As the new year gets underway, the Fringe Society has officially opened show applications for this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival, which will run August 2-26. Taking place every August, the festival is a veritable cornucopia of theatre; last year's festival comprised 3,535 shows.

In order to register with The Fringe Society, artists must already have a venue contract in place. To be included in the first on-sale date February 22, artists must submit registration by February 5. However, registration will remain open through summer for those still developing shows and settling contracts. Artists can save up to 25% on their registration fee if they register before the early-bird deadline of March 6.

With no selection committee, Edinburgh Fringe is known as a welcome place for artists and productions both big and small. It’s launched smash hit international shows like Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ SIX: The Musical and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag, as well as this season's The Shark is Broken and My Son's A Queer (But What Can You Do). New talent can be found on every corner, as well as seasoned veterans looking to re-energize their creative coffers.

Registering with The Fringe Society does include a fee which covers inclusion in the listings on EdFringe.com, help engaging with the media, network, access to the Fringe Central artist hub, and more. For shows registered before the April 10 deadline, the fee will also cover inclusion in the printed program.

For more information and further deadlines, visit EdFringe.com.