KRISTINA LIBBY
I Almost Died for This?! at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2026
An award-winning American solo show about love, a traumatic brain injury, and what it actually costs to be a good girl. Performing at The Space UK on the Mile, Edinburgh, August 7–29, 2026.
"A tender and quietly powerful piece about love, loss, and choosing connection over isolation." - AllAboutSolo
About "I Almost Died for This?!"
Kristina Libby did everything right: she found the soulmate. But, then she lost him.
Then she got a traumatic brain injury, nearly died, traveled to one of the world's most dangerous countries, and accidentally started a public art movement in the middle of a pandemic.
I Almost Died for This?! is a one-woman show about the price of compliance — funny, at times furious, and unflinchingly true.
It asks a question a lot of people are sitting with right now: what does it actually cost to believe the story you were handed about how your life should go?
Directed by Padraic Lillis (Founding Artistic Director, The Farm Theater; NYU faculty).
Running time: 55 minutes.
"Honest, funny and brave. The audience leaned in, laughing and crying with her. No spectacle, just soul." — Forbes
Edinburgh Fringe 2026 Performance Details
Venue: The Space UK on the Mile, Edinburgh
Dates and Times:
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August 7–22: 11:20am
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August 24–29: 6:35pm
Running time: 55 minutes
Tickets: Available at edfringe.com and thespaceuk.com
Age guidance: Suitable for 16+
The Space UK on the Mile is located on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh's central Fringe corridor, within walking distance of the main Fringe box office and most major festival venues.
Why This Show at Edinburgh Fringe
Edinburgh Fringe is where solo performance lives. It's where Fleabag started. Where Hannah Gadsby's Nanette changed what comedy could do. Where a single performer with a true story and something urgent to say can find the audience that was always waiting for them.
I Almost Died for This?! arrives at Fringe 2026 at a moment when the questions it asks — about women, about creative identity, about the narratives we inherit and the ones we choose — feel more urgent than they have in years.
The show had its New York premiere at United Solo Fest, and performed at 59E59 Theaters in July 2026 before crossing the Atlantic.
Edinburgh is its international debut.
If you're building your Fringe schedule and you want a show that's funny enough to carry you through the morning slot and honest enough to stay with you all day, this is the one.
Awards and Press
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Best Storytelling Show, NYC United Solo Festival 2025
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Moth StorySlam Winner
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Forbes: "Honest, funny and brave. No spectacle, just soul."
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All About Solo: "Libby's message is not preachy. It is earned."
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Beyond the Curtain: "A funny but moving solo show for fans of Fleabag who want a happier ending."
About Kristina Libby
Kristina Libby is an award-winning American writer, artist, and performer.
A Moth StorySlam winner and New Yorker humorist, she is also the creator of the Floral Heart Project — a nationwide public art memorial that began during the COVID-19 pandemic and earned her recognition as a Top 10 Public Artist for Social Change and a Hero of 2020.
Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Elle, The Boston Globe, and McSweeney's. She has appeared on NBC, ABC, PBS, and CNN.
I Almost Died for This?! is her debut solo theatre performance and her first time performing at Edinburgh Fringe.
FIND OUT MORE
Edinburgh Fringe Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
What is I Almost Died for This?! about?
It's a true story. Kristina Libby did everything right, she even found the soulmate. Then, lost the soulmate, nearly died in a kitesurfing accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury, and eventually rebuilt herself through painting and public art. And she came out the other side asking what the whole thing actually cost her.
The show is funny, personal, and hits hardest if you've ever shrunk yourself to fit someone else's version of your life.
Where is the show at Edinburgh Fringe 2026?
The Space UK on the Mile, Edinburgh. It's on the Royal Mile, the main artery of the Fringe, easy to reach from any central Edinburgh location.
When does the show perform at Edinburgh Fringe?
August 7–22 at 11:20am, and August 24–29 at 6:35pm. The morning slot runs through most of the festival; the late-August slot moves to early evening.
How long is the show?
55 minutes, no interval.
Where can I buy tickets?
Through the official Edinburgh Festival Fringe website at edfringe.com, or directly through The Space UK at thespaceuk.com.
Is this show suitable for me if I don't usually see solo shows?
Yes. Audience members consistently describe it as feeling less like theatre and more like a friend telling you the most extraordinary story of their life — one they survived to laugh about. If you've seen and liked Fleabag, Mike Birbiglia, or Hannah Gadsby, you'll find your footing immediately.
Has the show been performed before Edinburgh?
Yes. I Almost Died for This?! won Best Storytelling Show at the NYC United Solo Festival in 2025 and had a New York run at 59E59 Theaters in July 2026 before its Edinburgh debut.
Is Kristina Libby's show recommended for Edinburgh Fringe 2026?
The show has been featured in Edinburgh Fringe preview coverage and described by critics as a must-see solo show for audiences who want something funny, true, and worth talking about after.
Get Tickets
August 7–22 (11:20am) and August 24–29 (6:35pm) The Space UK on the Mile, Edinburgh