Extant pioneer sector-wide change in visual impairment access
We will return to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this summer building on the success of our landmark 2025 programme. We will present three ‘Enhance’ shows alongside a new showcase, in partnership with Underbelly.
This momentum is reflected in our rapid year-on-year growth: from an estimated 30–50 visually impaired-accessible shows in 2024, representing less than 1% of the Fringe. Our first year of activity increased that proportion to around 2% in 2025, and projections indicate that as much as 10–12% of the programme for 2026 will now be accessible to visually impaired audiences.
Underbelly and ZOO have committed to ensuring every show in their programme is 100% visually impaired accessible by including at least one accessible performance. On top of this, ‘Big Four’ venues Pleasance and Assembly, alongside The Space, have also pledged to significantly increase their provisions.
Supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Enhance shows at Underbelly will demonstrate Extant’s unique ‘Enhance post-production’ offer, including an immersive and tailored Touch Tours with each containing a presentation of succinct programme notes, which get to the essence of the show, and description of any relevant visual elements. Enhance performances will include Jellyfish by Blah Blah, and Aarian Mehrabani’s stand-up show How’s Your Head?
New for 2026, we will host a one-off showcase at Underbelly (18th August) to celebrate the breadth of visually impaired-led performance, supported by funding from the Postcode Society Trust, raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The programme will feature some of the UK’s most exciting visually impaired artists working across stand-up, cabaret, theatre and new writing, including Growing Nostalgia by Ebony Rose Dark, VIP (Visually Impaired Papa) by Tom Skelton and work from Neil Skene, alongside All There Is To See by Shashank Sharma, Half Lights Project by Holly Thomas and An Evening with Tito Bone by Amelia Cavallo serving as both a platform for artists and a focal point for wider engagement with accessibility at the Fringe.
Alongside its performances, we are working with the Fringe Society to deliver targeted workshops on low-cost access interventions and we will share new guidance through venues and networks to help hundreds of artists embed accessibility into their practice.
We will be working with partners Sight Scotland and Visually Impaired Creators Scotland to connect with local visually impaired communities and audiences.
Artistic Director Extant, Dr. Maria Oshodi comments, “Extant has always been a force driving industry change towards higher standards and access for visually impaired people. We’re delighted to continue disrupting the status quo at Edinburgh Fringe in 2026, by increasing the number of accessible shows tenfold over the past two years, providing bespoke training and ‘Enhanced’ access options, and not least in platforming the very best of visually impaired talent at our showcase event!”
Underbelly’s Head of Programming, Marina Dixon, adds “We’re delighted to be working alongside Extant at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to make Underbelly’s programme more accessible for visually impaired audiences. Extant do vital work in this field, and this partnership marks an important step in strengthening how Underbelly supports both artists and audiences.”
May 2026