The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016 will see 50,266 performances of 3,269 shows from 48 countries in 294 venues across Edinburgh.

The number of shows in the programme is slightly down, from 3,314 in 2015, where there were 50,459 performances.

The drop in shows is due to the Fringe removing the Fringe Central events from the programme. If they were included the programme would be two shows up on last year. 

There are fewer venues this year also. 

Shona McCarthy, the new chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said: "It is an honour to be launching the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Programme.

"The breadth and diversity of talent that comes to the Fringe is unparalleled, and this year is no exception.

"At its core the Fringe is an open access festival, which welcomes anyone with a story to tell, and for that reason, amateur and professional artists from around the world continue year after year to come here to share their stories, hone their skills, create new opportunities for themselves and their work, and celebrate the joy of live performance.

"The diversity of the Fringe’s participants is echoed in its audiences and there really is something for everyone at the Fringe, whether you enjoy puppet shows or comedians, astonishing street artists or dazzling cabaret acts, ground-breaking international theatre or underground musical sensations, the Fringe will surpass your expectations over and over again.

“With less than two months to go, I am looking forward to welcoming participants and audiences to Edinburgh in August for another fantastic Edinburgh Festival Fringe."

Richard Lewis, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Festivals and Events Champion said: "The Edinburgh Festival Fringe continues to go from strength to strength and the 2016 programme is a testament to the continued popularity of the festival as a place that performers from all over the world flock to showcase new work and meet new audiences.

"Edinburgh is world renowned for its festivals and we are always looking for ways to develop and ensure that visitors and locals continue to have the best experience possible when attending these truly international events. I am very much looking forward to the 2016 Fringe and all it has to offer."

In 2016 new venues include some of Edinburgh’s best known landmarks, unusual venues and pubs.

Gilded Balloon is to work with the National Museum of Scotland for the first time.

In 2011 it will play host to a mix of comedy, theatre and children’s shows.

C venues open C scala at St Stephen’s Church in Stockbridge, creating four performance spaces including a 450 capacity theatre in the gorgeous Grade-A Georgian listed building.

Merchant’s Hall is home to a new partnership between Scottish spirit producers Arbikie Highland Estate and local catering company Mackenzies Catering and Assembly Rooms will this year play host to the inaugural Edinburgh Digital Entertainment Festival.

Site-specific theatre this year includes Still Here a tent-based production exploring the lives of those living in refugee camps, taking place at Zoo at St Mary’s South Lawn in the shadow of the 19th Century Gothic Cathedral.

Java Dance Theatre returns to the Fringe with Back of the Bus set on a double decker bus that will wind its way through the streets of Edinburgh during the performance.

Wrecked takes place in a crashed car, parked outside George Square Gardens, while Ruby Rouge Hairdressers on Clerk Street is the setting for comedy drama Foiled.

This year there are 643 free shows, 164 pay what you want shows, 1731 premieres and 48 different countries represented.

Comedy makes up 34% of the programme, the same as last year, with Theatre at 27%, the same as last year.

Music is up 1% at 15% of the programme, while dance, circus and physical theatre is down to 3% from 4% last year.