Explore Edinburgh’s Vibrant Summer Festivals

It’s the biggest arts fest on the planet, in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Throughout summer, world-class music, theatre, comedy, dance, cabaret, and art descend on hundreds of venues around Edinburgh, ranging from grand concert halls and churches to public toilets and underground caves.

However, negotiating Edinburgh in August can be as tricky as traversing the Royal Mile without taking a flyer from a Fringe performer. Therefore, here’s our guide to the best of the many festivals that comprise the city’s summer season.

Edinburgh International Festival

The Edinburgh International Festival is the granddaddy of them all: a high-class and grown-up behemoth that showcases the crème de la crème from the traditional and contemporary worlds of opera, music, theatre, and dance. Highlights this year include:

• The Secret River by the Sydney Theatre Company;
• Rite of Spring, a visually enthralling dance reinterpretation of Stravinsky’s masterpiece;
• Peter Gynt, a raucous reboot of Ibsen’s epic play;
• Connan Mockasin, the Kiwi multi-instrumentalist performs at Leith Theatre;
• Hear Word! Naija Woman Talk True, featuring ten of Nigeria’s biggest stars sharing powerful stories.

Tickets for the aforementioned shows range from £10-38, but should be secured in advance, although there are occasionally last-minute seats available. The programme may seem intimidating; however, there is something for everyone at this peerless festival.

Dates: 2-26 August

Edinburgh Fringe

Sprawling, diverse, non-curated, and fabulously bonkers, the Fringe is known as ‘the largest show on Earth’. The 2019 programme features thousands of shows, including nearly as many premieres, and consistently grows every year. The Assembly, Underbelly, the Pleasance, and Gilded Balloon (the Big Four) offer strong programmes across comedy, theatre, dance, circus, cabaret, and more; equally popular venues include Summerhall and Traverse Theatre. Moreover, take a risk to try a free show (hundreds available) or follow a last-minute recommendation from a performer on the Royal Mile; the occasional mishaps are part of the Fringe experience.

Dates: 2-26 August

Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival

Gathered from all over the globe, the finest jazz and blues players converge in Edinburgh to perform at various venues over 10 days. This festival features an eclectic range of genres including boogie-woogie, blues-rock, old-style and modern jazz, swing, and soul. Expect an array of listening experiences, from lively gigs in intimate settings to relaxed open-air concerts.

Dates: 12-21 July

Edinburgh Art Festival

In a short period, this event has become the largest annual festival of visual arts in the UK. Showcasing the works of over 200 artists at numerous venues across the city—from major galleries to small artist-run spaces—this ambitious festival offers many free exhibitions and events. In addition to presenting renowned international and local artists, the festival also introduces emerging talents in unique locations, offering programmed evening tours, artist talks, and live performances. Showings of note in recent years include Victoria Crow: 50 Years of Painting at the City Art Centre, Bridget Riley at the National Galleries of Scotland, and Grayson Perry: Julie Cope’s Grand Tour at Dovecot Studios.

Dates: 25 July–25 August

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

An institution that consistently sells out every year, the Tattoo is a highlight of the Festival City, celebrated for its iconic and spectacular performances. Against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, nearly 1000 musicians, pipers, drummers, singers, and dancers showcase their military pageantry in front of a loyal audience of 220,000 over three weeks. The theme of this year’s performance is ‘Kaleidoscope’, which explores colour, music, and light, culminating in powerful battle tunes, dramatic displays, and a traditional emotional close with fireworks and a mass chorus of Auld Lang Syne while jets fly overhead. It’s bold, brash, quintessentially Scottish—and yes, there’s a good chance of rain!

Dates: 2-24 August

Edinburgh International Film Festival

This film fest is world-renowned and has been taking place since 1947, the year of the inaugural Edinburgh Festival. Film critic Mark Kermode describes it as ‘like Cannes – but civilised’. It encompasses both independent cinemas and multiplexes across the city, featuring an exceptional line-up of indie films, international cinema, A-list stars, mainstream premieres, and an excellent programme of shorts. Notable films premiered in recent years include A Most Wanted Man, Brave, The Hurt Locker, and Ratatouille.

Dates: 19-30 June