City

Festivals

Jazz. Science. Books. Film. Comedy. Storytelling. Art. You name it; we’ve got a festival for it.

See and do overview - festivals

Edinburgh is home to the most varied and dynamic calendar of international events and festivals in the world.

There are 12 major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the globe to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city's culture.

Science Festival
April. Innovative and educational events fostering dialogue about the future of our culture, our nation, our planet and our understanding.
Imaginate Festival
May. International festival of performing arts for children and young people.
Film Festival
June. Intimate yet ambitious festival promoting the very best in international cinema, feature films, shorts and documentaries.
Jazz & Blues Festival
July. The world's finest jazz and blues talent perform everything from bop, boogie-woogie and blues-rock, to samba, swing and soul.
Art Festival
August. The UK's largest annual celebration of visual art through exhibitions, performances, screenings, artist talks and guided tours.
Royal Military Tattoo
August. Spectacular performances by military bands and display teams on the Castle esplanade. An iconic Edinburgh institution that sells out year after year.
International Festival
August. Showcasing the best the world has to offer in classical and contemporary dance, music, opera and theatre.
Festival Fringe
August. The world's largest arts festival: thousands of performers take to hundreds of stages across the city to present shows for every taste.
Book Festival
August. The greatest writers and thinkers in the world gather to share ideas, entertain, inform and challenge.
Mela
August. Scotland's biggest and best celebration of world music and dance.
Storytelling Festival
October. A celebration of live storytelling, oral traditions and cultural diversity.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay
December. One of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations, and one of the largest street parties in the world.

At the University

The University is the largest venue owner in the Fringe.

We are also responsible for the venues of many of its most influential companies.

We are the proud programmers of George Square Theatre, home to many of The Fringe’s top acts, year after year.