Stars start to roll in for Fringe By The Sea 2026
Fringe By The Sea - East Lothian's award-winning, independent multi-arts festival - is gearing up for another ambitious year, unveiling its first wave of shows!
Article Source: Fringe By The Sea
Last Updated: 19 January 2026 11:09
Image Credit: Mr Smith Aerial
This year’s early announcement features a powerful mix of global icons, cultural trailblazers and feel-good festival favourites, including soul legends Kool & The Gang, Scottish indie-pop icons Belle & Sebastian, acclaimed documentary-maker Louis Theroux, adventurer Ben Fogle, the cream of Scottish trad Capercaillie and party-starters Colonel Mustard and The Dijon 5.
For the first time since the festival was launched in 2008, FBTS will launch ahead of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe offering five days of clash-free events before the world’s biggest arts festival in Scotland’s capital.
Set to ignite the dancefloor on Friday 7th August, global funk legends Kool & The Gang bring six decades of chart-topping, era-defining hits to North Berwick. With over 70 million albums sold, Grammy Awards, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and fresh from their 2024 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the group promises a non-stop celebration of the songs that shaped generations: Celebration, Ladies’ Night, Get Down on It, Cherish, Jungle Boogie and many more.
Led today by founding member Robert "Kool" Bell, their bulletproof funk and genre-crossing grooves guarantee one of the summer’s biggest nights.
Fresh from celebrating the 30th anniversary of treasured albums, Tigermilk and If You're Feeling Sinister, Scottish indie-pop icons Belle & Sebastian perform 'If You're Feeling Sinister' plus fan favourites, on Thursday 6th August. The early album harks back to their Glasgow roots in their own unique and mysterious way.
Belle and Sebastian pair thoughtful, relatable lyrics with warm melodic arrangements. Led by Stuart Murdoch, their unmistakable sound and timeless song-writing have earned them a worldwide audience and long standing place at the heart of Scotland's music scene.
Documentary pioneer and cultural icon Louis Theroux brings his trademark curiosity and wit to Fringe by the Sea for a special in-person conversation event on Sunday 2nd August. From Weird Weekends to My Scientology Movie to the unexpected global smash Jiggle Jiggle, Louis will share stories from a career spent engaging with some of the world’s most fascinating and extreme characters.Audiences will also have the chance to meet Louis in a time-limited meet & greet after the show, with books available at the event via Night Owl Books.
One of Britain’s best-known explorers and storytellers, Ben Fogle joins the festival on Saturday 1st August for an in-depth conversation about his extraordinary life of adventure - from living on Taransay during the BBC’s Castaway to rowing across the Atlantic, racing to the South Pole, and crossing deserts and continents.
Fresh from celebrating four decades at the forefront of traditional music, internationally acclaimed Celtic ensemble Capercaillie arrive on Sunday 2nd August with their unmistakable mix of Gaelic heritage, soaring vocals, and bold contemporary influences. With over a million album sales, tours across 30 countries, and the first Gaelic Top 40 single to their name, this is a rare chance to experience one of Scotland’s most influential musical groups live.
Guaranteed to raise smiles, spirits and heart rates, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 return on Sunday 2nd August with their sunshine-yellow stage presence and irresistible, feel-good party energy. Winners of the Scottish Alternative Music Awards’ Best Live Act, the 11-piece collective promise a full-family festival celebration powered by unity, mischief and standout summer anthems.
The Skinny magazine said about Fringe by the Sea: ‘it isn’t chasing trends or viral moments and that’s what makes it brilliant’.
In 2025, an independent Economic Impact Report by MKA Economics showed a record-breaking £11 million boost for East Lothian’'s local economy was generated through Fringe by the Sea, from over 103,000 visitors - a rise of 20% on 2024.
ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICE
For the first time, festival-goers will have the option of booking reliable, direct late-night buses home from Fringe by the Sea to destinations across East Lothian, Edinburgh and Glasgow, planned around major headline shows and delivered in partnership with Happy Bus.
All services depart from St Baldred’s Road, North Berwick at 11:20pm on specific dates, and run to key destinations:
Single-Journey Routes
● North Berwick ➜ Haddington - £12 + booking fee
● North Berwick ➜ Dunbar - £13 + booking fee
● North Berwick ➜ Edinburgh (via Longniddry & Prestonpans) - £14 + booking fee
Glasgow Return Service
● Glasgow ➜ North Berwick ➜ Glasgow. Departs Glasgow 4pm, returns at 11:20pm
£36 return + booking fee. With stops in North Lanarkshire & Livingston.
Routes will run only where bookings are confirmed - so festival-goers are encouraged to book early.
Festival Director, Rory Steel said: “We’re incredibly excited to unveil the first acts for our 2026 programme. From the legendary Kool & The Gang, Scottish indie icons Belle & Sebastian to the storytelling of Louis Theroux and Ben Fogle, the powerful tradition of Capercaillie and the unstoppable energy of Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5, it is already shaping up to be a standout year. We’re also thrilled to introduce our new partnership with Happy Bus, offering visitors another option for returning home after our biggest shows.”
Fringe by the Sea is an award-winning 10-day multi-arts celebration that transforms the seaside town of North Berwick every summer. In 2025, the festival drew over 100,000 visitors to its stunning coastal setting, staged more than 250 events with an eclectic mix of local and international stars, launched its bold new film strand Wavelength, and delivered an economic boost of over £11 million to the region.
North Berwick Trust will continue its vital support for Fringe by the Sea as a Master Partner, as part of the three-year funding agreement announced in 2023. The Trust will once again showcase its work and help enable local community groups to take part in the free-to-access North Berwick Trust Hub at the heart of the festival site.
The festival team is also delighted to welcome back Coulters Property for its fifth consecutive year as a key sponsor. Coulters will continue to champion the hugely popular Makers Market - a vibrant celebration of creativity and craft that runs throughout the 10-day festival.
Following hugely successful partnerships in 2024 and 2025, The Times and The Sunday Times will return as media partners for 2026, helping to promote Fringe by the Sea’s programme across Scotland.
Find out more about this year's festival at www.fringebythesea.com
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