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A global celebration of exceptional performing arts 💛 Edinburgh International Festival is unlike anywhere else. It’s remarkable
It’s collaborative.

For three quarters of a century we’ve been bringing the world together for three weeks every year, playing host to remarkable performances by world-class artists in the city’s concert halls and theatres. We bring people and performers together to create and share rare expressions of life and emotion, which is as vitally important today as it was in 1947. From that seminal year in a post-war world, to the present day and its very different challenges, our programmes have been filled with global collaborations that promote cultural exchange between people of different backgrounds - a united celebration of togetherness. Where else could you see the very best dance, theatre, opera and music all in one weekend, performed to audiences from around the world, all connected through thrilling, real human emotion? Our 75th anniversary is a chance to celebrate our heritage but also to look forward. We have brought and will continue to bring cultures from every continent and corner to this special, global, and unique city; to create events that broaden our understanding of what we share as humans, celebrate our differences, and tackle our global challenges together. It’s emotional. It’s enlightening. It’s unmissable. Celebrating 75 years of bringing world cultures together
Edinburgh International Festival

25/10/2026

Opera from 1947, 2026, and everything in between. Happy International Opera Day 🎭

Time to look back across the years at some of the incredible companies, musicians and creatives who have brought passion, drama, heartbreak and high notes across the stages in Edinburgh.

📅 1947 📅 The first ever opera performed at the inaugural festival in 1947 was Verdi's Macbeth, presented by Glyndebourne.

📅 2026 📅 The most recent opera, The Galloping Cure, presented by Scottish Opera, has been nominated for an International Opera Award and described by as "One of the greatest operas of the century" by The Times ★★★★★

Scroll to see everything in between featuring Maria Callas, Kathleen Ferrier and so much more. WE LOVE OPERA !!

📸
1. 1947 Glyndebourne Verdi's Macbeth
2. 2026 Scottish Opera The Galloping Cure © Andrew Perry/Edinburgh International Festival
3. 1957 Maria Callas
4. 1949 Bruno Walter and Kathleen Ferrier © Norward Inglis
5. 2005 Opéra de Tours - Grand Théâtre L'Amour masqué © Douglas Robertson
6. 2005 Donald Runnicles with San Francisco Opera © San Francisco Opera/Ken Friedman
7. 2018 Opéra de Lyon Rossini's La Cenerentola
8. 2022 Garsington Opera Rusalka © Andrew Perry/Edinburgh International Festival
9. 2025 Circa Contemporary Circus and Opera Australia Orpheus and Eurydice © Colin Cook

22/10/2026

What a VIBE 🕺
Once again, the Aga Khan Music Programme brought The Hub to life with musicians from across the world.

In this encore performance of Beyond Tradition, Senny Camara, Farah Kaddour and Yasamin Shahhosseini reimagine a traditional Mandinka song from Senegal, bringing together musical traditions from Senegal, Lebanon and Iran. Centered on the refrain, “All you need is equality”, it's a celebration of connection, collaboration and shared humanity.

Watch the full performance on our YouTube channel 🔗 Link in comments.

20/10/2026

Absolutely infectious music from and , with .wav and . Artists from all over the world, all playing the same tune, and you can’t watch it without dancing. 💃

This is what we love about music, it brings people together.

Watch the full session on our YouTube 🔗 Link in bio. YouTube 🔗 Link in bio.

17/10/2026

'Every single stage actor in the world wants to be here' - Wagner Moura, you're making us blush 😊

Were you one of the lucky audience members that got to share this stage with the Oscar-nominated actor?

16/10/2026

Between powerful choral performances and intimate chamber music, thought-provoking music theatre and wonderful community events, August was filled with unforgettable moments The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh ☀️

We explored beauty and darkness in Death of Gesualdo, where The Gesualdo Six and director Bill Barclay brought the infamous Renaissance composer’s story to life.

There were outstanding chamber performances from the Kleio String Quartet, joined by Sheku Kanneh-Mason and 小曽根真 Makoto Ozone for Schubert and Bartók, while the Venice Baroque Orchestra and Andrea Marcon celebrated the brilliance and virtuosity of Vivaldi and his contemporaries.

The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers returned with a programme rich in spirituals, hymns and choral favourites, and our Dementia-Friendly Concerts brought people together through jazz, conversation, tea and cake.

We also paid tribute to the late Alfred Brendel, as Steven Osborne - Pianist, Paul Lewis and Pierre-Laurent Aimard celebrated the pianist's remarkable legacy through music by composers he loved 🎹 ❤️

📸 1,2,3,4,5 © Tommy Ga-Ken Wan, 6 ©Julie Broadfoot, 7 © Andrew Perry/Edinburgh International Festival

13/10/2026

Warning ⚠️ this video is electrifying⚡

Before they wowed us with their blistering blend of live instrumentation and electronic music, corto.alto and his band treated us to a performance of THIEF, now available for your listening pleasure.

06/10/2026

From the stalls to the stage 🎶

An exclusive music session from Sean Shibe, Classical Guitarist's Festival debut year, after regularly attending as an audience member.

If you want to see his full performance of Thomas Adès' Barcarolle from Forgotten Dances, it's live now on our YouTube channel 🔗 Link in the comments.

05/10/2026

The King’s Theatre opened its doors to Festival audiences this year following a stunning refurbishment.

With thought-provoking discussions, an emotional five-hour epic, a circus and the bold world of Dan Daw’s EXXY, the theatre welcomed an extraordinary range of artists, performances and emotions.

📸
Angels In America ©Jess Shurte/Edinburgh International Festival
Clown Show © Jess Shurte/Edinburgh International Festival
EXXY © Andrew Perry/Edinburgh International Festival Daw Creative Projects
The Global Ideas Stage © Andrew Perry/Edinburgh International Festival Lewis

04/10/2026

Phew 😅 thought there was no audience for a second.

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