A 35-year-old woman from Glenrothes has been sentenced to an order of lifelong restriction and jailed for a minimum of six years for the attempted murder of a child.
Laura Docherty repeatedly administered medication to a child, none of which had been prescribed for them and were not suitable for children. As a result, the child suffered bouts of sickness and was hospitalised on a number of occasions.
These offences occurred over a period of a year from 2022 to 2023.
Concerns were raised by medical staff in February 2023 and an investigation was launched. In May 2023, officers arrested and charged Laura Docherty in connection with attempted murder.
She was found guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh in December, 2025, and sentenced to an order of lifelong restriction with a minimum of six years in prison at the same court today – Monday, 17 August, 2026.
Detective Constable Gemma Warriner said: “This was prolonged and abhorrent abuse of a young child which resulted in numerous stays in hospital. Throughout the investigation, Docherty took no responsibility for her actions and repeatedly blamed others.
“Cases where children are subjected to harm can often be difficult to deal with, however, we are committed to investigating such incidents fully and ensuring those responsible are held accountable.
“I hope today’s sentence brings some comfort to the family.”
If anyone has concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, please contact Police Scotland on 101 or partner agencies. Reporting concerns can help us protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Edinburgh University Students’ Association will host a line-up of incredible food vendors across central venues this August in collaboration with Gilded Balloon and Pleasance Theatre Trust.
With a strong focus on supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of Scotland’s local food scene and suppliers, festival-goers will be spoilt for choice at the city’s most iconic Fringe venues.
Pleasance Courtyard
Smash & Stack, Total Meltdown, Pizza Geeks, Happy Dumplings, Mint, Mimi’s Bakehouse, Backstage Bar & Bistro
The Pleasance Courtyard, an original Fringe venue since the event’s first year – 1947, is one of the most popular social areas for performers and punters alike. Come rain or shine, the Courtyard offers that beer garden buzz, with plenty of covered seating.
Smash & Stack, Edinburgh’s gourmet burger stall, are cooking up a range of dishes, from its ‘Moving Mountains’ vegan burger to its beef truffle and parmesan burger. Find Smash & Stack in the Front Courtyard.
For pure indulgence, head to local legends Total Meltdown to try their grilled cheese sandwiches oozing with cheddar and delicious fillings, including kimchi, nduja and pastrami. Vegans will be spoilt for choice too, with seven options available on the menu.
Cheese enthusiasts can also get their fix at Pizza Geeks who have been serving Neapolitan-style sourdough pizzas with a slice of geek in Edinburgh since 2016.
Happy Dumplings are on a mission to bring their famous family recipes from restaurants in China to Scotland. Packed with explosive flavour, dumpling options include prawn, pork, beef or chicken.
Mint will be serving up their signature wraps, perfectly balancing texture and taste through their unique combination of smoked paprika, fresh tzatziki and tangy pickled cabbage. Their famous Za’atar chicken or falafel and humous wraps are on the menu.
And for a sweet treat, Mimi’s Bakehouse – one of Edinburgh’s best-loved bakeries – are back with their award-winning cakes, scones and coffee, alongside hot filled rolls.
Drink amongst the stars at our various bars:
• Arthur’s Bar – a relaxed bar area tucked away behind the Pleasance Courtyard looking out to Arthur’s Seat.
• Cragg’s Bar – located under the famous yellow stretch tent – the perfect spot for a drink and a bite.
• Cabaret Bar – combining a bar and performance space inside the main Pleasance building, the Cabaret Bar has previously attracted the likes comedians such as Frank Skinner, Rich Hall and Jenny Éclair. The bar is operated by Backstage Bar and Bistro serving teas, coffee and hearty food.
Teviot
The Loft Bar, Union Social, Gallery Cafe, Union Social Garden, Relics Coffee Co.
Teviot is back on the Fringe scene, following its extensive refurbishment. Crowned ‘Best Night Out’ at the 2026 Scottish Entertainment and Hospitality Awards, Teviot is the world’s oldest purpose-built students’ union and has an array of dining spaces for visitors to refuel in between Fringe shows.
Inside Teviot you’ll find the spacious Union Social serving local craft beer by the award winning Stewart Brewing. On sunny days, head to the Loft Bar’s roof terrace to escape from the bustling crowds.
Outside, Union Social Garden is your classic beer garden, with beach hut booths and picnic benches. Alongside the bar, Relics Coffee Co. will pop up at Union Social Garden, offering speciality brews and espresso martinis for a day-to-night caffeine hit.
On Friday and Saturday nights, you’ll be able to pair your beverage of choice along with live music as DJ sets take over Union Social Garden – there’s no need to purchase a ticket, just rock up and enjoy!
Charles Street Lane
Mac Love, Greek Street Food, Churros Truck
Outside Teviot is Charles Street Lane. This Fringe hotspot is where to find an array of street food staples, including Mac Love with their popular mac ‘n’ cheese, Greek Street Food offering chicken and halloumi gyros, and Churros Truck for Spanish fried doughnuts with a range of dipping sauces.
Pleasance Dome & Plaza
The Dome Bar, Box Bar, Bar & Kitchen, Chicken & Fries
The Dome Bar is the main bar in the Pleasance Dome, offering a wide selection of draught, bottles, spirits and hot food. Situated in the lower Dome is the Box Bar complete with
decked seating, giving the perfect summer festival feeling. If you fancy a bite, you can also find the Bar & Kitchen serving up tasty hot dogs, sides and drinks – perfect for a proper pit stop between shows.
Outside the Pleasance Dome on Pleasance Plaza (named as one of the Fringe’s top places to be) you can find Chicken & Fries with a delicious selection of chicken options.
Drinks across venues
A broad selection of drinks is available across the venues — Madri, Coors, Alpacalypse Session IPA, Staropramen, Aspall Cyder, Caffrey’s Black Stout and Blue Moon to name a few. In addition, you will find Alcohol 0% options, Rekorderlig Ciders, NICE Wine, Whitley Neill Gin, Fever-Tree soft drinks and much more.
We also have some “Grab and Go” canned items that will ensure you can quickly get served, even while you wait in your queue for the show, so refreshments are never far away.
theSpaceUK is gearing up for a second week of Fringe, offering a hundred-plus shows ranging from theatre to cabaret to musicals
After an incredible opening week of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, we are thrilled to be going into week 2. Here’s just a taste of the exciting new shows that you can catch in Week 2 at theSpaceUK …
(theSpace @ on the Mile, 17-29 August) Hot off the tracks from a 5-star debut, this hilarious original musical comedy will take you on the rollercoaster that is love, loss and being a constant disappointment to your parents.
A bold new historical musical set in 1908 Britain, charting the rise of the suffragette movement. This urgent tribute confronts the past to ignite the present.
Delight in all the melodrama we know and love, with some added panto pizzazz. A devious trio of traitors, a Romeo-and-Juliet love story, and a predictable parody (or two); this series will be unlike any other.
Acclaimed New Zealand theatre company’s international premiere of this powerful, original folk musical shedding new light on an ancient tale. Greek myth blended with 1940s Hollywood aesthetic through a groundbreaking live-looping musical landscape.
A sapphic musical following best friends Celine and Margot, who teeter between love and fear. When life, lovers and timing pull them apart, the songs they leave unsung begin to tell the truth.
Join Durham University’s award-winning barbershop choir for an a capella concert full of rich harmony arrangements of your favourite numbers! Featuring musical theatre, jazz, Disney and classic barbershop, there’s something for everyone!
This show mines the depth of human identity while deftly exploring all sides. Who am I kidding? This show is just me proving how Black I am. Because I am so Black.
The University of York Dead Ducks are invited to a remote stately home by a former colleague. As punchlines and bodies pile up, the choice is simple: commit to the bit or die trying.
Merlesque is a tale about a tail. A policy expert uprooted by America’s 2024 presidential election, Merlesque is the true story of how a statistician turned into a birthday party mermaid.
Who was the real Uncle Tom? This new Canadian play dramatises the journey of Josiah Henson from the depths of slavery to the heights of freedom. One actor, 36 characters. No set. No props. Just your imagination.
Through imagined conversations with a therapist, Keir Starmer grapples with the transformation from lawyer to national leader – ‘Oh God, you know I don’t do this self-analysis thing very well.’
Strangers, eight hours, one connection they can’t quite explain. Following two queer women through the only night they’ll spend together, it might mean everything – or nothing at all. Is eight hours long enough to fall in love?
Six employees. One Tuesday in the office. £60,000 stolen. To solve the mystery, the boss asks each of his employees to walk him through their day, resulting in absurd recreations and ridiculous revelations.
A university student poses nude at a life drawing class for all the wrong reasons. A funny, devastating solo play about desire, fantasy and the seductive idea that being seen is the same as being empowered.
Fiadh and Nolan were your normal uni students until one murderous night changes everything. Come join these best friends in hiding as they figure out their next move. Will they betray one another or accept defeat?
Davie, newly released from prison, moves in with his policeman-hopeful brother, Freddie, and his fiancee Laura, an overworked NHS nurse. Past mistakes resurface and clashing beliefs expose deep family fractures in austerity-hit Scotland.
Five internet addicts visit The Retreat in search of an easy life fix, hoping cucumber peels and tst exercises can buy back their happiness and spontaneity. A new satirical comedy about wellness, digital connection, and touching grass.
When a hapless husband accidentally steps on a bee that his wife was saving, it seems their marriage finally hits rock bottom. But when he rescues an injured pigeon, he discovers a way to restore their former passion.
Nocturnal Is The New Sexy follows a couple fractured by NHS night shifts, post-it notes and modern labour, blending ensemble movement and dark humour to expose love, exhaustion and the cost of being seen.
A camp workplace comedy set in a celestial bureaucracy where pop divas are treated as religious figures. Madness ensues when a rogue employee accidentally merges the religions of three modern pop icons.
Calton Hill was busy with visitors and locals gathering to watch the partial solar eclipse. Our free eclipse glasses were snapped up within just 10 minutes, while TV crews were also on hand, including an interview with our President.
Initially, it looked as though the clouds might spoil the show. But they repeatedly parted in the run-up to maximum, giving us a series of fantastic glimpses as the Moon steadily moved across the Sun.
As we approached 91% coverage, the excitement grew. Clouds continued to roll across the sky, but once again they opened up at just the right moments. As maximum eclipse approached, cheers went up from the crowd as the clouds parted, giving everyone a great view of the Sun at its most obscured.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to our Astronomical Society of Edinburgh volunteers, and to everyone who helped make the event possible.
Gala night explores this year’s theme Changing Your Mind
The 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival opened last night with a special Opening Gala exploring this year’s theme, Changing Your Mind, which explores how ideas, beliefs and identities shift, and what it takes to change them.
Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan, opened the Book Festival, welcoming guests to more than two weeks of public events, conversations and cultural exchange in Edinburgh.
Màiri McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic said:“As the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature, Edinburgh has long demonstrated the importance the city places on ideas, creativity and international exchange. The Book Festival is one of the clearest expressions of that ambition.
“The Scottish Government is delighted to be supporting, and enhancing, the Book Festival’s ambitions through Creative Scotland’s Multi Year Funding programme, Expo Funding and the Expanded Festivals Fund.
“We are especially excited to be working closely with the festival to support the Global Ink industry programme – bringing literary festival leaders from four continents to Scotland’s capital for a three-day international forum.
“With this year’s Book Festival theme a call to us all, I am delighted to open a programme that puts curiosity and open-mindedness at its heart.”
The gala, hosted by Jenny Niven, CEO and Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, featured newly commissioned writing, music and reflection from acclaimed writers including Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Graeme Armstrong, Anne Enright, Gavin Francis, Naomi Ishiguro and Jackie Kay, with original music from Aidan O’Rourke and Harben Kay.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said:“Changing Your Mind isn’t just this year’s theme, it’s an invitation.
“Every one of these writers has, in their own way, made a case for staying curious and willing to be moved by a story, an argument, or a piece of music. That’s what tonight was about, and it’s what the next two weeks hold for our audiences.”
Running from 15 – 30 August, this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival features more than 600 events with writers from 41 countries, creating one of the world’s most international gatherings of books, ideas and stories.
Through the theme Changing Your Mind, audiences will be invited to engage with new perspectives, challenge assumptions and take part in conversations that matter, while also getting a chance to hear their favourite authors live on stage.
The RAF Benevolent Fund is proud to continue its partnership with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2026, as the world-renowned event celebrates its RAF Year of Showcase and marks a decade of support for the RAF’s longest-standing charity.
This year’s Tattoo, A Call to Gather, taking place from 7-29 August 2026 will bring together military musicians, performers and cultural acts from across the globe in an immersive spectacle on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade.
As part of the celebrations, the RAF Benevolent Fund will be prominently featured throughout the month, with special projections during the event helping to raise awareness of the Fund’s vital services and the support it provides to members of the RAF Family.
The partnership between the RAF Benevolent Fund and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has now reached its 10-year milestone, with the Tattoo having donated more than £1.5 million to the Fund. Donations to the Fund are raised through the event’s ticket sales and contribute to The Edinburgh Tattoo’s charitable mission of supporting military welfare and wider cultural causes across Scotland and the UK.
Previous donations have enabled the RAF Benevolent Fund to provide vital welfare services, from essential home adaptations to financial assistance during illness, bereavement and unemployment, helping RAF personnel, veterans and their families when they need it most.
Gavin Davey, Area Director (Scotland, Northern Ireland and North East England) at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said:“We are incredibly proud to be part of this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the RAF Year of Showcase.
As we celebrate 10 years of partnership, we are hugely grateful for the Tattoo’s continued support, which has raised more than £1.5 million for the RAF Benevolent Fund through ticket sales. The Tattoo’s global platform not only helps raise awareness of our services but also makes a lasting difference to the lives of serving RAF personnel, veterans and their families.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and we’re incredibly proud to see its success translated into tangible support for charitable partners like the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
“Our mission has always been to use the platform of the Tattoo to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We’re delighted to continue this partnership and help to support the vital welfare work across Scotland for members of the RAF Family.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s A Call to Gather runs from 7-29 August 2026. Tickets can be purchased here.
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional and practical assistance to serving and former RAF personnel and their families, from welfare breaks and grants to mental wellbeing support, youth programmes and more.
The Besties awards celebrating the best across Edinburgh’s August Festivals are now in their third year. The Award is a partnership between Radge Media, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland.
The Skinny and Fest, Capital Theatres and Premier Scotland are delighted to announce the week one winners of The Besties.
This award was selected by the young people who participated in this year’s Superpower Agency critical writing summer camp, a collaboration with the teams at The Skinny and Fest.
Five women went to teach theatre for the summer. They just didn’t know the world would end before camp did. In Stanislavski Can’t Save Me From The Apocalypse, life at a theatre camp in the northern woods of Maine takes a shocking turn when five counsellors suddenly become responsible for more than forty campers after the world ends on the final day of camp. Their artistic dreams collide with the abrupt demands of survival, forcing women who once built imaginary worlds onstage to confront a terrifying new reality offstage.
The young reviewers said, “We really enjoyed this innovative theatre production, set at a kid’s theatre camp in the aftermath of the apocalypse. This is an ambitious show that takes risks with its unconventional structure and pulls them off. They did a lot with a tiny venue, minimal set and a cast who were passionate and talented. The characters were realistic and the show’s depiction of young adult friendship was funny and relatable. A hopeful and meaningful take on a potentially dark subject.”
Believing themselves to be revolutionary leaders, two overconfident artists attempt to liberate the masses through the power of theatre. Ethan & Gigi are here to upstage fascist pigs and break legs (literally). The revolution will not be televised, it will be live! Alt-comedian legend Chris Gethard says: ‘These kids are funny, brave, some of the hardest workers I’ve ever met and also might be legitimately unwell in a mental sense. Either way, huge fan. Restores my faith and makes me believe in the connective power of comedy.’
The Skinny/Fest editorial team said: “Ethan and Gigi’s commitment to the bit is what makes this faux so-bad-it’s-good comedy stand out from the rest. A pair of revolutionaries riddled with interpersonal issues but convinced they’re on the brink of an anti-fascist revolutionary movement, the New York clown duo never let you see where they start and the characters end. There are big, insane swings in this show that wears its brashness deceptively lightly; swings that you’re only likely to see at The Fringe.”
Two teenagers perform fake Bigfoot sightings in their Appalachian town, until a neighbour’s dog turns up torn to pieces. Aside from sparking a panic that spirals out of their control, it forces them to question what might actually be terrorizing their under-resourced and already superstitious community. From 2022, 2023 and 2024 Fringe First award-winners and ‘the Fringe’s most dynamic theatrical duo’ (Telegraph), Xhloe and Natasha, comes a Brechtian puppet show ripped in two about conspiracy, misdirection and seeing something with your own eyes.
The Skinny/Fest editorial team said: “It may be early in the 2026 Fringe to declare a legend award, but the judging team could think of no title more fitting for clown duo Xhloe and Natasha. Since their 2022 debut with And Then the Rodeo Burned Down they’ve built a devoted following amongst Fringe-goers in general and the Skinny-Fest teams in particular. This year they’ve returned with their fourth original show, Bigfoot Ripped My Dog In Half I Saw It, and it has once again lived up to the hype.”
‘I’m sorry, I’ve said too much…’ Sky Arts Award-winning comedian Elf Lyons is The Woman on the Edge. A completely normal, autobiographical (and in no way complex) – observational stand-up show about love. A perfect show to take yourself to. Inspired by Vertigo, Apollo 13, the opera Pagliacci. Directed by Ingmar Bergman. One of The Telegraph’s 50 Funniest Comedians of the 21st Century.
The Skinny/Fest editorial team said: “The Fringe has practically belonged to Elf Lyons for a while now. Swan was mad; Raven was fit for a King. So to hear, in Elf’s new show, that she had lost herself earlier this year was heart-rending. If someone so singular can lose sight of who they are, what hope is there for the rest of us? By the end of her new hour, there’s no question that that isn’t the case anymore.”
Bzzzz. Enter the surrealist world of a house fly. She’s come to share her story before she dies! In an astonishing historical first, a house fly has learnt human behaviour. Wanting to warn us about the worldwide insect shortage but getting lost along the way. This is Tess O’Shea’s first show after training at Gaulier clown school – it’s a theatrical exploration on the life of a fly and their cultural history. Come and see a fly’s observations on the absurdity of modern life, inspired by Kafka and the surrealism of Dali. Swatters strictly prohibited!
Fest writer Xuanlin Tham said: “the humble fly is often constituted as nothing more than a filthy pest. Yet carrying on in the grand surrealist tradition of Kafka, Dalí, and also Ratatouille (masterpiece), Tess O’Shea’s House Fly paints the life story of one fly so vividly that the last thing you want to do is swat it away … The buzz is real.”
At 17, Eva moved from Livingston to Costa Rica on her own. She dropped out of school and moved to Costa Rica a boy-mad wee bam. She came back a bald lesbian without shoes. A fast, brutally funny debut about how you can take the girl out of Livingston, but maybe Costa Rica is too far. ‘One of the best young acts on the Scottish circuit’ (One4Review.co.uk). ‘A rising star’ (List). Support for Kim Blythe, Sam Nicoresti and Susie McCabe.
The Skinny/Fest editorial team said: “Eva Peroni is anything if not precocious. The 22-year-old’s debut Fringe hour is crammed with joke after joke, drawing on themes of identity and belonging and remaining sharp and uncompromising throughout. Taking inspiration from her coming-of-age in Costa Rica, the comic probes questions of national identity and Scottishness, with tongue firmly in cheek…”
Reflecting the broad and diverse coverage both magazines produce every summer and celebrating the breadth of Edinburgh’s Festivals, The Besties span all the festival activity taking place in the city over the month of August, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
Winners of The Besties are chosen each week by the editorial teams of The Skinny and Fest, drawing on their cross-festival expertise to celebrate the best work happening anywhere in the festivals. 2026 winners will be announced at weekly ceremonies taking place at Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on 15, 22 and 29 August.
The Besties awards, designed by artist Camillo Feuchter a graduate of Interior & Environmental Design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in Dundee, use recyclable plastics gathered by the partners and leftover wood sourced locally.
There are now just 10 stalls remaining at the Volunteer Edinburgh Recruitment Fair 2026 — and the deadline to book is fast approaching.
If your organisation is looking to recruit new volunteers, this is your last chance to be part of the event.
The Recruitment Fair brings together over 1,000 potential volunteers and more than 50 charities, community groups and voluntary organisations under one roof. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet people face-to-face, showcase what you do and talk directly to people who are actively looking for ways to get involved.
Don’t miss the opportunity to put your organisation in front of hundreds of enthusiastic potential volunteers.
By not attending, you could be missing out on conversations, connections and potential new volunteers who could make a real difference to your organisation.
Why you should be there
Meet hundreds of people interested in volunteering
Promote your organisation and current opportunities
Have conversations with potential volunteers face-to-face
Connect with your local community
Raise awareness of the difference your organisation makes
Find new volunteers who could help your organisation thrive
Event Details
Tuesday 1 September 2026 10am – 5.30pm St Paul’s and St George’s Church, York Place, Edinburgh
Don’t Leave It Too Late
Only 10 stalls remain and bookings close on Friday 21 August.
Once those final spaces are gone, that’s it.
If you’ve been considering joining us, now is the time to book. Don’t let your organisation miss out on one of Edinburgh’s biggest opportunities to connect with potential volunteers.
We’d love to see your organisation there — but don’t miss your chance to be one of our 2026 stallholders!
Landmark report evidences the profound impacts of the Edinburgh Festivals, confirming them as one of the most remarkable demonstrations of cultural power in the world
Picture by JANE BARLOW
In the latest of a long line of internationally acclaimed impact studies, the Edinburgh Festivals have published their most recent research across a series of cultural, social and economic indicators – which shows that at a fundamental level the festivals make life better – for residents, artists, visitors, and businesses.
The research identifies the Edinburgh Festivals as a unique civic asset that enhances wellbeing through creative and community engagement, an unrivalled international springboard for Scottish artists and companies, and a major attraction for those choosing to live, work, visit and invest in Edinburgh. The findings clearly indicate that the Festivals define Scotland’s cultural identity on the global stage.
Introducing the latest Impact Study on 29 June, Professor Daisy Fancourt, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health and UNESCO Chair in Arts & Global Health as well as author of Art Cure: How the Arts Can Transform Your Health and Help You Live Longer said: “The Edinburgh Festivals have long stood as one of the world’s most remarkable demonstrations of the power of arts and culture.
“Shared cultural experiences create opportunities for dialogue, build understanding and challenge ideas. They bring people together across generations, backgrounds and perspectives, helping to build trust and social cohesion. At a time when many communities are grappling with social fragmentation and unrest, cultural participation offers powerful opportunities to strengthen civic life and nurture a sense of common purpose.
“The Festivals show what is possible when culture is placed at the heart of civic life, and this report provides a powerful case for the importance ofsustaining and investing in their future for generations to come.”
The research affirms that while the individual festivals are powerful brands in their respective fields, collectively they are both a unique national asset and a global phenomenon. They are an integral part of the cultural and social fabric of the country and provide an opportunity to showcase a 21st century nation.
The headline findings in this publication show the Edinburgh Festivals as:
cultural adventurers, with 90% of audiences acclaiming the festivals as unique places of cultural discovery
civic drivers, that enhance community well-being with 79% of local audiences stating that the festivals make Edinburgh a special place to live
national investors, spending more than £10m annually with event production companies and creative talent based in Scotland
economic powerhouses, calculated to have a gross economic impact of £4.26 billion over the next five years in Scotland.
Commenting on the publication of the Impact Study, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic, Màiri McAllan MSP said: “The Edinburgh Festivals are truly world class — and this research confirms their extraordinary cultural, social and economic value to Scotland.
“A projected national economic impact of £4.26 billion over the coming five years, 90% of audiences describing them as unique places of cultural discovery, and 79% of Edinburgh residents saying they make the city a special place to live — these are remarkable findings.
“As we approach the 80th anniversary of Edinburgh’s status as a festival city, the Scottish Government is proud to champion the festivals and committed to ensuring they continue to thrive for the benefit of people across Scotland and on the global stage.”
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener at City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh’s festivals are at the heart of what makes our city so special, bringing together residents and visitors to enjoy thousands of shows and events throughout the year.
“This research highlights that these celebrations deliver significant cultural, social, and economic benefits, supporting local communities and businesses while enhancing the city’s global reputation.
“As we approach the 80th anniversary of our festivals, we remain committed to supporting their future while balancing the needs of residents, visitors, and business, ensuring Edinburgh continues to thrive as a world-leading festival city.”
Vicki Miller, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “Edinburgh’s festivals are world renowned, and a key part of what makes Scotland a must-visit destination, drawing thousands of international visitors to the country each year.
FURTHER FINDINGS INCLUDE:
The Edinburgh Festivals have seen a major expansion in their community reach
Alongside its global scale, the report identifies a major expansion in the Festivals’ community footprint. They offer residents of the city and substantial audiences of all ages throughout Scotland, opportunities that support creative expression, social connection and wellbeing, while breaking down barriers, enhancing community cohesion and civic pride.
These core principles were fundamental building blocks of the PlaCE [Partnerships for Creative Excellence] programme, a pioneering three-way partnership between Edinburgh Festivals, Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council. Almost 76,000 community participants took part across the life of the programme.
Over the five years spanning 2018 to 2023, the Festivals delivered a 489% increase in engagement with community groups, a 39% increase in schools participation (from 497 to 694) and a 245% increase in partnership activity.
This growth reflects a significant development of year-round activity and more equitable access, with programmes increasingly reaching communities less likely to have engaged with the Festivals in the past.
The Edinburgh Festivals are a civic asset as well as a global platform
The report reinforces the Festivals’ role within the city itself. Edinburgh residents account for around one third of all attendances, with 79% of local audiences identifying the Festivals as central to the city’s identity and sense of place, making it a special place to live. And 89.9% of audiences say that the Festivals create a welcoming environment in the city.
This dual role – as both a global cultural gathering and a locally rooted civic asset – is identified as a defining feature of the Edinburgh Festivals.
The Edinburgh Festivals are a key investor in Scotland’s creative economy
Beyond audience impact, the Festivals continue to act as a major investor in Scotland’s cultural sector, supporting artists, production companies and creative organisations across the country.
Annual spend with Scottish-based creative talent and production companies exceeds £10 million, helping to sustain jobs, develop skills and build international connections across the sector.
The Edinburgh Festivals provide a platform for Scotland on the world stage
With participants from over 80 countries and audiences from more than 100 countries, the Festivals play a central role in projecting Scotland internationally, showcasing a 21st century nation
The report affirms the Edinburgh Festivals as a globally significant cultural marketplace, while remaining deeply embedded within Scotland’s communities and creative industries. Both a unique national asset, part of the cultural and social fabric of the country, and a global phenomenon making up part of the appeal that will drive Scotland forward.
The Edinburgh Festivals are economic powerhouses
The Edinburgh Festivals delivered an estimated £558 million in net economic impact for Edinburgh and £852 million across Scotland in 2025.
A central finding of the research is that this economic impact is driven by the quality and innovation within the Festivals’ cultural programmes which drive attendances, with 90% of audiences acclaiming the festivals as unique places of cultural discovery
The report concludes that investment in programming is the primary factor that attracts global audiences and generates wider economic activity across tourism, hospitality and the creative industries. With the right investment the future impact is expected to reach £4.26 billion over the next five years.
The findings underline the Festivals’ position as a major national asset, operating at a scale rarely seen in global cultural events. With over 4 million attendances drawn from more than 100 countries last year, Edinburgh hosts one of the largest ticketed event programmes in the world every year, on a scale equivalent with less frequent major events such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.
Cultural events like these provide authentic and immersive experiences for people across Scotland and from around the world and are vital in strengthening our international profile and supporting local businesses, artists, and performers.”
Lori Anderson, Director of Festivals Edinburgh stated:
‘We are facing challenging times which call for boldness, direction, and vision – and the Edinburgh Festivals, through their pioneering collaborative work, focused strategic thinking, and hugely praised programmes, have these qualities in abundance. They have a powerful role to play in increasing the creative capacity, economic strength, and international reputation of Scotland. Ahead of the 80th anniversary of the birth of our world leading festival city, now is the time to champion and invest in the Festivals’ success.’
Further findings in the Impact Study include:
The Edinburgh Festivals have seen a major expansion in their community reach
Alongside its global scale, the report identifies a major expansion in the Festivals’ community footprint. They offer residents of the city and substantial audiences of all ages throughout Scotland, opportunities that support creative expression, social connection and wellbeing, while breaking down barriers, enhancing community cohesion and civic pride.
These core principles were fundamental building blocks of the PlaCE [Partnerships for Creative Excellence] programme, a pioneering three-way partnership between Edinburgh Festivals, Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council. Almost 76,000 community participants took part across the life of the programme.
Over the five years spanning 2018 to 2023, the Festivals delivered a 489% increase in engagement with community groups, a 39% increase in schools participation (from 497 to 694) anda 245% increase in partnership activity.
This growth reflects a significant development of year-round activity and more equitable access, with programmes increasingly reaching communities less likely to have engaged with the Festivals in the past.
The Edinburgh Festivals are a civic asset as well as a global platform
The report reinforces the Festivals’ role within the city itself. Edinburgh residents account for around one third of all attendances, with 79% of local audiences identifying the Festivals as central to the city’s identity and sense of place, making it a special place to live. And 89.9% of audiences say that the Festivals create a welcoming environment in the city.
This dual role – as both a global cultural gathering and a locally rooted civic asset – is identified as a defining feature of the Edinburgh Festivals.
The Edinburgh Festivals are a key investor in Scotland’s creative economy
Beyond audience impact, the Festivals continue to act as a major investor in Scotland’s cultural sector, supporting artists, production companies and creative organisations across the country.
Annual spend with Scottish-based creative talent and production companies exceeds £10 million, helping to sustain jobs, develop skills and build international connections across the sector.
The Edinburgh Festivals provide a platform for Scotland on the world stage
With participants from over80 countries and audiences from more than 100 countries, the Festivals play a central role in projecting Scotland internationally, showcasing a 21st century nation.
The report affirms the Edinburgh Festivals as a globally significant cultural marketplace, while remaining deeply embedded within Scotland’s communities and creative industries. Both a unique national asset, part of the cultural and social fabric of the country, and a global phenomenon making up part of the appeal that will drive Scotland forward.
The Edinburgh Festivals are economic powerhouses
The Edinburgh Festivals delivered an estimated £558 million in net economic impact for Edinburgh and £852 million across Scotland in 2025.
A central finding of the research is that this economic impact is driven by the quality and innovation within the Festivals’ cultural programmes which drive attendances. 90% of audiences acclaimed the festivals as unique places of cultural discovery.
The report concludes that investment in programming is the primary factor that attracts global audiences and generates wider economic activity across tourism, hospitality and the creative industries. With the right investment the future impact is expected to reach £4.26 billion over the next five years.
The findings underline the Festivals’ position as a major national asset, operating at a scale rarely seen in global cultural events. With over 4 million attendances drawn from more than 100 countries last year, Edinburgh hosts one of the largest ticketed event programmes in the world every year, on a scale equivalent with less frequent major events such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.
Council Leader Jane Meagher has met with business representatives, heritage organisations, community groups and Councillors to provide an update on efforts to reopen Princes Street.
The meeting also discussed the Council’s wider response to the disruption.
Cllr Meagher hosted the summit in the City Chambers on Wednesday evening, at which council officers set out in detail the complexity of making the former Debenhams building safe to allow the thoroughfare to reopen.
Initial proposals for a communications campaign to promote those businesses and communities most affected by the disruption were also presented and discussed. This will also include resident and visitor spend incentives, events and other promotions.
This activity will be paid for from the Scottish Government funding announced last week and would continue beyond the reopening of Princes Street and into next year.
Key points from the on-site progress update:
Five weeks on from the fire, work on site continues to progress well. The focus continues to be on making the building safe – allowing Princes Street to reopen – while aiming to retain as many of its historic features as possible.
This is complex and challenging work which is carried out from cranes by a team of highly skilled engineers.
The eastern gable of the building has been secured and made safe. This involved reducing it in height by approximately two metres and supporting it with scaffolding.
The front façade of the building is now being stabilised with steel beams – more than 40% of these are now in place internally and externally to support the western end of the Princes Street façade – with work ongoing on the remainder of the upper floors.
Several tonnes of bricks and unsafe stonework – some weighing as much as 850kg – from the upper levels of the façade have been carefully removed and carefully stored on site for reuse.
Debris and dangerous materials continue to be removed from inside the building – with several tonnes already removed.
Subject to favourable weather conditions (this restricts when this can be done safely) the hope is that work carried out will allow Princes Street to reopen by the end of August.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said:“We’ve been working tirelessly to make sure Princes Street can fully reopen and I’m reassured by the progress being made. It goes without saying that we want to do this as soon as possible – but only when it is safe to do so.
“I want to reiterate just how complicated, hazardous and challenging this work is – and it was helpful to be able to share more of this detail during, what was, a very positive and constructive meeting with local business and community representatives last night.
“I was extremely grateful to all those who attended and gave us their feedback – which I committed to taking on board, either immediately or as part of our lessons learned exercise that will follow. I also welcomed the views of Edinburgh World Heritage and the Scottish Architectural Society who spoke in praise of the steps we’re taking to preserve an important part of our city’s heritage.
“Clearly, the resulting disruption continues to have a significant effect on businesses, particularly on the north end of the tram route, and last night we outlined our plans for a communications campaign to promote Leith, the Shore and Newhaven – and everything all they have to offer for our residents and visitors.
“This is being developed very much in partnership with the businesses and communities themselves – and we hope it will encourage people to visit businesses in the area well into the future.
“What also came across strongly last night was the effect this is having on our residents who are struggling to get to work, meet commitments or make appointments. I want to put on record again my thanks for your patience and understanding and to reiterate my determination to bring this disruption to an end as soon as it is safe to do so.
“In the meantime, I want to give special thanks to Lothian Buses, particularly their drivers, for their support in keeping the city moving.”
A memorable eclipse on Calton Hill!
PICTURES: Fantastic images captured by Astronomical Society of Edinburgh members.
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