| , Various Locations Edinburgh | |
| 01314732000 | |
| Edinburgh International Festival Website | |
| Facebook information can be found here | |
| Follow edintfest on Instagram | |
The Edinburgh International Festival was the inspired idea of Rudolf Bing, then the General Manager of Glyndebourne Opera, Henry Harvey Wood, the Head of the British Council in Scotland, and leaders from the City of Edinburgh. It was established in 1947 as a world class cultural event to bring together audiences and artists from around the world, and over 70 years has gone from strength to strength.
For three weeks in August, Scotland’s capital becomes an unparalleled celebration of the performing arts and an annual meeting point for people of all nations. The International Festival presents a programme featuring the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre.
Our impact extends beyond the annual programme: our community learning and engagement and professional development programmes run throughout the year, reaching the widest possible audiences and contributing to the cultural and social life of Edinburgh and Scotland.
Zurich Opera presents Giuseppe Verdi’s stunning opera, A Masked Ball, filled with desire, treachery and political peril.
READ MORESan Francisco Ballet presents a provocative myth for the AI age, in their futuristic retelling of Pandora’s Box at Edinburgh Playhouse.
READ MOREThe Berliner Philharmoniker and Chief Conductor Kirill Petrenko open the Usher Hall series with Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony and Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’.
READ MOREExperience ‘the world’s greatest orchestra’ (LA Times) performing with award-winning soloist Augustin Hadelich in the closing concert of their residency.
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet.
READ MOREA festival celebrating Edinburgh Gaelic community past and present. A' dèanamh fèill air coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann.
READ MORELeith Festival is an array of colour, sound, culture and pageantry that takes place over nine days in June.
READ MOREEdinburgh Deaf Festival is an accessible celebration of deaf culture, language and heritage. Join us for a variety of performances and events throughout the week.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s Just Festival Celebrates 21st Year With Bumper Programme. Free to attend programme online and at St. John’s Church, Princes Street from 6th – 30th August.
READ MOREThe Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns from 22nd October to 1st November 2025 with the theme 'Lights of the North'.
READ MOREThe Traverse kicks off its 2022 programme with a wide range of interactive workshops and Q&As, in-person readings and creative prompts for first time writers to seasoned theatremakers.
READ MOREThe Edinburgh Horror Festival is one of the most popular Hallowe'en events in Edinburgh. Incorporating theatre, comedy, magic, spoken word, movies, games, improv, workshops and more!
READ MOREEdinburgh International Improv Festival is back in person at Scottish Storytelling Centre from 20th to 23rd March 2025.
READ MORERare Books Edinburgh is a festival dedicated to rare, collectable and important books and the history of the book.
READ MOREPorty Festival, a family friendly festival, returns to Portobello on Saturday 2nd to Monday 4th May - highlighting all things Portobello.
READ MOREThe very best traditional music from Scotland and around the world returns from 2nd to 12th May 2025.
READ MOREEdinburgh’s Chinese New Year Festival returns in 2024 with a full programme of events and activities across the city to celebrate Chinese New Year and the start of The Year of the Dragon.
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