Pleasance Jobs — Edinburgh Fringe 2026

60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

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Applications go directly to Pleasance — they handle hiring on their own platform. Paid roles meet the real Living Wage.

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Hiring summary

Recruitment opens
February 2026
Typically closes
June 2026
Festival dates
31 July – 25 August 2026 (Fringe)
Site setup starts
Late July 2026
Approx. seasonal hires
~300
Pay range
£12.71–£13.50/hr Real Living Wage
Accommodation
Provided for some roles — see details

Roles they hire for

What it's like to work at Pleasance

Pleasance Courtyard and Pleasance Dome together form one of the Fringe's most loved venue complexes. The Courtyard has a lively outdoor bar and food area surrounded by performance spaces, while the Dome houses larger shows. Pleasance runs one of the biggest and most established volunteer programmes — offering free accommodation, show access, and structured training in exchange for your time. They also hire paid seasonal staff for bar, front of house, technical, and box office roles.

The atmosphere is famously friendly — Pleasance has a strong returner culture, with many staff and volunteers coming back year after year. Paid roles run from late July through August and pay at least the real Living Wage, with bar and box office roles typically £12.71–£13.50/hr and supervisors a little higher. Volunteers are not paid but receive accommodation in shared university halls, two free show tickets a day, and a meal allowance.

Runs a volunteer programme — see our volunteering guide for what to expect.

Pay

Most Pleasance seasonal roles pay between £12.71 and £13.50 per hour. That meets or exceeds the real Living Wage.

For the bigger picture, see our Edinburgh Fringe pay overview, the 2026 pay rates breakdown, and the UK minimum wage explainer.

Programme at a glance

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026

259
Shows
5,033
Performances
1
Space
5 Aug – 31 Aug 2026
Date range
Performance spaces
Heriot Bridge
Genres
Cabaret and Variety Children's Shows Comedy Dance Physical Theatre and Circus Music Musicals and Opera Spoken Word Theatre

When you'd be working

The 2026 programme at Pleasance runs 5 Aug – 31 Aug 2026, with around 5,033 performances. Site build starts Late July 2026, so the earliest shifts begin before the programme opens.

Busiest days (most performances, so most shifts): Tue 11 Aug · Fri 14 Aug · Sat 15 Aug · Fri 21 Aug · Sat 22 Aug.

Shows at the Fringe 2026

A snapshot of what's on at Pleasance this year. We don't sell tickets — every show links out to the official Fringe listing.

Show all 246 shows at Pleasance →

Shift patterns

Based on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme schedule. Actual shifts will depend on your role — bar and front of house staff typically start before the first show and finish after the last.

10:00
Earliest show start
21:30
Latest show start
22:30
Latest finish

Busiest days

Days with the most performances — expect the longest shifts and busiest venues on these dates.

Fri 14 Aug
209 shows
Sat 22 Aug
209 shows
Sat 15 Aug
207 shows
Fri 21 Aug
207 shows
Tue 11 Aug
206 shows

How to apply

  1. Open the Pleasance recruitment page (the button below).
  2. Pick the role you want and submit your application directly.
  3. Apply early — the most popular roles fill first. Most positions are filled by June 2026.
Apply at Pleasance

Frequently asked questions

Yes — but only for volunteers. Pleasance volunteers are housed in shared University of Edinburgh student accommodation for the run of the festival. Paid staff are not provided with accommodation and must arrange their own.

Bar and front-of-house roles are open to people without prior festival experience. The volunteer programme is also open to first-timers. Technical roles require relevant experience.

The volunteer application typically opens in February 2026 and paid recruitment opens around the same time, with most roles filled by June. Volunteer programme places fill very quickly — apply early.

Paid Pleasance roles pay £12.71–£13.50/hr, with supervisors paid more. Volunteers are not paid in cash but receive free accommodation, two free shows a day, and a daily meal allowance.

Yes, provided you have the right to work in the UK for paid roles. Volunteer roles have separate eligibility — check the Pleasance application form for current details.

Related venues

Assembly Festival
Bar, Front of House, Box Office
Gilded Balloon
Bar, Front of House, Tech
Summerhall
Front of House, Bar, Gallery
Underbelly
Bar, Front of House, Tech

See all Edinburgh festival venues →

Or see every venue currently hiring at the 2026 Fringe →

Show listings via the Edinburgh Festivals Listings API.

Quick facts

Roles they hire
Front of House Bar Staff Technical Volunteers Box Office
Pay

£12.71–£13.50/hour (paid roles); volunteer programme available

Real Living Wage
Accepts volunteers
Accommodation available
Apply at Pleasance Browse all jobs

Programme data updated 28 Jun 2026