opulent surroundings of the Bijou Tent, an ornate cabaret tent with mirrors and vintage embellishments, for Best of Burlesque at 9.35pm. This show features burlesque only, but presents some of the best performers from the 2025 Fringe.
Sexy Circus Sideshow is a daring show that runs at 11.55pm in the Piccolo Tent at Assembly George Square Gardens. The more unusual acts (think fire eating, chainsaws, dangerous circus acts) run here.
1 – 24 Aug, various times, various venues. Tickets range between £15 – £17.50 according to show.
Magic Faraway Cabaret
Mister Meredith brings the real-deal variety show for its 13th year. Acclaimed as ‘A festival stalwart’ (Scotsman), it’s an exciting array of acts – magic, cabaret, burlesque or that strange, amazing cabaret act that you’ll never be able to describe to your friends.
This is a fun, spirited show that is the perfect way to end a night – and its part of PBH’s Free Fringe!
5-24 Aug, 10.30pm, PBH’s Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms – Speakeasy. Tickets free.
Liza Minnelli, Life is a Cabaret?
With this show, audiences can get a ‘behind the scenes’ insight to life in the Cabaret on Broadway.
Liza Minelli – actress, singer, dancer and Broadway star – had an award-winning role in Cabaret. From her time on Broadway to her personal struggles, Liza’s journey is one of resilience, passion and showbiz magic.
“There is cabaret to be found in all the nooks and crannies across the city, from the ancient chambers underneath Edinburgh to magnificent tents to shopping centres.“
Liza’s story is brought to light by Sally, a skilled storyteller and vocalist who sensitively intertwines a life story with its musical soundtrack.
In her tenth year on the Fringe, she focuses on the remarkable story of Liza Minnelli and pays homage along with her exceptional trio.
Enjoy the classics in an intimate setting including All That Jazz, Maybe This Time and many more.
9, 10, 13, 15 & 16 Aug, various times. 293a Argyle Cellar Bar – Cellar Bar. Tickets £13.
Spirit of the Favela
Spirit of the Favela is a unique cabaret of live music, dance and acrobatic performance celebrating the story of Brazil and its vibrant favela communities.
This is a debut spectacle at Mirage Spiegeltent, which we are told is ‘proud to expand the borders of the Edinburgh Fringe’. You’ll find this one-of-a-kind venue at the Gyle Shopping Centre, the first stop en route to the city of Edinburgh.
The cabaret follows Davi, a young dreamer, and his faithful dog, Caramelo, against the backdrop of colourful street life.
When corporate giants threaten to demolish their community for mundane developments, the residents unite in a powerful stand.
The stage ignites with the rhythm of live samba music, dancers and thrilling circus acts, showcasing the resilience and joy of favela culture. This heartfelt tale celebrates the indomitable spirit of its people and their fight to preserve their home.
5-24 Aug (excl. 11 & 18 Aug), 7pm, Mirage Spiegeltent at Gyle Shopping Centre – Mirage Spiegeltent. Tickets £20 (£18 concession).
Riot Reveals Cabaret
An Edinburgh Fringe debut after two sold-out runs at the Camden Fringe and further successful runs across Scotland, Riot Reveals is a great way to see new cabaret productions coming to Edinburgh.
With a nature as riotous as its name suggests, this is a cabaret where anything can happen… and probably will!
Burlesque, comedy, magic, drag and live music all take place under one roof at the iconic Leith Depot.
It’s your classic cabaret set up, with a revolving cast, offering different performers every night – bringing the special liveliness of true variety.
14-17 Aug, 10.30pm, Leith Depot – Venue. Tickets £10.
Naughty Cabaret
This queer feminist extravaganza returns after a sold-out run at Edinburgh Fringe in 2024.
Naughty Cabaret has been performed in Australia, Edinburgh, London and Norway, bringing energy, absurdity and ridiculousness to audiences across the world.
Hosted by ‘queens of the ridiculous’ Anna Marie Simonsen and Marie Kallevik, the show also has an ever-changing line up, but with a focus on boyband, clown, character comedy, burlesque, music and more.
8-9, 15-16 & 22-23 Aug, 10.20pm, Underbelly, Bristo Square – Friesian. Tickets £13 (£12 concession).
EdFringe – Most recent
Stitch in Time: A Knitting Cabaret
An unusual cabaret that aims to revive lost parts of history as much as entertain. Much like languages, poetry and certain words, songs are also lost to time.
But, in Stitch in Time, Melanie Gall performs an hour of lost wartime knitting songs.
During the World Wars, millions of women knitted for the soldiers. Mere days after the first bullet was fired, dozens of knitting-themed songs began to appear. After the wars, these songs were lost.
This show has already won awards and been acclaimed, with the Guardian describing it as “Amazing!”
Not a sad show, Gall invites audiences to bring their knitting (or crochet) and stitch along to toe-tapping, needle-clicking tunes. Come out and have a “ball”!
6-16 Aug, 9.40am, theSpace @ Surgeons’ Hall – Theatre 3. Tickets £21 (£9 concession).
Blues and Burlesque Sellout
Blues, burlesque and blistering satire collide in Sellout – a bold, bawdy and brilliant new show from a dynamic duo, renowned at the Fringe, across London’s cabaret scene and international stages.
Belle de Beauvoir (“The Sparkling Diamond of burlesque” – BBC Radio) and Pete Saunders (Dexys Midnight Runners) are firm Fringe favourites, and have been successfully running their soulful show at The Voodoo Rooms for years.
While Pete plays the blues on the piano, Belle performs sizzling burlesque acts and sings songs that are meaningful about the life of an artist and pay homage to the blues.
It’s not too blue, though, as razor-sharp wit, comedic hits and a charmingly mischievous energy runs throughout the show.
12-24 Aug (excl. 18 Aug), 9.10pm, The Voodoo Rooms – The Ballroom. Tickets £12.
Red Flag Cabaret
In all its wildness and spectacularity, cabaret is often a way to soothe the soul (or the heart). Some unrequited lovers get spontaneous tattoos or head off on wild nights out, but cabaret is an artform that blends satire with comedy – the artistic way to get some release.
Red Flag Cabaret is a cheeky variety show unpacking the absurdities of modern dating, love and life.
With circus, burlesque and musical storytelling, two powerhouse performers deliver laugh-out-loud comedy. There are intimate and soul-baring moments, so the show delivers entertainment, self-reflection and a few red flags you might recognise.
18 – 23 Aug, 9.50pm. Greenside @ George Street – Olive Studio. Tickets £15 (£10 concession).
Sassy School of Burlesque
Our final recommendation is another series of shows presented by Sassy School of Burlesque, an Edinburgh based burlesque school. With a range of cabaret and burlesque shows across the festival, these are a chance to see locally-produced shows.
Tickets are priced in Pay What You Can tiering system, at £7.50, £10 and £12.50, so these shows are a great option for all audiences.
With burlesque, cabaret, magic and comedy, this is a blend of talent showcasing some of the best performers in the industry.
1 Sassy Backbone Cabaret at 6.45pm was a sell-out sensation in 2024. It returns again to the Laughing Horse @ The Three Sisters – The Live Room
1 Dazzling Cabaret boasts seven spectacular years of sold-out performances. It follows at 8pm in the same room at the Laughing Horse.
A City Cabaret at 9pm takes place in a beautiful speakeasy setting – Laughing Horse @ Coco Boho – Main Room. This show offers the glitz and glamour of old school cabaret.
This grouping ends with 1 and Only Absolute Burlesque and Cabaret at 11.30pm, another dazzling array of variety cabaret performers. This show is free, but only runs on select dates (7-10, 14, 15, 17, 23 & 24 August – The Counting House – The Ballroom).
Featured Image: Scotland International Burlesque Festival
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