A new “zero-commission” ticket initiative has been announced for this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe to help artist retain more income from ticket sales.

Love The Fringe and EdFest.com have announced the initiative to help artists facing “rising costs in the city, increasing financial pressures and significant challenges in bringing work to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”

The groups explained that by removing commission fees on ticket sales through the platform, participating shows will “be able to retain a greater share of their box office income” to help support the artists.

This year, the Love The Fringe and EdFest.com programme encompasses 1,273 productions across 110 venues, representing more than 3 million tickets on sale.

The programme also brings together thousands of artists, technicians, producers and venue staff from 24 countries.

Anthony Alderson, director of the Pleasance Theatre Trust, said: “The Edinburgh Fringe exists because artists are willing to take creative and financial risks. This initiative is simply about supporting that creative community.

“By removing commission fees, we hope to ensure that more of the income generated by ticket sales reaches the artists who make the festival possible, helping them continue to create extraordinary work and keeping the Fringe vibrant, diverse and accessible for years to come.”

Charlie Wood, co-founder and director of Underbelly, said: “The Fringe thrives because of its artists. It is their creativity, imagination and willingness to take risks that make Edinburgh such an exciting place to be every August.

“Any initiative that helps support that creative community and allows more income to remain with artists and venues is something we are proud to support.”