With the Edinburgh Festival almost upon us, TW Backstage provides regular updates on key announcements and developments.

---

AI-POWERED FRINGE PLANNER
An Edinburgh company has launched an “AI-powered planning tool” to help audiences plan their schedules at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this year, with some added randomness thrown in. 

---

EIF’S SUSTAINABILITY WORK VERIFIED 
The Edinburgh International Festival has achieved Net Zero Pathway verification from the British Standards Institute, which basically validates the organisation’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net zero status. It’s the first UK charity and arts organisation to achieve such verification. 

---

DAVE’S JOKE OF THE FRINGE AWARD IS AXED
There will be one less award for performers to win at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, with TV channel Dave “resting” its annual and high profile Joke Of The Fringe prize after eighteen years. Although comedian Wll Mars plans to fill the gap with his own prize, so actually, the same number of awards as normal then.