What's On in Edinburgh
Friday 07 August 2026 · This weekend · City guide
Edinburgh on a Fringe Friday is a city that simply refuses to stand still — every street corner hums with possibility, every venue glows with anticipation, and the night stretches out like a promise. From glittering afternoon sing-alongs to late-night dancefloors that won't quit until dawn, today the Scottish capital is serving up something for every kind of adventurer. Get yourself out there.
Highlights

ABBA Gold The Concert - Live @ The Fringe — The Ghillie Dhu is one of Edinburgh's most atmospheric venues — all vaulted ceilings and warm, burnished light — and this afternoon it becomes the ultimate ABBA arena. Starting at 2:00pm, this is a full live concert experience celebrating the most joyously unstoppable back catalogue in pop history, and at £30 it is an absolute Fringe-season treat. Go with friends, go with your mum, go with anyone — just make sure you know every word to Dancing Queen, because you will need them.

Formal Night — There is something quietly wonderful about Dalkeith Miners Club hosting a Formal Night — it carries a sense of community pride and old-school occasion that feels genuinely special. Doors open at 5:00pm and tickets run from just £5 to £16, making this one of the most accessible dressed-up evenings in the city tonight. Dust off your finest, head out to Dalkeith, and enjoy an evening where the effort of turning up properly is absolutely part of the fun.

The Rising Springsteen Tribute at The Liquid Room — The Liquid Room has hosted some of Edinburgh's most electric nights, and this one promises to be right up there — a full-throttle tribute to the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, kicking off at 7:00pm for £20. The Rising are known for capturing not just the songs but the raw, chest-beating spirit of a Springsteen show, the kind where strangers end up with their arms around each other singing Born to Run at the top of their lungs. Whether you are a lifelong devotee or simply someone who loves a live band that plays like their lives depend on it, this is unmissable.

EVOL Fringe Party — When the rest of Edinburgh finally winds down, La Belle Angele is just getting started — EVOL's legendary Fringe Party kicks off at 11:00pm and for just £5 it is one of the best-value late nights in the city all year. EVOL has been a cornerstone of Edinburgh's alternative club scene for years, delivering exactly the kind of brilliantly eclectic, gloriously unpretentious dancefloor that the Fringe season deserves. Roll in after your last show, lose yourself in the music, and let Friday blur beautifully into Saturday.
Full listings
| Event | Venue | Time | Price | Link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live Music | |||||
| ABBA Gold The Concert - Live @ The Fringe | The Ghillie Dhu | 2:00pm | £30 | Tickets | |
| The Rising Springsteen Tribute at The Liquid Room | Liquid Room Edinburgh | 7:00pm | £20 | Tickets | |
| Nightlife | |||||
| Formal Night | Dalkeith Miners Club | 5:00pm | £5–£16 | Tickets | |
| EVOL Fringe Party | La Belle Angele | 11:00pm | £5 | Tickets | |