Edinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival is an unparalleled celebration of music, theatre, opera and dance performed across our beautiful city.
About Edinburgh International Festival
| , Various Locations Edinburgh | |
| 01314732000 | |
| Edinburgh International Festival Website | |
| Follow edintfest on Twitter | |
| 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.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.
Upcoming Events at Edinburgh International Festival
Edinburgh International Festival: Make it Happen
Set in Edinburgh, Make it Happen sees legendary actor Brian Cox return to the Scottish stage for the first time in a decade as Adam Smith, the ghost of fiscal past.
READ MOREEdinburgh International Festival
The Edinburgh International Festival returns from 1st to 24th August 2025 with live performance throughout the city.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: The Dan Daw Show
This daring International Festival debut fuses sexy choreography and touching theatricality to take a stand against the disabling forces of society.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: NYO2: Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony
Cellist Alisa Weilerstein and Carnegie Hall's NYO2 take on a thrilling pairing of Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Prokofiev.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: NYO2: Family Concert
Suitable for children and their grown-ups, we invite curious minds discover the magic of classical music in this joyful concert at the Usher Hall.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Best of Monteverdi Choir
Led by conductor Jonathan Sells, the Baroque choir present a dazzling showcase of their repertoire.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: María Dueñas & Alexander Malofeev
Maria Dueñas and Alexander Malofeev are one of the most inspired pairings in the recital world. This collaboration illuminates works by Karol Szymanowski, Claude Debussy and César Franck.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Holst’s The Planets
Let the London Philharmonic Orchestra takes you on the ultimate cosmic journey at the Usher Hall on 5th August!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Pavel Kolesnikov & Samson Tsoy
Join creative collaborators Pavel Kolesnikov and Samson Tsoy for a deeply spiritual recital of piano works, ranging from Bach to Messiaen.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Bruce Liu plays Ravel
Join Bruce Liu, Myung-Whun Chung and Beijing’s NCPA Orchestra for jazz-infused Ravel and Saint-Saëns’s spectacular Organ Symphony.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Mark Simpson & Richard Uttley
Mark Simpson brings dual talents as composer and clarinettist to an intimate programme featuring Johannes Brahms and his own works.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Hugh Cutting & George Ireland
Experience the expansive range of vocal music, from Baroque arias to specially commissioned contemporary works.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Works and Days
Birth, life and death converge at the heart of this visually spectacular performance, as theatre collective FC Bergman seeks the truth about our place in the wider world.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Leonard Elschenbroich & Alexei Grynyuk
Explore the musical love triangle between Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Bach & Bartók
Budapest Festival Orchestra return to the Festival with a programme that celebrates their Hungarian heritage and showcases the vibrancy of music written for dance.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: La clemenza di Tito
Under the baton of Maxim Emelyanychev, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus continue their electrifying explorations of Mozart at the International Festival.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Fibonacci Quartet
One of Europe’s leading string quartets, Fibonacci Quartet, brings their trademark brilliance to a programme of Scottish and Czech music!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: NFM Leopoldinum: Bizet’s Carmen Suite
Experience the unforgettable music of Bizet’s opera Carmen alongside moving pieces by Bacewicz and Strauss.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Piotr Anderszewski
The Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski is known for his intimate and subtle playing style. It is beautifully suited to this programme of small-but-perfectly-formed works.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: LSO: Beethoven & Shostakovich
Nicola Benedetti and Sir Antonio Pappano co-present this concert, introducing two monumental symphonies by composers reckoning with mortality and the world around them.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Sitkovetsky Trio
Experience evocative works for piano trio, from Beethoven to a UK premiere by Iranian composer Mahdis Golzar Kashani from the Sitkovetsky Trio!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Bostridge, Pappano & Members of the LSO
Expressive singing reveals the emotional depth of Benjamin Britten, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Orpheus and Eurydice
Circa joins with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a chorus from Scottish Opera for the European premiere of this electrifying production of Gluck’s seminal opera at The Edinburgh Playhouse.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Bomsori Kim & Thomas Hoppe
Award-winning violinist Bomsori Kim is joined by eminent pianist Thomas Hoppe in this stunning recital celebrating Poland's rich musical heritage.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Book of Mountains and Seas
Ancient Chinese myths inspire Huang Ruo's opera, confronting humanity's complex relationship with nature.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: LSO: A Sea Symphony
Celebrate 20th-century British treasures from Elizabeth Maconchy to Ralph Vaughan Williams performed by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO).
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Cutting the Tightrope
This collection of short plays audaciously explores the power of the arts in today's world events, political resistance and displays of artistic freedom.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Florian Boesch & Malcolm Martineau
Celebrated for their Lieder performances, this duo showcases the lyrical beauty of Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Mary, Queen of Scots
Renaissance meets punk in Scottish Ballet’s retelling of the story of one of Scotland’s most famous women.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: LSO: Puccini’s Suor Angelica
Sir Antonio Pappano conducts the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in Giacomo Puccini’s heartfelt opera.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Ryan Wang
Ryan Wang, BBC Young Musician of the Year winner, takes on an all-Chopin programme that showcases extraordinary mastery of the piano.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Shostakovich Inside Out
Explore Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony as Aurora Orchestra unpacks its drama, depth and defiance.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Dementia Friendly Concert
New to the International Festival this year, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra performs familiar repertoire for people with dementia and their loved ones.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Faustus in Africa!
Through puppetry and animation, Handspring Puppet Company reimagine Faust's downfall and reframe the classic tale to confront colonialism and the climate emergency.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Belcea Quartet
Revitalising and transforming chamber music from the 18th and 19th centuries, Belcea Quartet's provocative recital spans Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Mozart.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Breaking Bach
Discover Johann Sebastian Bach from a fresh perspective in this world premiere where classical music meets hip hop and contemporary dance!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: As You Like It A Radical Retelling
Encounter Cliff Cardinal's radical reimagining of Shakespeare's classic in this unapologetic production at Church Hill Theatre!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Dunedin Consort & John Butt
This leading baroque ensemble revives Handel's sparkling comic cantata, unearthing the origins of his operatic masterpieces.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Bernstein & Stravinsky
Conductor Karina Canellakis returns to the Festival and leads the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (SSO) through a monumental programme featuring Messiaen, Stravinsky and Bernstein.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Pictures at an Exhibition
Take a whistlestop round-the-world trip with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and William Barton at the Usher Hall on Friday 22nd August!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Figures in Extinction
Dance and theatre legends Crystal Pite and Simon McBurney unite with Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) to confront the climate crisis through spellbinding movement and sound.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Emily D’Angelo & Sophia Muñoz
Join mezzo soprano Emily D'Angelo and pianist Sophia Muñoz for a programme of epic scope that explores humanity's connection to the natural world.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Leonidas Kavakos & ApollΩn Ensemble
Johann Sebastian Bach’s violin concertos shine in this electrifying performance with soloist and ensemble in synergy.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Come and Sing Elijah
Join fellow singers in a full-day workshop, culminating in a performance of highlights from Mendelssohn's epic Elijah.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Festival: Closing Concert: Mendelssohn’s Elijah
In this Closing Concert, discover Felix Mendelssohn's triumphant oratorio anew as the Edinburgh Festival Chorus and Royal Scottish National Orchestra breathe life into his most famous work.
READ MORERelated Links
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
,
Various Locations Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet.
READ MORE
More Festivals in Edinburgh
Edinburgh Chinese New Year Festival
,
Various Locations Edinburgh
Edinburgh’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.
READ MORE
Luminate Festival: Edinburgh & Lothians
NA NA,
NA NA
Luminate: Scotland's creative ageing festival celebrating creativity as we age.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Edinburgh College of Art 74 Lauriston Place,
Edinburgh Old Town EH3 9DF
The Edinburgh International Book Festival began in 1983 and is now a key event in the August Festival season.
READ MORE
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
,
Various Locations Edinburgh
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns in October 2024.
READ MORE
Soundhouse Winter Festival
,
Various Locations Edinburgh
The Soundhouse Winter Festival is a new 5-day music festival taking place this winter in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
Audacious Women Festival
Audacious Women Festival ,
Various Locations Edinburgh
Audacious Women Festival encourages and empowers women to break personal, political, institutional barriers, and celebrates inspirational women.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Childrens Festival
30B Grindlay Street,
Edinburgh Old Town EH3 9AX
Edinburgh International Children's Festival of performing arts for children and young people.
READ MORE
Rare Books Edinburgh
,
Rare Books Edinburgh is a festival dedicated to rare, collectable and important books and the history of the book.
READ MORE
Cymera Festival
The Pleasance 60 Pleasance,
Edinburgh South EH8 9TJ
Cymera is Scotland's Festival of Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writing and it returns to Edinburgh from 6th to 8th June.
READ MORE
Porty Festival
,
Portobello
Porty Festival is a brand new family friendly festival coming to Portobello on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May - highlighting all things Portobello.
READ MORE
Manipulate Festival
,
Various Locations Edinburgh
The 18th edition of Manipulate Festival will take place between 12th and 15th February 2025.
READ MORE
Portobello Book Festival
,
Various Locations Portobello
Portobello Book Festival is a volunteer run festival, taking place over the first weekend of October.
READ MORE
All Festivals listings in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe is one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Chinese New Year Festival
Edinburgh’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.
READ MORE
Luminate Festival: Edinburgh & Lothians
Luminate: Scotland's creative ageing festival celebrating creativity as we age.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival began in 1983 and is now a key event in the August Festival season.
READ MORE
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns in October 2024.
READ MORE
Soundhouse Winter Festival
The Soundhouse Winter Festival is a new 5-day music festival taking place this winter in Edinburgh.
READ MORE
Audacious Women Festival
Audacious Women Festival encourages and empowers women to break personal, political, institutional barriers, and celebrates inspirational women.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Childrens Festival
Edinburgh International Children's Festival of performing arts for children and young people.
READ MORE
Rare Books Edinburgh
Rare Books Edinburgh is a festival dedicated to rare, collectable and important books and the history of the book.
READ MORE
Cymera Festival
Cymera is Scotland's Festival of Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writing and it returns to Edinburgh from 6th to 8th June.
READ MORE
Porty Festival
Porty Festival is a brand new family friendly festival coming to Portobello on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May - highlighting all things Portobello.
READ MORE
Manipulate Festival
The 18th edition of Manipulate Festival will take place between 12th and 15th February 2025.
READ MORE
Portobello Book Festival
Portobello Book Festival is a volunteer run festival, taking place over the first weekend of October.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links