The world-famous Edinburgh Fringe Festival will be going ahead in person this year following its pandemic-enforced hiatus.

More than 170 shows have already been announced for the city-wide spectacle that includes theatre, dance and comedy at what is thought to be a scaled-back festival.

As well as in-person performances, there will also be online shows – a reflection of the industry over the previous 18 months or so.

More shows will be revealed in the run up to the month-long event in August, with organisers promising an “incredible festival”.

As with the vast majority of events in the last year, it was a victim of the pandemic, with the festival cancelling all in-person performances in 2020.

Many shows this year will take place in outdoor spaces, such as city squares, beaches and in the streets, in an effort to comply with the strict COVID rules in Scotland.

There will also be performances taking place in iconic venues such as Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Zoo, as well as the famous street performances on the Royal Mile.

The Scottish government said its aim is to relax restrictions by 9 August, but its culture department has offered support of £1m to the festival in the event that it does not go ahead as a result of further lockdowns.

Shona McCarthy, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: “After the year we’ve all had, it brings me an indescribable amount of joy to see Fringe shows going on sale.

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“Fringe operators and artists have been working tirelessly to make this Fringe not only possible, but as safe, accessible and engaging as it can be.

“Things will, of course, look a little different this year. But embracing the unknown and turning it into something magical is what the Fringe does best.

“I’m excited to see the ways that digital platforms are being used to create exciting, accessible work, and I’m inspired by the way producers and artists have adapted to the ongoing restrictions to bring live performance back to our lives.

“There’s still work to do, and with the situation ever-changing, we’ll be updating the programme and ticket site weekly. I’m proud of the resilience of our Fringe community, and we’re excited to make this festival the very best it can be.”

Tickets for the festival are on sale now.

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