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
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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.
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The Edinburgh International Festival returns from 1st to 24th August 2025 with live performance throughout the city.
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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.
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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.
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Edinburgh International Festival: Best of Monteverdi Choir
Led by conductor Jonathan Sells, the Baroque choir present a dazzling showcase of their repertoire.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Edinburgh International Festival: Hugh Cutting & George Ireland
Experience the expansive range of vocal music, from Baroque arias to specially commissioned contemporary works.
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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.
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Edinburgh International Festival: Leonard Elschenbroich & Alexei Grynyuk
Explore the musical love triangle between Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann and Johannes Brahms.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Edinburgh International Festival: Book of Mountains and Seas
Ancient Chinese myths inspire Huang Ruo's opera, confronting humanity's complex relationship with nature.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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Edinburgh International Festival: LSO: Puccini’s Suor Angelica
Sir Antonio Pappano conducts the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) in Giacomo Puccini’s heartfelt opera.
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Edinburgh International Festival: Shostakovich Inside Out
Explore Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony as Aurora Orchestra unpacks its drama, depth and defiance.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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NT Art Month
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Edinburgh International Magic Festival
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Edinburgh International Magic Festival is back this Christmas with a mind-blowing programme of shows, events and workshops!
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Edinburgh International Harp Festival
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The Edinburgh International Harp Festival returns for its 42nd year in April, showcasing an eclectic array of harp talent from across the globe.
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Edinburgh Festival of Cycling
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The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is back with a nine-day festival, across Edinburgh (and maybe beyond) between Friday 31st May and Sunday 9th June.
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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
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
Edinburgh Horror Festival
The 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 MORE
Edinburgh Iranian Festival
The Edinburgh Iranian Festival is a non-political showcase for world-class Iranian culture.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival will return from 14th to 20th August 2025 at the very heart of Edinburgh's festival season.
READ MORE
Bedlam Festival
Welcome to BedFest 2025. Strap in and snuggle up, it’s the Bedlam Festival: Cosy Style.
READ MORE
Scottish International Storytelling Festival
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns in October 2024.
READ MORE
Cymera Festival
Cymera is Scotland's Festival of Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Writing and it returns to Edinburgh from 31st May to 2nd June.
READ MORE
NT Art Month
NT Art Month is a month-long celebration of the incredible arts quarter in Edinburgh's New Town.
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Magic Festival
Edinburgh International Magic Festival is back this Christmas with a mind-blowing programme of shows, events and workshops!
READ MORE
Edinburgh International Harp Festival
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival returns for its 42nd year in April, showcasing an eclectic array of harp talent from across the globe.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Festival of Cycling
The Edinburgh Festival of Cycling is back with a nine-day festival, across Edinburgh (and maybe beyond) between Friday 31st May and Sunday 9th June.
READ MORE
Edinburgh Tradfest
The very best traditional music from Scotland and around the world returns from 2nd to 12th May 2025.
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