Shona McCarthy to Depart as Chief Executive of Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society

Shona McCarthy, the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, has announced her departure after a transformative nine-year tenure, set to conclude in spring 2025. McCarthy has been at the forefront of some of the Fringe's most significant milestones, including the record-breaking festival of 2019 and securing substantial public funding in 2023, which promises to support artists year-round starting from 2026.

Having joined the Fringe Society in 2015, McCarthy's leadership was pivotal during the challenging times of the pandemic, where her advocacy for artists and dedication to the festival's core values— inclusion, freedom of expression, and the vitality of the performing arts business—reinforced its position as a cultural powerhouse.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, honorary President of the Fringe Society, praised McCarthy's impassioned leadership, stating, "You could not imagine a more passionate, determined, ambitious, hilarious, fiercely optimistic leader of the Fringe... She held the Fringe together through its most challenging years and guided it to its record-breaking peak."

Benny Higgins, Chair of the Board of Directors, echoed this sentiment, highlighting her crucial role during the Fringe's resurgence post-pandemic. "Shona has been an outstanding leader during a period characterised by constant huge challenges including funding," Higgins remarked. "Her leadership of our renaissance following the pandemic has been extraordinary."

In her parting words, McCarthy reflected on her years at the helm with gratitude and promise, "It has been an enormous privilege to serve the Edinburgh Fringe, I love this phenomenal festival and will forever be an advocate and champion... In my remaining time with the Fringe Society I will be relentless in continued work with all to ensure our charity is in its best shape to continue to support this globally exceptional festival."

The search for a new Chief Executive will commence shortly, with the successor expected to take over by spring 2025. This transition marks a new chapter for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, as it continues to be a pivotal platform for the performing arts globally, celebrated for its innovation, diversity, and expansive cultural impact.