Aim

Help us bring poetry to the world's biggest arts festival!

Over the past year, we’ve built a platform for emerging poets. A few performers have even gone on to tour their own shows, launch books, and start whole new careers of the back of their performances at spit nights.

But this shouldn't be where it ends, and in fact it should just be the start. We want poets to become household names, with faces on billboards and bums on Graham Norton's sofa.

These poets just need Ed Fringe to take them to the next level, and to bring poetry with them.

With accommodation and travel for ~16 poets, 2 crew and 6 musicians to pay for across our run, and no investment or funding since we started, we're in a bit of financial hardship at the moment and not sure we'd survive if ticket sales are low.

So we need your help to bring SpitNights to Ed Fringe this year <3

Why Edinburgh Fringe

• The Edinburgh Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the world, making it the best opportunity to introduce poetry to new audiences.
• The goal is to showcase emerging poets and musicians on an international stage and prove that poetry deserves big audiences.

Why we need your help

• SpitNights is a completely independent grassroots event, and we're yet to receive any funding or sponsorship.
• As it stands, taking the show to the Fringe would put us into significant personal debt.
• Rising costs in Edinburgh, especially accommodation, make it increasingly difficult for independent artists to take part.

Where the money will go

Every pound raised will go directly toward supporting the poets and team for our 16 show run this year.

Costs include:

• Basic living expenses during the festival
• Fair fees for poets, musicians and the production team

• Accommodation and travel for performers and crew
• Equipment hire and technical costs

The reality of Fringe costs

Typical accommodation prices during August is £1,200-£1,800 per person for the duration of our run

Travel costs, eg London > Edinburgh return train is £80-£150 per person

For a small team of performers and crew, these costs add up extremely quickly.

Why it matters

• SpitNights has already helped artists launch careers, publish books and tour nationally.
• Bringing the show to Edinburgh allows us to open that platform to even more performers.
• Your support helps ensure that these emerging artists - not just well-funded productions - can take part in the Fringe.

If you donate you'll be helping us:

• Put on 16 SpitNights shows at the Edinburgh Fringe this year.
• Support and pay fairly all the artists involved.
• Introduce thousands of new people to poetry, and hopefully kickstart some new careers!

Please consider donating any amount you can, and sharing with anyone you know who might be able to help <3

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 5th August 2026 at 12:00am