All Rise for the 2026 International Festival.
Over 24 days this August, you're invited to:
📆 147 performances
🌏 Representing 44 countries with
🌟 5 world premieres and
🤝 10 works commissioned by the Festival
Edinburgh International Festival, 7−30 August💛
Link in bio🔗
The Edinburgh International Festival returns 7-29 August and goes outdoors for 2021.
Welcome back to live performance, welcome back to your Festival: eif.buzz/3sbO7Ir
Welcome back to your Festival | Edinburgh International Festival
We are delighted to announce that in August 2021, the Edinburgh International Festival will return to live performance.
We are thrilled to announce that world-renowned violinist, educator and arts and culture advocate, Nicola Benedetti CBE becomes the Director Designate of the Edinburgh International Festival, and will become Festival Director on 1 October 2022.
More here: eif.buzz/3vtevTf
ALT Nicola Benedetti leans on a wooden post with her head resting on her left hand. She looks towards the camera smiling as her hair flows down her right-hand side.
One of the world’s greatest storytellers, telling the world’s greatest stories. @stephenfry gives us some insight into what to expect from Mythos: A Trilogy this August: eif.buzz/2Ymxtat
Mythos: A Trilogy by Stephen Fry | 2019 International Festival
One of the world’s greatest storytellers, telling the world’s greatest stories. Stephen Fry gives us some insights into what to expect from Mythos: A Trilogy this August.
The 2021 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here 🎉
Welcome back to live performance, welcome back to your Festival. Discover our artists & performances now: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
Tickets on sale from 11 June & we’ll see you live, outdoors & online this August!
The 2021 Edinburgh International Festival
The 2021 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here! Welcome back to live performance, Welcome back to your Festival.
The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here - join the world's greatest artists this August. #edintfest
Explore the programme now: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival
The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here - join the world's greatest artists this August. #edintfest
Explore the programme now: http://eif.buzz/2naxNr4
On 8 August, we celebrate what would have been the opening weekend of the 2020 festival season. A specially commissioned film featuring new work from artists across genres airs on our YouTube channel, Facebook Live and BBC Scotland at 9.30pm.
My Light Shines On: Celebrating Edinburgh's enduring festival spirit
My Light Shines On is an act of optimism and solidarity: a series of world-class artistic interventions celebrating a spark that still burns bright.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, it has become clear that it will not be possible to present a Festival in 2020. We have taken the disappointing decision to cancel the 2020 Edinburgh International Festival. Read the full statement on our website. eif.buzz/3dLbrGT
Our board of trustees has asked for, and accepted the resignation of, Valery Gergiev as Honorary President of the Festival. Edinburgh is twinned with the city of Kyiv and this action is being taken in sympathy with, and support of, its citizens.
📢 Exciting news!📢 Cellist @ShekuKM will be making his #EdintFest debut performing with @TheCBSO on 17 Aug. The 2016 BBC Young Musician winner's album Inspiration is topping the charts. You also might have seen him perform at the Royal Wedding. Read more: eif.buzz/2LI2AIe
Thanks for watching My Light Shines On, you can explore all films from the series now: eif.buzz/3kBfsRQ
If you're in Edinburgh, now look to the skies as some of Edinburgh's famous festival venues and settings turn their lights back on in an awe-inspiring display.
ALT Beams of blue light shoot into the sky next to the Calton Hill Colosseum.
ALT Beams of blue light shine into the sky above the red lit Usher Hall.
ALT Beams of blue light shine into the sky from Edinburgh Castle.
We were delighted to welcome First Minister @NicolaSturgeon along to @leithacademy, our residency school, to tour the set of Muster Station: Leith, meet the cast and crew from @gridirontheatre and chat to some of the students involved!
Find out more: eif.buzz/3uvY1HQ
ALT First Minister Nicola Sturgeon poses for a selfie with a young student at Leith Academy.
ALT Nicola Sturgeon walks into Leith Academy across a bridge followed by staff and students dressed as Front of House guardians wearing white reflective jackets.
ALT Nicola Sturgeon poses in front of Edinburgh International Festival 75th pop-up banners, surrounded by students from Leith Academy wearing yellow and blue t-shirts as part of the residency partnership.
The 2022 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here 🎉
We celebrate 75 years of #EdIntFest this August with world premieres, bold collaborations & world-class artists in Edinburgh's iconic theatres & concert halls.
Discover the programme now: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
The 2022 Edinburgh International Festival
From 5-28 August 2022, Edinburgh International Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary, and 75 years of bringing world cultures together, with a programme spanning continents, generations and genres.
The stages are going up, our artists are beginning to arrive and we're so excited to be bringing back live performances to Edinburgh and the world.
The 2021 Edinburgh International Festival is almost here 🎉
ALT A covered structure sits on top of a grassy field underneath a blue sky.
ALT A metal structure is being put up by a tall yellow crane in a quad surrounded by buildings.
ALT A covered structure sits on top of a grassy field underneath a blue sky. A blue cherry picker sits just inside.
Missed last night's stream of My Light Shines On or just want to relive it all over again?
Head to our YouTube to watch and explore all films from the series now ➡️ eif.buzz/33F2JaA
Our home The Hub has become one of the first sites to host an exhibit as part of the Scotland-wide #BlackLivesMatter Mural Trail led by previous #edintfest Programme Associate Wezi Mhura.
Head to Castlehill to see photographer Jamal Yussuff-Adelakun's contribution to the trail.
ALT Photographer Jamal Yussuff-Adelakun crouches in front of his photographs displayed on the railings outside The Hub in Edinburgh.
ALT Three images are displayed on the railings outside a brick building. The three photos depict a girl covering her mouth with her hands in different ways.
ALT A man and his daughter tie yellow ribbons on a black railing fence.
Welcome to 2019 #edintfest, three weeks of performances by some of the world's greatest artists, performed in Edinburgh's most striking theatres & concert halls. Enjoy the best of music, theatre & dance from across the globe against the backdrop of Scotland's historic capital.
The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival
The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here - join the world's greatest artists this August. #edintfest
Explore the programme now: http://eif.buzz/2naxNr4
In 2023, Edinburgh International Festival asks: Where do we go from here?
Join us in August as Director @NickyBenedetti brings together the boldest individuals and collectives from the worlds of dance, music, opera and theatre.
Explore the programme now: eif.buzz/3H92bgc
The 2023 Edinburgh International Festival | Where do we go from here?
Explore the 2023 Edinburgh International Festival programme! Taking place 4–27 August, join us for bold collaborations and extraordinary performances in Edinburgh's iconic theatres and concert halls.
📢 NEWS: Sir Ian McKellen will return to the International Festival with a new solo show celebrating his 80th birthday. Read more: eif.buzz/2PioJSS#edintfest
We'd like to extend a warm welcome to the Eurovision #YoungMusicians 2018 participants, who arrived in Edinburgh yesterday and met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today. These talented young people will compete this weekend to play in the competition finals on 23 August #YOYP2018
👀 A first look at Enda Walsh's Medicine from @LandmarkIreland and @GalwayIntArts as the cast and creatives start rehearsals for the world premiere at #EdIntFest.
Who's heading to @traversetheatre to see it this August?
📷 Sarah Weal
ALT Domhnall Gleeson smiles at the camera while holding a script.
ALT Enda Walsh sits at a table while reading a script, his hand in the air.
ALT A woman and a man sit next to each other. The woman looks towards the man with a concerned look on her face while the man looks down at the ground.
ALT A man sits being a drum kit playing in a rehearsal room.
This weekend would have been the opening of Edinburgh's festival season. Explore how #edintfest, @edfringe, @edbookfest, @EdArtFest & @EdinburghTattoo are celebrating the festival city & watch our specially commissioned film on YouTube, Facebook & @BBCScotland tomorrow at 9.30pm.
My Light Shines On: A Celebration of the Festival City | Trailer
The lights of the Festival City burn bright in a spectacular celebration of artists, audiences and Edinburgh’s enduring spirit.
We spoke to @ShekuKM and @IsataKM about growing up with classical music and the exciting programme of pieces you'll hear from them this August.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason & Isata Kanneh-Mason | 2019 International Festival
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his older sister, pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason talk about growing up with classical music & the inspiring atmosphere of events like the International Festival.
How does all all that opera, theatre, dance and music squeeze into a box like this?! 🤔 We can't wait to share the 2018 #EdintFest programme with you this Wednesday from 6.30pm 🎉
We're delighted to announce the appointment of Francesca Hegyi OBE as the incoming Executive Director of the International Festival.
Having previously studied and worked in Edinburgh, @franhegyi returns to the city to join #EdintFest in Feb 2019. More: eif.buzz/2OdttU6
Happy launch day! We can't wait to share the 2018 Edinburgh International Festival programme with you tonight from 6.30pm. Join us then! eif.co.uk#EdintFest
We welcome the budget statement from the Scottish Government signalling the value it places on culture & the arts. Culture is the beating heart of Scotland & this budget offers us all hope for a more stable, positive future.
In a year like no other, we welcomed live performance back to Edinburgh, with #EdIntFest shows in bespoke outdoor venues and iconic theatres across the city.
Thank you for helping us create another magical Festival. Join us again next year from 5-29 August 2022!
This was the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival
In 2021, the International Festival celebrated the return of live performance to Edinburgh, following 170 live performances in bespoke outdoor venues and iconic theatres across the city.
With one last firework we bring the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival to a stunning conclusion. Here are just some of the highlights we enjoyed with our amazing artists and audiences this year. Join us next year 7-31 August 2020 #edintfest
This was the 2019 International Festival
In 2019 the Edinburgh International Festival celebrated European collaboration and deep connection to city of Edinburgh. Join us again next year from 7-31 August 2020. #edintfest
The stages are set, our artists have arrived and the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival is officially here 🎉
Welcome back to live performance, welcome back to your Festival. Join us live, outdoors and online this #EdIntFest: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
The 2021 Edinburgh International Festival is here!
The stages are set, our artists have arrived and the 2021 Edinburgh International Festival is officially here.
Poetry titan @SaulWilliams performs their work 'A Toast To All The People' in James Court courtyard, hidden behind Edinburgh's Royal Mile as part of our A Toast to the People spoken word series.
A Toast to the People: Saul Williams | 2021 International Festival
Saul Williams performs their work 'A Toast To All The People' in James Court courtyard, hidden behind Edinburgh's Royal Mile as part of our A Toast to the People spoken word series.
TONIGHT! We’re kicking things off a little early down at the @traversetheatre with the first preview of Enda Walsh’s new play Medicine from @LandmarkIreland & @GalwayIntArts.
Take a look at the brilliant cast outside the theatre yesterday. Best of luck!
📷 Jess Shurte
ALT A group of five people sit on the steps in front of the Usher Hall while all looking towards and smiling at the camera.
ALT A group of five people sit and stand on the steps in front of the Traverse Theatre while all looking towards and smiling at the camera.
In a year when Edinburgh’s Festival stages must remain empty for the first time in 73 years, the International Festival is building outdoor stages to bring theatricality into schools and to support pupils to play, perform and learn outdoors.
eif.buzz/2YBZxJq
What an honour to host Sir Mark Elder's final performance with @the_halle 💐
"a ritual, one of celebration and gratitude, but also of sadness and farewell" - The Scotsman
📸 Maxime Ragni/ Edinburgh International Festival
We're just 4 weeks away from revealing our programme for 2019 so let's take a look back at the many wonderful moments from last year's #edintfest. What were your highlights?
This was the 2018 International Festival
In 2018 we welcomed all to Edinburgh and its International Festival to celebrate the best in arts and culture from all around the world. Join us again next year from 2-26 August 2019.
"Robert Burns has always fascinated me"
From @Alancumming and award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, Burn is a powerful new piece of dance theatre, premiering at the Festival this August, that takes an intimate look at the life of Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns.
ALT A man stands atop a hill wearing a long dark trench coat, a mountainous landscape in front of him.
“Tonight we salsa, we rave”
Kicking off our new digital programme, At Home in partnership with @abrdn_plc, watch Scottish indie rock duo @ArabStrapBand perform ‘The Turning of Our Bones’ from their new album As Days Get Dark at @LeithTheatre.
Arab Strap | At Home in partnership with abrdn
Arab Strap perform ‘The Turning of Our Bones’ at Leith Theatre, recorded for our digital programme At Home in partnership with abrdn.
On the closing night of Burn at @captheatres’ King’s Theatre, we were delighted to welcome First Minister @NicolaSturgeon and @USAmbUK for the Ambassador’s very first visit to Scotland! 🔥 🎭
Welcome All to the 2018 Edinburgh International Festival! We're so excited to share incredible theatre, dance, music and opera with you this August. Where are you coming from to join us? #EdintFest
🎺We had a record breaking 362 musicians on stage at Princes St Gardens yesterday! Today our Opening Fanfare celebrations continue, with more homegrown ensembles from 2pm. At 3pm the sounds of @GritOrchestra will fill the Gardens! eif.buzz/3NvQC4P
📸 Iain Masterton
Edinburgh's @NeuReekie bring us an all-star line-up that’s headed by Orange Juice frontman and songwriting royalty @EdwynCollins (with his band!) plus appearances from @lokiscottishrap, @Toidfish AND @vmcnulty67.
12 Aug at Edinburgh Park, tickets here 👉 eif.buzz/3wIAtiy
“It all starts with belief and trust. We led with this feeling in 2023, and we will deepen it in 2024.” @NickyBenedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival.
In 2024, the Edinburgh International Festival will explore 'Rituals that Unite Us'.
ALT A woman with long brown hair is smiling in a welcoming fashion with her hands together
ALT A side profile of a woman who is being embraced from behind by a person in medieval armour
ALT A woman in traditional Spanish dress is mid turn with a defiant look on her face
My Light Shines On is an act of optimism and solidarity: a series of world-class artistic interventions celebrating a spark that still burns bright.
Explore the programme at eif.co.uk
ALT A cellist plays on a dark stage while wearing a face mask.
One week until launch! 🎉
We're releasing our 2023 programme into the world next Monday - the first under new Festival Director @nickybenedetti. Excited doesn't even begin to cover it!
ALT A view of Edinburgh's Princes Street and West End from Calton Hill. Edinburgh Castle, The Balmoral Hotel and the Scott Monument loom large in a hazy skyline
Tonight @NickyBenedetti kicks off her Festival residency with the Benedetti Baroque Orchestra! There's even a few tickets left if you're quick: eif.buzz/2S0ZmHC
📷 @JessShurte
ALT Nicola Benedetti poses in front of a tram with a photo of her on it while holding a violin.
ALT Nicola Benedetti poses in a tram while holding a violin.
Audiences were completely blown away by @scottishballet’s Coppélia tonight and so were we 👏
Huge congratulations to @jess_and_morgs and the company on their first performance of this brilliant brand new production.
Catch it at #EdIntFest until 16 Aug.
📷 Andy Ross
ALT Two dancers perform together on stage. One has their hand around the others waist while holding her leg in the air as she extends her arms over head.
ALT A dancer in a skin-coloured robotic costume and a blunt short pink wig jumps with her legs wide and arms angled.
ALT A dancer wearing all black jumps in a split pose mid-air as four dancers stand behind him on stage.
Who's excited for @ASInvestmentsUK Opening Event: #FiveTelegrams tonight? We can guarantee it's going to be spectacular. Here's a few teaser photos for you... #EdintFest#YOYP2018
.@mogwaiband signed this beautifully monstrous poster last night at #LightontheShore with @Edinburgh_Gin Seaside. To celebrate their second concert at @LeithTheatre tonight as part of the International Festival, we're giving the poster away - RT to enter the draw! #EdintFest
📣 NEWS! 📣 Full programme of #LightOnTheShore with @Edinburgh_Gin Seaside is now live on our website! Explore the line-up of some of Scotland’s most innovative artists, curators and promoters: eif.buzz/2ImXr6p
Our Festival Director, @NickyBenedetti, will be gracing the airwaves soon as she makes her @BBCRadio3 presenting debut with a series exploring the origins and impact of the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland and further afield. Read more: eif.buzz/3TbsOre
And we're off 🎉
We're back with a bang to celebrate our 75th anniversary and have spent the last week going back into our venues, setting the stage for this year's Festival.
We could not be happier to be back in full swing and welcoming the world back to Edinburgh.
The 2022 Edinburgh International Festival is here!
On 8 Aug, we mark what would have been the opening weekend of the festival with a specially commissioned film presented by @KirstyWark & @sualee1. Tune into our YouTube, Facebook & @BBCScotland from 9.30pm to celebrate Edinburgh's enduring festival spirit. eif.buzz/3i7WQ9M
And that's a wrap! 💛
Bringing together audiences in all our favourite venues, uniting world-class performers on stage and rejoicing in the thrill of live performance, this was the International Festival at its very best.
Join us again next year from 4-27 August 2023.
This was the 2022 Edinburgh International Festival
Highlights from the 2022 Edinburgh International Festival as we celebrated 75 years of bringing world cultures together.
Aye, that was braw! The GRIT Orchestra performed Martyn Bennett’s ‘Bothy Culture’ tonight with so much vigour. The energy in the crowd was incredible! #EdintFest#LightontheShore
📷 @Ryan__Buchanan
"I will be committed to providing the deepest possible experience, through the greatest level of art, to the broadest possible audience. This is a time to be bold and creative."
@NickyBenedetti
Welcome to the next era of the International Festival.
eif.buzz/3Twql8d
The lights of the #FestivalCity burned bright this weekend in a spectacular celebration of artists, audiences & Edinburgh’s enduring spirit. Tonight is your last chance to see our lights dance over Edinburgh’s night skies. If you can’t see them in person, enjoy the display here.
My Light Shines On | Edinburgh International Festival
The lights of the Festival City burned bright this weekend in a spectacular celebration of artists, audiences and Edinburgh’s enduring spirit.
The Edinburgh International Festival is delighted to announce the winners of the Sir Ian McKellen Bursary, created in partnership with @SDTNtweets, as five bursaries are awarded to support students studying within the Performing Arts: eif.buzz/2U9tgGp
ALT Sir Ian McKellen stands in a line with five other people as they all smile to camera.
We’re back with gigs at @LeithTheatre this summer, bringing an incredible line-up of electronica, rap, folk, indie, techno and so much more.
PLUS a special appearance by @herbiehancock at @edinplayhouse too. Book now: eif.buzz/3iwql8J
ALT A gig poster showing the Edinburgh International Festival contemporary music line-up.
It's August already! Which means it's only 3 days, repeat, THREE DAYS until #EdintFest70 kicks off ^M
The 2017 International Festival is almost here!
Join us in Edinburgh on 4-28 August for the 2017 International Festival and let's celebrate together the 70th anniversary programme packed with extraordinary opera, theatre, dance and music.
Happy 80th birthday to @IanMcKellen!
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays from all the team here at the International Festival 🎂
ALT Sir Ian McKellen stands against a turquoise blue background wearing a matching-coloured t-shirt with 80 written on it. Gold confetti is falling from above.
Our four year Ring cycle came to an epic conclusion at #edintfest last night with Wagner's Götterdämmerung. Watch @HeldenMommy perform Brünnhilde's Immolation scene with Sir Andrew Davis and the @RSNO.
See the full version on our YouTube channel: eif.buzz/2zy6Kxv
Brünnhilde's Immolation Scene Götterdämmerung
Christine Goerke performs Brünnhilde's Immolation scene from Götterdämmerung with Sir Andrew Davis and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival. #edintfest
We are saddened by the news of the passing of Jessye Norman, one of the great sopranos who performed with us many times over the years. Here she is arriving in Edinburgh for her first International Festival performance in 1972. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
ALT Jessye Norman arriving in Edinburgh for her first International Festival performance in 1972.
👀 A first look at the specially constructed temporary pavilions we’ll be using across iconic city locations this August.
Designed especially for live performance, they will feature covered concert stages & socially distanced seating to create a beautiful setting for audiences.
ALT A computer generated image featuring socially distanced seating within one of our temporary outdoor pavilions.
ALT A view from outside our temporary pavilion looking in towards the seating and stage.
ALT A computer generated image of one of our outdoor temporary venues in Old College Quad.
'The @edfilmfest is an important cultural touchstone in our festival city, and we are pleased to be able to support its return.' – @franhegyi
We are thrilled that #EdFilmFest will be returning in a special one-year iteration hosted by #EdIntFest with @screenscots! 💛
Together with @screenscots and @edintfest, we’re delighted to announce that #edfilmfest will be returning for its 76th edition this summer, running from 18 – 23 Aug 23, in a special one-year iteration as part of the Edinburgh International Festival.
ALT The EIFF audience at the premiere of Nude Tuesday last year. Picture: Pako Mera
Yesterday, Sir Mark Elder and @the_halle took us on a journey through Mahler's iconic Fifth Symphony, as the audience reclined on beanbags. Our Inside Out series deconstructs the music and brings you closer to the sound.
📷 Andrew Perry/ Edinburgh International Festival
The season kicks off with fiddle player @DuncanWChisholm (dubbed ‘the new sound of traditional Scotland’) and friends @NapierHamish, @JarlathHendersn, @inneswatsomusic and James MacKintosh, with music inspired by Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and weather.
ALT A black and white photo of a man tilting his head back to the sky, a violin resting on his shoulder. Yellow and white graphics are overlaid on top with the words 'Edinburgh International Festival, Duncan Chisholm, 7 Aug 21.'
1 day to go!
It’s almost here! Are you ready for a Festival packed with classical and contemporary music, theatre, opera and more? The 2021 International Festival programme will be announced TOMORROW at 10am 🙌
ALT A person dressed all in black and wearing a radio pushes a bright yellow flight case. A graphic white outline of the number one is overlaid over the image.
🚨 NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED
That’s right, we’ve added a new show from @Damonalbarn on 24 August at 5pm as part of our line-up live at Edinburgh Park this summer. Tickets on sale now. eif.buzz/3xTYRio
Wow, what a run! Thank you to all who joined us in our digital audience for @HanLavery’s Lament for Sheku Bayoh and huge congratulations to the cast, creatives and production teams and our colleagues at @NTSonline and @lyceumtheatre 👏
📷 @mihaelabodlovic
ALT The four cast members of Lament for Sheku Bayoh sit across a dark stage with strips lights scattered across it. The backdrop has a photo of a street sign stating ‘Hayfield Road’.