Venue & Access

This year, most of our programme will take place at one of Edinburgh’s most beloved festival venues, the Pleasance. We’re excited to be back and working in such an inspiring venue, with its rich creative atmosphere and vibrant festival vibes. Look our for special pop up events happening around this city and for full announcements coming soon!

The Pleasance, Edinburgh is fully wheelchair accessible. Lifts are available to access all event spaces. The lifts to the Upper Hall, Lomond Room and the Pleasance Theatre require an access key. On arrival at the Pleasance ahead of the event, please come to the Festival Box Office and one of our team will be ready to assist.

There is small step into the bookshop space, but a ramp is available and our volunteers are on standby to assist.

You can find out more about accessibility on the Pleasance website here and on their Courtyard Access Guide here. You can also see their listing on Euan’s Guide here.

In the Event Spaces

There are wheelchair spaces in the front row of the second tier of the Main Theatre and in the front of the Upper Hall seating. Measurements, arm rests, etc) are available in the Pleasance Courtyard Access Guide here.

Toilets

The Pleasance has individual all gender toilets throughout the building. Accessible toilets are located throughout the building, next to the box office and opposite the signing area. You can read more about this here.

Hearing Loops are available. Find out more from the venue here.

Guide Dogs are welcome and if you need any water for them, you can get some at the bar.

Parking

There is no public parking within the Pleasance Courtyard. Blue Badge Holders are able to park on the road just outside.

For long term parking within walking distance, we recommend Nicolson Square Car Park or St Leonards Car Park (Hermits Croft, Edinburgh EH8 9SW). Please note that there is no longer free parking in Edinburgh City Centre on a Sunday.

Once again this year, in addition to our online programme, we will have have a programme of events free to listen to at home via our partners EHFM, online community radio station. Stay tuned for full programme details!

Pricing

To remove barriers to attendance we aim to keep tickets as affordable as possible. The programme includes free events, a range of exhibitions and Pay What You Can (PWYC) events with the lowest price point set at £0. Companion tickets are available for all events, please contact boxoffice@ptbo2026.backlightdev.co.uk to book. We also have an excellent value Festival Pass offering free access to the majority of the programme.

If you have any questions about access options, please contact the Festival Team on boxoffice@ptbo2026.backlightdev.co.uk

Our full programme and BSL performances will be announced on 1 October! 

Pleasance can be entered in two ways.
1.Via Pleasance Courtyard, which involves a short road covered by cobblestones
2. Via the Sports & Exercise area, which is a longer route, but avoid cobblestones and has a ramp entry

Once inside, the Theatre and Lomond Room can be accessed via stairs or lift. If the lift is required, it can be accessed via Cabaret Café. To use the lift, please go to reception (or the bar if the reception is not staffed at that moment) and a member of staff will help operate the lift as it is key operated.

An accessible toilet is available next to reception upon entry.

The theatre has permanent space for one wheelchair user and more can be provided with advance notice to remove fixed seating.

A hearing loop is available in the theatre.