Media Release:

EAST LOTHIAN MULTI ARTS FESTIVAL SEES 16.7% SURGE IN TICKET SALES WITH OVER £20K RAISED FOR CHARITIES AND £12.7m NET ECONOMIC IMPACT

Organisers of the independent Fringe by the Sea festival have reported record ticket sales and overall visitor numbers for 2026, delivering a £12.7m boost for the region and significant funds raised for a number of local charitable causes.

Across the ten days (31st July – 9th August), 111,500 people visited the multi-arts festival, which presents a programme of over 300 events and is based in North Berwick’s Lodge Grounds. The 2026 attendance figure was up 8.3% on the previous year. 58,165 tickets were bought, compared with 49,836, in 2025, showing growth of 16.7%.

77% of attendees in 2026 were visitors to North Berwick (up from 75% in 2025). 48% came from outside East Lothian. 97% of non-local visitors said FBTS influenced their decision to visit NorthBerwick.

Figures are from MKA Economics, which provides an independent visitor survey and economic impact report. Over £20,000 was raised for charitable causes through Fringe by the Sea events, activities and fundraising, including £13,024 from the profits of the festival’s £1 reusable cup charge which go directly to the Scottish Coastal Clean Up to help fund beach cleans across Scotland.

The festival has announced its dates for 2027 (30th July – 8th August) and its Friends, Supporters and VIP schemes for next year, which offer benefits including advance access to tickets. These are available to purchase at www.fringebythesea.com

Director of Fringe by the Sea Rory Steel said:

“We’re all about harnessing the power of the arts for community benefit and showcasing the region at its very best. This sees the visitors who come each year to enjoy the festival have a fantastic, joyful experience and make new connections.

“It felt like a very fun and busy festival at the time, and the survey and wrap up report underpins that in all areas – ticket sales, visitors dropping in to the North Berwick Trust hub, impact for the local area and, crucially, visitor enjoyment.

While we attract bigger numbers, we’re proud that we keep things feeling friendly, fun and welcoming. “We’re especially delighted to see how a mix of activities including reusable cups, collections and direct income from events can help support local good causes, with a record amount being made for various local charities this year.

“We want to thank everyone – locals, visitors, partners, patrons, artists, staff and volunteers -who put in a huge effort to help make Fringe by the Sea a special place to be each summer.”

Postcode data from ticket sales shows strong growth across every geographic market from 2025 to 2026, with the biggest increases coming from beyond East Lothian. The most significant growth was from the rest of Scotland, where individual ticket buyers increased 281%, followed by the rest of the UK (+48%) and international buyers (+64%). Importantly, this growth did not come at the expense of the local audience, with buyers from North Berwick up 17% and East Lothian up 19%.

£12.7m net additional economic impact came from the festival – a 13.8% year-on-year increase, from £11.2m in 2025. Economic impact grew faster than attendance – 13.8% compared with attendance growth of 8.3%. An estimated 167 tourism-related jobs were supported, compared with 147 in 2025.

Visitors also spent time and money throughout North Berwick and the wider area:
35% mentioned eating and drinking in local cafés, restaurants and bars
33% visited shops, markets, galleries and studios
23% visited the beach, harbour and coast.
21% stayed away from home as part of their trip.
The median stay increased to four nights, compared with three nights in 2025.

Visitor feedback:
96% rated their experience Excellent or Very Good
9.16/10 average festival rating
89% definitely intend to return
89% are very likely to recommend FBTS
79% were returning FBTS visitors, up from 74% in 2025.

Programming & activities:
Over 300 events staged across 10 days in the Lodge Grounds and around North Berwick including:
● Love of Life – funded by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland’s Expanded Festivals Fund: including new work by composer Erland Cooper, film byLewis Gourlay, puppetry workshop and parade from Vision Mechanics, The Nest public art installation by artist Naomi Mcintosh and Brian D Souza’s Plants Can Dance
● Wavelength film programme, funded by Screen Scotland
● Headline music acts including Rudimental, Maribou State, Kool and the Gang, Alex James Britpop Classical, Belle and Sebastian, Capercaillie, Levi.SCT, Ian Hislop, LouisTheroux, David Olusoga.
● The Times Lounge
● Project Plant/The Scentery – community projects to promote planting and growing, funded by East Lothian Climate Hub.

Environmental impact:
● 99% of festival waste diverted from landfill, with waste hand-sorted and separated onsite.
● Reusable cup scheme continued/expanded to Coffee Cups – over £13,000 raised for Scottish Coastal Clean Up charity
● The Love of Life/Biophilia theme brought 40+ events focused on nature, climate and sustainability
● Project Plant & The Scentery brought biodiversity to the festival, with the local community growing wildflowers for pollinators and planting designed to live beyond the event.
● Greener travel encouraged and expanded, including late-night rail, cycling and the new Happy Bus connections across East Lothian, Edinburgh and Glasgow – 2,458passengers across 6 headline nights.

Funds raised for charity:
Over £20,000 was raised for charitable causes including:
● Scottish Coastal Clean Up – £13,024 raised from the deposit system for reusable cups
● Voices and Sister Sister Choirs event – £3,500 divided equally between North BerwickDay Centre and Muirfield Riding Therapy
● North Berwick Pipe Band – Sounds of Scotland event – East Lothian Food Bank – £1,160
● Scottish Seabird Centre – £1,026 (various events)
● Dave Berry’s Walk The Toun tours – £606 split between RNLI and Leuchie House

ENDS

About Fringe by the Sea
An independent, not for profit festival, Fringe by the Sea offers an annual programme of over 300 music, comedy, literature, conversation, family, film, wellbeing events and more in the coastal town of North Berwick on the East Lothian coast. Running for ten days, the festival attracted over 111,000 visitors and is back for 2027 from 30th July – 8th August.

www.fringebythesea.com

Images: https://www.fringebythesea.com/gallery/
Photography CreditsLewis Houghton
Mr Smith (for the aerial shots)