The festival's lineup includes I'm With The Band, an "indie-rock musical" by Tim Price that centers on next year's Scottish independence referendum and a double bill of David Greig plays written for the international Theatre Uncut action event. The world's largest arts festival will feature an estimated 24,107 performers and the return of the British Council's biennial Edinburgh showcase, as well as the fifth year of the Made in Scotland showcase. The festival will also include performances by Ian Lavender, Omid Djalili, Paul Nicholls, Steven Berkoff, Russell Kane, Reginald D Hunter, Jason Manford, David Baddiel and Ardal O'Hanlon, Alexei Sayle and Tig Notaro.

"The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is not just important for being the largest arts festival in the world, or for being completely open access — although those things are profoundly important, but more important for being the most wonderful event, created by the spontaneous freedom of expression of tens of thousands of creative souls, from all over the world, from all walks of life, at all stages of their careers, and representing all artforms," Kath Mainland, chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said in a statement.

More information about the festival can be found by visiting edfringe.com.