A major public discussion on the future of tourism in Edinburgh will take place at the City Chambers on 12 May, bringing together European experts, local practitioners, and community voices to address one of the most pressing issues facing historic cities today.
Hosted by the Cockburn Association as part of the Festival of Europe, Homes or Homecomings? Managing Tourism Tensions with European Partners will explore how cities can balance the economic benefits of tourism with the needs of residents.
Tourism remains central to Edinburgh’s economy and identity, but increasing visitor numbers have placed growing pressure on housing, infrastructure, and everyday life in the city centre. The event will present new research on tourism impacts in Edinburgh while drawing on European case studies to examine how other historic cities are responding to similar challenges.
Speakers include academics and practitioners working across the UK and Europe, alongside representatives from business and community-led organisations. The discussion will consider issues such as short-term lets, housing availability, and how to sustain living communities in globally recognised heritage destinations.
The event is open to the public and will bring together policymakers, researchers, residents, and those working in tourism and heritage.
Event details:
Date: Tuesday, 12 May
Venue: City Chambers, Edinburgh
Host: The Cockburn Association
Part of: Festival of Europe programme
Tickets and further information are available via Eventbrite.
On Europe Day, Saturday 9 May 2026, a free drop-in event for 16–35-year-olds will take place in Edinburgh, offering practical opportunities to study, work, travel, and volunteer across Europe.
The Connecting Europe Fair will be hosted at the French Institute on the Royal Mile from 10:00 to 16:30. Part of the wider Festival of Europe Scotland (7–17 May), this Fair is all about sharing exciting European connections that are accessible to as many people as possible.
Visitors will have the chance to meet with key organisations offering access to European opportunities, including the British Council, Erasmus Student Network, International Voluntary Service, the University of Edinburgh’s Languages for All programme, and the EU–UK Parliamentary Liaison Office.
The Fair will also feature exciting activities, such as:
Prize Draw: Win Interrail passes
Photo Booth Competition: Get creative for a chance to win Amazon vouchers
Europe Day Quiz – to test your knowledge about Europe and learn something new!
Following the UK’s rejoining of Erasmus Plus, the Connecting Europe Fair offers a timely opportunity to explore education, volunteering, and travel across Europe once again. Whether you have five minutes or five hours to spare, pop by the Fair and in-person connect with experts who can help you unlock European experiences.
Organiser Niamh Donnellan explained: “The Fair aims to open doors and highlight accessible ways for young people in Scotland to engage with Europe, whether through study, volunteering, or cultural exchange.”
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday 9 May 2026
Time: 10:00 – 16:30
Location: French Institute, Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 1RN (Step-free access via George IV Bridge)
We’ll guide you through the basics and show you how to navigate Ancestry and British Newspaper Archive, two brilliant resources for family history and both free to use in all Edinburgh Libraries. The session ends with a short tour of the physical genealogical resources held in the Edinburgh and Scottish Collection.
A packed programme of music, film and storytelling kicks off Edinburgh Tradfest this weekend (1-11 May) thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
In addition to the 65+ events already programmed, there will also be three, free pop-up performances lasting approximately 20 minutes each, and giving audiences and passers-by a taste of Tradfest in a new location:
Edinburgh Airport on Thursday 30 April, 11.30am – Astro Bloc
Aroma Restaurant and Bar, Broxburn, Saturday 2 May, 11.30am – SAZ
Nobles Bar, Leith, Friday 8 May, 2pm – Dauntless
Edinburgh Tradfest opens at Hangar 5 with two incredible bands headlining: Scotland’s most sought after folk band RURA; and newcomers to the folk scene Astro Bloc, whose music offers an exhilarating mix of heritage and innovation.
Over the weekend the music highlights continue with siblings Séamus and Caoimhe celebrating the culture of their Connemara homeland with dexterous instrumentals and beautiful blood harmonies; folk song sensation and multi award-winner Kim Carnie; an early evening concert with fiddler Eilidh Shaw (who is replacing Laura Jane Wilkie) and guitar legend Ian Carr; centuries old folk music from Rajasthani music sensation SAZ; African singing and step-dancing workshops; and late night sessions in the Traverse Bar.
In addition, folk musicians playing at any level, can take part in #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay on Saturday 2 May, by uploading a Strathspey tune online, or by joining fiddlers Sam Mabbett, Dylan Cairns, Eilidh Shaw and Angus Lyon for a live afternoon of Scottish music to celebrate the beauty of the humble Strathspey.
Plus, anyone under 5 years and their family can join in an afternoon of songs, actions and non-stop dancing with award-winning folk singer, primary music school teacher, and parent to a lively pre-schooler Fiona Hunter (Malinky), who will be hosting this year’s relaxed performance on Sunday afternoon.
Other hot tickets include The Furrow Collective with a final performance by Rachel Newton who is leaving the band; RANT (Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, Bethany Reid, Gillian Frame); the Brian Molley Quartet tracing the Scottish roots of jazz; virtuoso musician Tim Edey; banjo-playing singer-songwriter from Montreal Kaïa Kater; The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter, a vaudeville act seemingly from the 1920s with Montreal based songwriter Li’l Andy taking on the fictional persona of “Hezekiah Procter”; Gen Z old-time combo The Onlies from Seattle; Scandinavian string trio Northern Resonance; and acclaimed singer, composer, and live-looping artist GANNA Gryniva performing her new album UTOPIA which mixes Ukrainian folk tunes, with Peruvian grooves, jazz-tinged arrangements and electronic soundscapes.
One of the most unmissable events in this year’s programme has to be singer songwriter Josie Duncan’s new music commission on Monday night: A’ Chiad Litir (The First Letter), celebrating the life of Scots 16th century poet Marie Maitland whose works explored themes of same-sex attraction. Joining Josie on stage will be Charlotte Printer (bass), Chloë Bryce (fiddle), Eilidh Rogers(percussion), Jenny Clifford (guitar) and historian and author Ashley Douglas reading from Marie’s poems.
At the Storytelling Centre there will also be online talks and workshops discussing traditional dance, craft, music and storytelling with guest speakers including author, scholar, dancer and dance teacher Pat Ballantyne and CEO of TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) Steve Byrne. Plus, there will be two storytelling performances:The Corpse Road on Sunday 3 May with Daniel Serridge and Heather Cartwright, about the Cumbrian roads that for many, formed their final journey to the grave; and The Cold Heart with storyteller Franziska Droll and musician Greg Harradine exploring the terrible cost that comes with the desire for wealth and belonging.
At the Cameo, the 12th edition of Scotland’s Folk Film Gathering also gets underway this weekend with the World premiere of a new documentary exploring the life and work of Gaelic singer and weaver Jimmy Hutchison, alongside a one-off live concert from Jimmy and his protegé Erika Douglas.
Other folk film highlights include Women in Resistance, a special double bill celebrating cross-cultural solidarities between Scotland and Peru; rarely-screened early short films from pioneering Scottish filmmaker Bill Douglas; and Heiny Srour’s groundbreaking Lebanese drama-documentary Leila and the Wolves introduced by Scottish-Palestinian poet Nada Shawa.
The Folk Film Gathering runs until 10 May and closes with a special screening of the newly-remastered 1954 Ukrainian classic Andriesh, and a live performance from the Edinburgh Ukrainian choir.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “Over the past few months we have booked the most incredible bands we can find, sorted food and accommodation, checked all our sound equipment is in place, liaised with our programming partners, and briefed all our lovely technical, front of house and production teams.
“We are marketing like crazy in any way we can think of so we are ready. All we need now is YOU, the audience. We have just the best line-up ever so come and check it out. A good time is guaranteed!”
Edinburgh Tradfest 2026 will run from Friday 1 May to Monday 11 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
A glamorous, never-before-exhibited portrait of Queen Mary and a miniature sleigh made of rock crystal will be among highlights on show in Scotland for the first time in a major exhibition opening tomorrow.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance will explore the glitzy world of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary – through their family connections, royal events, global travels and art collecting.
The exhibition will open in Edinburgh following a successful run in London and is the first Royal Collection Trust exhibition to explore the Edwardian era. It will bring together more than 150 items including fashion, paintings and books, as well as personal items such as jewellery, photographs and chinaware, more than half of which are on show in Scotland for the first time.
Visitors will see works from the Royal Collection by many of the period’s most celebrated names, including Fabergé, Tiffany & Co, and Edward Burne-Jones, and depictions of famous faces including composer Sir Edward Elgar.
Curator Kathryn Jones said: ‘The Edwardian era was a golden age of glamour and parties, but it was so much more than that; it was a fast-paced period making great advances in technology.
“Our royal couples wanted to make the most of it all, living lavishly and embracing new trends, before the sobering arrival of war. Throughout, they were collecting art as a way to hold onto tradition and capture the rapidly changing world around them. We hope that visitors to the exhibition will enjoy stepping back in time to this exciting period.’
In 1863, Queen Victoria’s eldest son Albert Edward married Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The marriage of the fashionable young couple – the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra – initiated a glamorous new era for the royal family, with Queen Victoria still in mourning and away from public life.
Edward and Alexandra established a new, vibrant court filled with opulent balls, society events and contemporary art – a lifestyle continued by their son, the future King George V, and his wife Queen Mary.
Full-length portraits of the two Queens will open the exhibition, showcasing the spectacular fashions of the era. The portraits of Queen Alexandra by François Flameng, and Queen Mary by William Samuel Henry Llewellyn (which has never before been on public display) will be shown alongside marble busts of their husbands, Kings Edward and George.
Both couples were fond of Scotland, with Edward having studied at the University of Edinburgh and George and Mary making regular visits and devotedly modernising the Palace of Holyroodhouse to make it once again suitable for royal entertaining.
Displays will evoke the interiors of the royal couples’ private residences, Marlborough House and Sandringham House, where the Edwardian fashion of filling every cabinet and covering every surface small decorative objects or family photographs reigned.
A star object on display for the first time in Scotland is a paperweight shaped like a tiny 10cm-tall sledge with a figure lying on it by Robert Colquhon. Thought to have been Scottish, Colquhon was a goldsmith based in Russia who made small-scale decorative objects from rock crystal and silver of snowy subjects like sleighs and bears on ice floes.
Edward and Alexandra collected several of his works – with one of his sleighs appearing in a photograph of Alexandra’s desk in Marlborough House in the 1890s.
Visitors will also learn of the relationships linking the family to the rest of Europe. Fabergé was introduced to the British royal family through Alexandra’s sister Dagmar, who had married Alexander III, Tsar of Russia.
The royal patronage caused the popularity of Fabergé to soar in the UK, and on show will be 21 items from the firm, including an ornate picture frame holding a photograph of Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife; a cigarette case famously given to Edward by his official mistress Mrs Keppel; and six miniature figures of the royal couple’s favourite animals on the Sandringham estate.
As enthusiastic patrons of the arts, the Edwardians embraced new artistic movements including Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts, and the burgeoning medium of photography. Alexandra was particularly taken with the drawings of the Pre-Raphaelite artist, Edward Burne-Jones, whose study for a larger painting inspired by Sleeping Beauty will be on display. A soft-focus photograph of Alexandra by photographer Alice Hughes was typical of her pioneering yet delicate style, and both are on display in Scotland for the first time.
Garden parties formed an essential part of the Edwardian social calendar, with the first taking place at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during the much-anticipated visit of George and Mary in 1911. Danish painter Laurits Tuxen had been introduced to Queen Victoria through her daughter-in-law Alexandra, and his painting of a garden party at Buckingham Palace captures the spirit of the joyous occasion.
Contributions to society were also celebrated through the founding of the Order of Merit in 1902 to recognise prominent figures in cultural, scientific or military life. George commissioned a portrait of each recipient – a tradition that continues to this day – and drawings of Sir Edward Elgar and the physicist Sir J.J. Thomson by Scottish artist William Strang will be on display for the first time in Scotland.
The turn of the century saw great improvements to methods of travel, and the Edwardian royals travelled further than any previous members of the royal family – collecting and receiving gifts as they went. In February 1901, George and Mary set sail for 10 months on HMS Ophir to open the new federal parliament in Melbourne, Australia. To mark the occasion, the ‘Ladies of Adelaide’ gave Mary a richly embroidered silk hanging featuring a eucalyptus tree and local varieties of irises and orchids.
George and Mary visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse in July 1914, only a few weeks before the outbreak of the First World War. The glamour of the Edwardian era was being eclipsed by a serious atmosphere of duty – a sentiment led by the King, as Herbert Arnould Olivier’s study of King George V and Frank O. Salisbury’s painting The Passing of the Unknown Warrior, King George V as Chief Mourner, Whitehall attest.
Collecting had now become a way to honour the many sacrifices made in the Great War; a more restrained and dutiful monarchy had emerged.
The King’s Gallery will continue to offer £1 tickets for visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. Other concessionary rates are available, including discounted tickets for Young People, half-price entry for children (with under-fives free), and the option to convert standard tickets bought directly from Royal Collection Trust into a 1-Year Pass for unlimited re-entry for 12 months.
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance is at The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 24 April – 6 December 2026.
Visitor information and tickets for The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse: www.rct.uk, T. +44 (0)303 123 7306.
The King’s Gallery will be open seven days a week from opening until 7 September 2026, when it will be open for five days (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays) until 6 December 2026.
Photography enthusiasts are being encouraged to enter a competition running until October celebrating three decades of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site.
The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were first inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995 making this World Heritage Day (Saturday, 18 April) so special as the competition is part of the Site’s 30th birthday celebrations.
This makes this weekend the perfect time to explore the Old and New Towns to capture images of one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world.
Entries will be grouped into twelve categories, each celebrating a particular value of Scotland’s capital city. The winning photograph in each category will become part of a year-long calendar, which will be sold on Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money for the Trust.
The over-all winner will take pride of place on the front cover of the calendar and will receive a one-year membership for Historic Scotland, who run top-rated visitor attractions all over the country.
The entries will be judged by Tom Duffin, a professional photographer who specialises in showcasing Edinburgh’s heritage; Neil Hanna, a multi-award-winning photographer with over 35 years of experience; and Jane Bradley, celebrated Arts and Culture Correspondent at the Scotsman.
This year’s World Heritage Day celebrations also include the following event:
DID JOHN BAYNE TAKE A SECRET TO HIS GRAVE?
TODAY (Saturday 18 April) as part of the Legacies in Stone project, Edinburgh World Heritage, the Friends of Greyfriars Kirkyard, and the Council (funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund) aim to lift the lid on a secret centuries in the making: does a broken gravestone in John Bayne’s mausoleum hide a forgotten burial vault?
By repairing a simple flat grave slab, the aim is to unlock the mystery of this unique tomb in Scotland’s most famous kirkyard.
How to join:
In person: Attend the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard, followed by expert talks at Augustine United Church.
Cllr Joan Griffiths Planning Convener said: “This year World Heritage Day is so special as there is much to celebrate. The 30th birthday is a significant achievement and milestone to reach as looking after the Site with our partners takes a lot of care and has many challenges. Edinburgh is a living, breathing city and it needs to be well managed to balance the needs of our residents, businesses and visitors.
“This World Heritage Day is a great time to enter our photography competition as it’s a lovely time of year to capture the changing light, sunsets and skylines this part of our stunning capital city is so famous for.
“The beautiful spring flowers appearing in the many gardens and open spaces are also there for us all to enjoy. If you’re interested in photography, why not explore the area this weekend to capture what inspires you most about the Old and New Towns.
“You could combine your visit to find out if John Bayne took a secret to his grave by attending the event in Greyfriars Kirkyard – or if history is more your interest – just attend the event instead.”
George Findlater, Head of Community and Economic Development at Historic Environment Scotland, said:“After thirty years of being a World Heritage Site, Edinburgh continues to inspire admiration from visitors and locals alike.
“We are excited to offer a year’s membership to Historic Scotland as a prize in the photography competition, and World Heritage Day is a terrific opportunity to bring out your camera and capture what makes Edinburgh so unique across the competition categories.”
Douglas Brotherston, Chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “Thirty years as a World Heritage Site is quite a wonderful achievement and we are delighted at Edinburgh World Heritage, together with our partners at HES and the City of Edinburgh Council to mark the occasion by holding this photography competition.
“The unique appeal of Edinburgh’s streets and landscapes, skylines and special heritage is so varied, it lives up to its reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope that we will get many entries from locals and visitors alike who can capture the glorious views of our spectacular city.”
The twelve categories for which applicants can submit their photographs are:
Planning Convener Cllr Joan Griffiths writes about birthday celebrations for Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site ahead of World Heritage Day on Saturday:
It’s three decades since Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns were inscribed on the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995, recognising the city’s diverse and iconic buildings and landmarks – thirty years on and we have a lot to celebrate this World Heritage Day, Saturday 18 April.
The status recognises the Towns (collectively) as one of the most extraordinary urban landscapes in the world and helps us along with our partners, Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage, to make sure its value and beauty is preserved for generations to come.
As partners we’re tasked with preserving the organic medieval Old Town and the planned Georgian New Town including the city’s iconic skyline. The Site offers a rich contrast of styles between the Old Town’s narrow, winding closes and the broad, elegant streets of the New Town. Along with our partners we look after around 4,500 individual buildings and for around 30,000 Edinburgh residents the Site is their home.
UNESCO’s values include working with communities and young people. Celebrating this big birthday is giving us a fantastic opportunity to engage residents and visitors in activities to help them find out more about this historically important and internationally renowned area of our beautiful Capital city.
If you’re a photography enthusiast, we’re running a competition with our partners to help celebrate this milestone. We’re asking you to share an image with us before the end of October that captures what inspires you most about the World Heritage Site and makes Edinburgh so special in your eyes. There are 12 categories to choose from, ranging from the Medieval Old Town to the Living City.
Winning images in each category will become part of a year-long calendar and you will be able to buy one in our Museums and Galleries shops, at Historic Scotland sites and at Edinburgh World Heritage events to raise money to help manage the Site going forward.
For our young residents we’ve asked a class of primary four Granton Primary pupils to work with a freelance artist over the summer term. The children will visit the Museum of Edinburgh and be given a special educational tour of the World Heritage Site.
The artist will carry out a number of sessions with the pupils in their classroom guiding them to paint their impressions of what they found interesting and memorable during their trip around this historic area of our city. When complete the work will be exhibited in the Museum of Edinburgh from 5 October to 10 January for everyone to enjoy.
Why not use this week to find out more about the Old and New Towns World Heritage Site and enter any special images of the area you are proud of into our photography competition. Good luck and happy snapping!
Enjoy the perfect family day out this Easter break with a special programme of shows and workshops at the National Museum of Scotland. Kids can play the role of scientist as they Dig Up a Dinosaur, solve a crime in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation or make slime to take home in Splat-tastic.
The whole family can enjoy Mini-Medics: The Body Show and The Rocket Show, and explore our free Tech Decoded drop-in activities.
Celebrate the extraordinary life and legacy of Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE – Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace – whose groundbreaking research and community-led conservation work transformed our understanding of chimpanzees and the natural world.
Audiences will hear personal reflections from some of Jane’s former colleagues, view images and video from Goodall’s career, and will have the opportunity to submit questions for a concluding Q&A.
Join Prof Dame Lorna Dawson of The James Hutton Institute and international experts for an interactive event exploring the science of provenance.
Learn how scientists determine authenticity and link objects or people to places, including crime scenes. The panel will discuss organised crime, murders, illegal mining, conflict minerals, gold trading, wildlife crime and the fossil trade.
Dr Brooke Vandermolen has taken the internet by storm as ‘The OBGYN Mum’, smashing down taboos and debunking myths about overlooked and misunderstood areas of women’s health and medicine.
In this special event, join Dr Brooke Vandermolen and host Prof Philippa Saunders, as they navigate the biggest myths, misinformation, and medical jargon about female health, and show how the internet is making it harder than ever to find accurate information you can trust.
In remote Himalayan regions of Nepal, yaks are vital for local livelihoods, yet crossbreeding with cattle – where antibiotics use is common – may help spread resistant germs.
Join an international team from the Research Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology in Nepal and the University of Edinburgh to explore this urgent issue, its implications for yak milk safety, and the challenges of conducting science in the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park.
Humane World for Animals UK (formerly known as Humane Society International UK) will take its campaign to ban farrowing crates to Edinburgh today (14 April) by installing a life-sized animatronic pig named Penny to highlight the harsh reality faced by tens of thousands of mother pigs on industrial farms.
Penny will appear inside a metal crate like those used to confine sows while they give birth and nurse their piglets. The striking installation is designed to show the severe restriction endured by mother pigs kept in these systems.
You can meet Penny at the Mercat Cross today from 10am – 2pm.
As of 2025, Scotland is home to 25,600 sows, about half of whom are kept in indoor pig farms that keep mother pigs in these cages. Under current laws, they can be kept for up to five weeks confined in narrow metal cages every time they give birth, typically two or three times a year.
The cages are so restrictive that the animals are unable to turn around and have little opportunity to engage in natural behaviours such as nest-building or moving freely with their piglets, damaging their physical and mental health.
Polling commissioned by Humane World for Animals UK revealed that 84% of the Scottish public reject the use of farrowing crates for mother pigs.
Over half of respondents (54%) stated they would be willing to pay more for meat from crate-free pigs, indicating opportunities for farmers to benefit from the highest welfare standards financially.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns at Humane World for Animals UK, said: “Many people are shocked that such extreme, prolonged confinement is still legal in Scotland.
“Farmers must end cruel caging, not replace old cages with new ones that would condemn millions more pregnant and nursing pigs to future decades of misery. A cage is a cage, and public opinion is clear: mother pigs don’t belong behind bars.
“With the Scottish election fast approaching, our tour is turning public compassion into political pressure. Voters in Edinburgh and across Scotland are demanding change and joining our call for the next Scottish Government to support farmers to put an end to pregnancy cage cruelty.”
DON’T miss Planetarium Lates As part of Edinburgh Science Festival 2026, enjoy an adults-only science night out with classic films inspired by the creatures that roamed the Earth over 65 million years ago in the Planetarium at Dynamic Earth.
Jurassic World (2015) Saturday 11th April 2026 | 8pm
Godzilla (2014) Sunday 12th April 2026 | 8pm
Discover more showings for ages 18+ including ‘Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon’, and stargazing with our in-house astronomers.
Book your ticket with Edinburgh Science Festival, or visit our website:
As part of 
Jurassic World (2015) Saturday 11th April 2026 | 8pm