The Fringe Society has promised to run extensive listings, sell tickets and even try to promote shows, if there is enough demand from venues and artists. In an apparent U-turn, organisers admitted it did not “have the power” to cancel the festival, which is an “open access” event. The world’s largest and open access celebration of arts and culture was famously instigated in 1947 by theatre companies who were not invited to take part in the first Edinburgh International Festival, which was instigated in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Despite the cancellations winning support from the Scottish Government and the city council, four of the biggest Fringe venues have refused to cancel staging shows this summer. Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly have said they will “certainly try” to rebuild a Fringe this summer if the current lockdown restrictions are eased enough to do so.

The Fringe Society has backed down despite signing up to a joint announcement with Edinburgh’s four other main festivals (Royal Military Tattoo Festival, Edinburgh Book Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, and Edinburgh International Festival), in August, that they “would not take place in 2020.”

In a lengthy statement released yesterday, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, Shona McCarthy, said: “It’s heart-breaking that the Fringe and our sister August festivals will not take place as planned this summer. However, having taken advice and considered all the options, we collectively believe this is the only appropriate response.

“The safety of participants, audiences, local residents and indeed everyone connected to our festivals will always come first. Our thoughts today are with the doctors, nurses, health and social care professionals on the front line, as well as all those affected by this dreadful pandemic. Our sympathies too are with the thousands of artists and participants directly affected by today’s decision – we will do everything we can to support you over the coming months.

“Culture brings out the best in us. It gives the marginalised a voice, it shapes and reshapes how we think of ourselves and, crucially, it unites us. Since their inception in 1947 the Edinburgh festivals have existed to champion the flowering of the human spirit and, in the face of this truly unprecedented global emergency, we believe that this spirit is needed now more than ever.”

However in a statement, to companies, venues and artists today, the society stated: “Should restrictions be lifted, public health officials deem it safe to do so, and venues and artists emerge in August with stages for work needing to be performed, we have plans in place to ensure we can support that as quickly and as much as we can.

“We could offer all our usual ticketing and show listings information online at tickets.edfringe.com as quickly and easily as possible. If budget considerations allow, we could undertake a local concentrated digital marketing campaign for audiences. Right now, our core team will continue to support companies and venues by providing impartial, fact-based information and signposting to any advice and guidance which sit beyond our abilities and remit. We’ll also stay in touch with the media and arts industry as necessary to ensure your work remains as visible as possible.”