Founded in 2002 by Dan Lerner and Guardian journalist Helen Pidd, Fest was launched with the goal of bringing a fresh editorial voice to the crowded Festival market. Over the years, it has grown steadily to become the largest magazine covering the August festivities. From 2015, Fest has become part of the Radge Media family, meaning the same year-round talent that put together The Skinny Magazine every month has joined forces with the award-winning journalistic legacy behind one of the most trusted and respected magazines for the Edinburgh Festivals. We also looked further afield and launched a sister Fest in Adelaide, South Australia, in February 2018 to cover the Adelaide festivals.

Fest Edinburgh publishes four editions in total – a chunky preview guide in July, which serves as a handbook for the whole of the festival; and three weekly festival issues packed full of reviews and features which hits the streets every Wednesday during the Fringe. We print 35,000 copies over the summer, which means you can find Fest pretty much anywhere in Edinburgh. 

Fest has built up a formidable journalistic reputation at the Festivals and in recent years Fest writers have taken home either one or both of the prestigious Allen Wright Awards for Arts Journalism. We've worked hard to recruit some of the most exciting and well-regarded arts journalists in the country, as well as mentoring and nurturing the next generation of critics.

Fest Magazine

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