Inverness Fringe Festival

Inverness has never had its own fringe before — this inaugural week changes that, with theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret and spoken word spread across the city's smaller, more characterful venues. It exists specifically to give emerging Highland talent and independent artists a proper stage, so expect discovery over big names.

A mix of ticketed shows and free performances means you can build your own night out for next to nothing, and it's the kind of first-year festival that's genuinely worth catching before everyone else cottons on.