See you 7-30 August 2026. A global celebration of exceptional performing arts 💛

Edinburgh
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🔗
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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The 2019 Edinburgh International Festival programme is here - join the world's greatest artists this August. #edintfest Explore the programme now: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
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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.
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The 2018 International Festival programme is now live! Head on over to our website to see what's in store... #EdintFest
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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
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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.
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Today we're delighted to share a taste of what's to come at the 2017 #EdintFest. Discover the programme here: eif.buzz/2niME1K
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Enjoy this clip of @maofujita_piano playing Mozart's Fantasia in D Minor before his @queens_hall recital last Friday #EdIntFest 💛
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📢 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
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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.
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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
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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
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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 🎉
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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
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Morning! Welcome to the 2017 Edinburgh International Festival. We can't WAIT to celebrate our 70th anniversary with you all. #EdintFest70 ^N
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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.
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And that's the 2017 Edinburgh International Festival come to an end. Thank you for celebrating our 70th anniversary in style! #EdintFest ^N
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.@maofujita_piano is about to take the stage @queens_hall 🎹 💛
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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.
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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
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📢 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
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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
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👀 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
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It's almost here! The 2019 #edintfest programme will be announced tomorrow at 10am.
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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.
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A taste of what's to come at the 2016 #EdintFest Feat: @Alancumming @MeowTopia @marinalsop & more... ^N
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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.
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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 🎉
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Some pics from tonight's Standard Life Opening Event: #DeepTime ^N
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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
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Who's ready for an August full of creativity, power and joy in music, theatre, opera and dance? 💛 Explore the 2024 programme now eif.buzz/4a66wwJ
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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
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Get to know @matthewherbert @ConchitaWurst & more artists in New European Songbook concerts line-up eif.buzz/2vjPMSt #Spiritof47 ^M
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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.
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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!
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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?
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We welcomed the world and painted the town yellow. Thank you for a wonderful August. #EdintFest #WelcomeWorld ^N amp.twimg.com/v/7b731e2a-7d4…
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"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.
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Congratulations to Scottish violinist @NickyBenedetti who has been awarded the Queen’s Medal for Music! 🎉 ^E
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The sun's coming out at @TynecastlePark_ ready for the @ASInvestmentsUK Opening Event: @LAPhil at Tynecastle this evening! Not long to go now ☀️
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“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.
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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! 🔥 🎭
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Seriously #Edinburgh, if you could keep this up for another month and a half, that'd be great ;) #EdintFest ^E
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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
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🎺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
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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
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“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'.
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Triple congrats to @ZinnieH who's just received #HeraldAngels award for #Oresteia #Rhinoceros & #MeetMeAtDawn at #EdintFest 👏👏👏 ^M
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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
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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!
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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
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The 2023 Edinburgh International Festival Opening Weekend was a celebration of community!
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A peek at what's to come at @StandardLifeplc Opening Event #EdinBloom. Free from 10.30pm on 4 & 5 Aug! More info: eif.buzz/2tbONTL ^N
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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
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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
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.@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
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A few photos taken in the wee small hours of #EdinBloom. Come along and see it in person for free on 4 & 5 Aug! eif.buzz/2tbONTL ^N
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📣 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
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But Edinburgh is a mad god's dream Fitful and dark, Unseizable in Leith And wildered by the Forth Hugh MacDiarmid #NationalPoetryDay ^E
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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
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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.
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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
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Watch a little snippet of the incredible @sigurros last night at the International Festival. Stunning. #EdintFest ^N amp.twimg.com/v/326cb178-14f…
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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.
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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
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"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
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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.
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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
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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
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It's August already! Which means it's only 3 days, repeat, THREE DAYS until #EdintFest70 kicks off ^M
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Only 2 more days until #edintfest kicks off for 2019! The dancers from @scottishballet's The Crucible are ready, are you? 📷 Ryan Buchanan
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Dive into the freshly launched 2018 #EdintFest programme over on our website: eif.buzz/2naxNr4
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Happy 80th birthday to @IanMcKellen! Wishing you the happiest of birthdays from all the team here at the International Festival 🎂
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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
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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.
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Happy #StAndrewsDay from #EdintFest to everyone in Scotland and all Scots around the world 👋 How are you celebrating today? #GlobalStAndrews ^M
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A taste of what's to come at the @standardlifeplc Opening Event #EdinBloom TONIGHT! A celebration of the #FestivalCity. Join us! ^N
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👀 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.
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Thank you to everyone that came along tonight. We hope you enjoyed it! Full length video to follow asap! #DeepTime ^N
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'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.
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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
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This morning @NickyBenedetti with @AAMorchestra and @richardegarr kicked off the #EdintFest morning concerts series at @queens_hall. Such a wonderful way to start your day! 🎻 📷 @mihaelabodlovic
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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.
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The preview of @MeowTopia's Little Mermaid is about to begin! Let us know if you're joining her on her voyage tonight #EdintFest ^M
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Heading to @StandardLifeplc Opening Event #EdinBloom tonight? Find out all you need to know here: eif.buzz/2tJPSPD #EdintFest70 🌺 ^E
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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 🙌
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🚨 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
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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
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Only 💯 days left until the 2017 #EdintFest begins! Browse the full programme online: eif.buzz/2niME1K ^M
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