Pleasance Jobs — Edinburgh Fringe 2026

60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ

Apply at Pleasance

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

Apply at Pleasance

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 details updating soon. Check back for show counts, schedules, and shift pattern data.

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 →

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