Edinburgh Fringe Favourite Graham Norton Returns for Live Virgin Radio UK Broadcast at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is set to welcome back broadcaster, author and comedian Graham Norton for a special live broadcast with Virgin Radio UK on Sunday 9 August 2026, bringing star power and festival excitement to the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town.
Taking place on the first Sunday of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the intimate live event will be hosted in the hotel’s Greyfriars Hall from 2pm to 5pm, with a limited audience of just 65 guests. Tickets are available to purchase directly through the Virgin Hotels Edinburgh website, offering a rare opportunity to experience one of Britain's most beloved broadcasters live and up close.
As an official Ambassador for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Graham will be celebrating the world's largest arts festival from the heart of the city, welcoming celebrity guests and sharing stories, laughter and festival highlights with the audience.
Joining Graham on the day will be broadcaster, comedian and podcast co-host Maria McErlane, who will appear as one of three special guests during the live show. Further guest appearances will be announced in the coming weeks.
Speaking about the event, Graham Norton said: "There's something incredibly special about Edinburgh in August and I'm delighted to be returning to Virgin Hotels Edinburgh with Virgin Radio to celebrate the Fringe once again. It's always such a joy to be surrounded by the creativity, energy and talent that fills the city during festival season, and I'm looking forward to sharing the afternoon with some wonderful guests and a live audience."
Tickets for the live broadcast are priced at £20 per person. Guests can also upgrade their experience with a Long Italian Lunch at Eve before the show for £55 per person. A limited number of overnight packages will also be available, allowing visitors to turn the event into a memorable Fringe weekend in the heart of Edinburgh.
Perfectly positioned on Victoria Street, just moments from Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and the city's most sought-after Fringe venues, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh offers a perfect base for visitors looking to immerse themselves in the festival atmosphere. With some August availability still left, the hotel provides a luxurious retreat amidst the excitement of the city's busiest cultural season.
The live broadcast forms part of a packed August programme at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. Just days before the event, Graham and Maria McErlane will also bring their hugely popular podcast to the Fringe with Wanging On Live on Thursday 7 August.
Following the live broadcast, Virgin Radio will continue their residency at the hotel, with Geoff Lloyd hosting his evening radio show live from Virgin Hotels Edinburgh from 10-14 August. Broadcasting between 6pm and 10pm each evening from either the Scarlett Lounge or the Unicorn Room Turret, the shows will further cement the hotel's position as one of the city's key Fringe destinations.
Mafalda Albuquerque, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, said: "We're so excited to welcome Graham Norton and Virgin Radio back to Virgin Hotels Edinburgh during what is always one of the most exciting times of the year for the city. As an official Fringe Ambassador, Graham perfectly embodies the creativity, humour and energy that make the festival so special.
"This year's event offers guests a truly intimate experience, bringing them closer than ever to Graham and his celebrity guests. Combined with our central Old Town location, vibrant dining experiences and exciting line-up of August events, we're proud to be at the heart of the Fringe once again."
Further information on Virgin Hotels Edinburgh's Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme can be found at: https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/edinburgh-fringe-festival-2026/
Tickets for Graham Norton’s live show can be purchased here: https://virginhotels.com/edinburgh/entertainment/graham-norton-live-at-virgin-hotels-edinburgh-1/
Terms and conditions apply, see link above for full terms.
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For more information or media requests please email: megan@megancunninghampr.com
ABOUT VIRGIN HOTELS EDINBURGH
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is the first UK property from Virgin Hotels, the lifestyle hospitality brand that combines heartfelt, personalised service with the track record of innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has pioneered. Situated in the landmark India Buildings in Edinburgh’s Old Town close to Edinburgh Castle, the new hotel features 222 Chambers and Grand Chamber Suites: multiple dining and drinking outlets including Commons Club, Virgin Hotel’s iconic flagship restaurant and bar that acts as a modern-day social club, and Eve, an authentic Italian restaurant. In re-envisioning the buildings, the designers have worked to preserve its historic elements while adding a sense of style and sophistication. The property promises a stunning mix of old and new to fully capture the character of the cultural city of Edinburgh.
ABOUT VIRGIN HOTELS
Virgin Hotels is a lifestyle hospitality brand and one-half of Virgin Hotels Collection, the parent company of Virgin Hotels and Virgin Limited Edition. The brand combines heartfelt service and a personalized hotel experience inspired by the innovation and smart disruption that Sir Richard Branson's global Virgin Group has pioneered for over 50 years. Each hotel intermixes a passion for food and beverage with music, design, and culture, fusing with the local landscape and providing a vibrant and inclusive environment for travelers and locals alike. The current portfolio includes seven hotels – Virgin Hotels Dallas, Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch, Virgin Hotels Nashville, Virgin Hotels New Orleans, and Virgin Hotels New York City, followed by Denver in 2027 as well as the launch of Virgin Residences. In addition, Virgin Hotels continues to explore hotel conversions and ground-up development opportunities in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle and more. Through its partnership with Virgin Red, the rewards program from Virgin, guests can earn and spend Virgin Points across stays, travel experiences, and a growing collection of Virgin brands and partners — including Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Voyages.
ABOUT VIRGIN RADIO UK
Virgin Radio UK is the home of Chris Evans at breakfast and an incredible lineup of presenters including Huey Morgan, Ana Matronic, Emma B, Geoff Lloyd and Ben Jones.
Other stations in the network include Virgin Radio Legends, Virgin Radio Chilled, with music to kick back to, Virgin Radio 80s playing the best 80s music, and Virgin Radio 90s from March 2026.
In the latest RAJAR results, the Virgin Radio UK network reached 1.9 million listeners.
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