BBC Scotland's analysis of nearly 600,000 shows across a decade found the average cheapest Fringe ticket has actually fallen in real terms, from £14.17 to £12.80, though the Military Tattoo bucked the trend with a 36% real-terms rise to £48. Meanwhile average hotel room rates in Edinburgh hit just over £260 a night this August, up 9% on last year and 64% above pre-Covid levels — compared with £110 in Glasgow and £81 in Manchester.
Venue director Darren Neale said accommodation costs for staff and performers have risen roughly 300% over the last decade, on top of higher utilities, insurance and equipment costs. Visitors also now face the city's new 5% tourist tax on the first five nights of any booking, and 25-year-old attendee Kaitlyn Smith described a full day out running to £100–£200 once food, drink and show tickets are factored in.
The city lost the TV festival to Manchester earlier this year over organizers' concerns about affordability and accessibility, even as 1.5 million residents attended the summer festivals last year, up from 1.4 million in 2024. Festivals Edinburgh's director maintains the events are still seen as
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