Pupils, families and local businesses come together to support older people and strengthen the local community
LifeCare Edinburgh is delighted to announce that Stockbridge Primary School has raised an incredible £1,016 through a wonderful whole-school fundraising effort, with every pupil getting involved to support the 85-year-old charity’s vital work tackling loneliness and isolation in the local community.
The fundraising event, organised by Stockbridge Primary Parent Council, saw pupils, families, neighbours and friends from the school community take part in mass workouts and a family-friendly guided walk in Stockbridge – along the pathways of the Water of Leith. Funds raised were shared between LifeCare Edinburgh and Stockbridge Primary Parent Council.
The event also featured a hugely successful raffle, generously supported by dozens of local businesses and Take Hold Church who collectively donated funds and prizes.
LifeCare offers a range of services for local older people including registered day clubs, outreach support, meals on wheels, help at home and dedicated wellbeing support for unpaid carers.
From its thriving Community Hub and Café on Cheyne Street, LifeCare also delivers a year-round programme of free activities and events designed to reduce loneliness and isolation, strengthen community connections and bring people of all ages together.
Community support has never been more important. With a rapidly growing older population, LifeCare has seen demand for its services increase by 32% over the past year and now supports more than 1,140 local older people annually.
The charity is working hard to ensure older people can continue to thrive in their own homes, stay connected to their communities and avoid the loneliness and isolation that too often accompanies later life.
Claire Montgomery, Fundraising and Communications Manager at LifeCare Edinburgh, said:“We are incredibly grateful to everyone at Stockbridge Primary School, the Parent Council, the pupils, families and everyone who took part in making this such a wonderful community event.
“Raising £1,016 is a fantastic achievement and every pound will make a real difference to the lives of local older people and their unpaid carers.
“It is particularly special because this was a true community effort, bringing together generations of local people to support one another. We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of the businesses who donated raffle prizes so generously.
“Their support demonstrates the incredible community spirit that exists here in Stockbridge. At LifeCare, we believe no one should feel alone or isolated, and this support will help us continue providing practical help, companionship and opportunities for people to stay connected within their communities.“
For more information about LifeCare Edinburgh’s services and activities, visit:
The proportion of young people going into education, training or work nine months after finishing school is the joint highest since records began. Additionally, the level of young people from deprived backgrounds going into positive destinations is the highest it has ever been.
The latest Summary Statistics for Follow-up Leaver Destinations for 2024-25, show 93.5% of young people were in positive destinations including training, education, and employment. This is up from 93.1% the previous year. Alongside 2021-22 figures, this represents the joint-highest level since consistent records began.
The proportion of young people from the most deprived backgrounds in a positive follow-up destination is as high as it has ever been. The gap between those leaving school from the most (20%) and least (20%) deprived areas in accessing a positive follow-up destination was 7.6 percentage points. This is narrower than both last year (8.3 percentage points) and the pre-Covid position in 2018-19 (8.4 percentage points).
The increase in school-leavers in reaching positive destinations over the latest year has been driven by a rise in the proportion in Higher Education (from 38.1% to 40.2%) and Further Education (from 21.9% to 22.1%).
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “These figures illustrate that Scotland is amongst the best places for people to start their careers and pursue their life’s passion after finishing school.
“It’s fantastic to see record-high levels of young people going onto training, education, and employment when they leave school. This is testament to the hard work of those young people, teachers and staff that support them.
“Our commitment to free university tuition, generous student support and more apprenticeships means that young people, regardless of the path they choose, have a variety of great opportunities available to them.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Children’s Services Coalition commented: “While it is encouraging to see that the proportion of young people entering education, training or employment nine months after leaving school is at its joint highest level since records began, it is disappointing to see a widening gap between school leavers with additional support needs and those without ASN.
“In academic year 2022/23, the gap between those with ASN and those without ASN entering a positive destination stood at 6.2 percentage points. This has increased to 6.6 percentage points in 2024/25, highlighting that too many young people with additional support needs continue to face barriers to achieving positive outcomes after leaving school.
“These figures demonstrate that, despite overall progress, further action is required to ensure that all young people have equal opportunities to move into education, training or employment. This includes ensuring that children and young people with ASN receive the support they need throughout their education and during the transition from school to adulthood.
“While the overall increase in positive destinations is welcome, these figures underline the need for renewed action to ensure that young people with ASN are not left behind. The Scottish Government and local authorities must work together to ensure that sufficient resources, specialist support and effective transition planning are in place so that every young person has an equal opportunity to achieve their potential.”
Returning for its ninth year, the hugely popular Awesome Bricks event lands at East Lothian’s National Museum of Flight this Father’s Day weekend, 20-21 June.
Families and fans of all ages are invited to enjoy a brick-tastic weekend packed with creativity, hands-on fun, and aviation inspiration at the Museum, located on the historic wartime airfield at East Fortune, between Haddington and North Berwick.
Created in collaboration with LEGO® experts Warren and Teresa Elsmore, this year’s event promises even more building brilliance. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s inaugural journey in 1976. Visitors can help create a giant mosaic of Concorde underneath the iconic aircraft itself.
From hands-on build zones to unique LEGO® fan displays, Awesome Bricks is packed with interactive engineering experiences which will delight children, parents, and AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO®) alike. Visitors can compete in speed-building challenges and drive a LEGO® train around the tracks.
Steve McLean, General Manager, National Museum of Flight said: “We are delighted to see Awesome Bricks return to the National Museum of Flight for a weekend of invention, creativity and fun.
“As this year marks the 50th anniversary of Concorde’s historic first commercial flight, it is fitting that our big build is a mosaic of this aircraft. Combined with the chance to learn about flight and see the magnificent aircraft in our collections, this event offers a wonderful day out that the whole family can enjoy together.
Awesome Bricks 2026 highlights include:
Brick build zone: Let your creative talents run free with 70,000 LEGO® bricks.
Make a mosaic: Help us build our giant mosaic image of Concorde right next to the real aircraft!
AwesomeVille: Welcome to AwesomeVille! Build your dream house and add it to our growing awesome LEGO® town, including DUPLO® Little Awesomeville for under 5s.
LEGO® train layout: Choose your controller and drive a LEGO® train around the tracks.
LEGO® fan zones: See unique models and tiny worlds created by talented AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO®).
Speed Build Challenge: Race against friends, family or other visitors to see who is fastest in our LEGO® speed build challenge. Can you top the leaderboard?
Visitors can board Concorde, explore four historic wartime aircraft hangars packed with exciting displays telling stories of a century of aviation, and become aeronautical engineers in the family friendly Fantastic Flight gallery.
East Fortune’s wartime heritage is brought to life in the Museum’s Fortunes of War exhibition, and visitors can step back in time by exploring the recently restored Second World War blast and air raid shelters.
Awesome Bricks
Sat 20 – Sun 21 Jun (Father’s Day weekend) 10:00 – 17:00 National Museum of Flight Tickets from £17, book in advance to save
A Harbour Homes sheltered housing tenant said she had “no regrets” as she celebrated her 100th birthday.
Betty Cowan marked her centenary surrounded by family and friends, with a week of visits, parties and celebrations. Fellow tenants and staff at Harbour Homes’ Hermitage Court sheltered housing development in Leith also joined in the festivities.
Born in Leith on 13 June 1926, Betty has remained close to her roots throughout her life. The second youngest of 10 children, her family moved to Restalrig in 1936.
During the Second World War, Betty was evacuated. She recalled: “I got the train at the bottom of Easter Road and we thought we were going miles away… it was Lasswade. We thought we were at the end of the world.”
Throughout her life, Betty has enjoyed socialising, going to clubs, dancing and the cinema.
Hard work has been a theme throughout Betty’s life. She started her working life when she was 14 at a rubber mill in Leith, before moving on to Gaudie’s Box Makers and Lamb’s.
Betty worked in Crawford’s the bakers in 1963, when John F. Kennedy was assassinated. She worked until she was 78 and enjoyed holidays abroad until she was in her early nineties.
Betty also worked in Marks and Spencer on Princes Street as a cleaner. She still has a 20% discount for the retailer and a pension.
She met her husband Jimmy at Gaudie’s when she was 22. Together they had four children: James, Michael, John and Janis. Sadly, John and James have since passed away.
Betty has four grandchildren and one great-grandson, though the family suffered a further loss last year with the death of her granddaughter Nicola.
Despite the hardships her family has faced over the years, Betty remains positive.
Pic Neil Hanna
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Betty said: “I’ve been very lucky. I’ve had a really good life, a good family, we’ve had our wee ups and downs, but everything is lovely now. I’ve got no regrets and I’ve never wanted for anything.”
Betty moved into Hermitage Court in 2009 and says it was one of the best decisions she has ever made, enjoying both the friendships and the wide range of social activities.
“I love being here — it’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” she added.
Having witnessed many changes in Leith and Edinburgh over the decades, Betty embraced a more recent development last year when she took a tram trip to St James Quarter, enjoying the view down Leith Walk.
Her secret to a long and happy life? Simple. “I believe in working hard. Looking after young children keeps you young — well, it’s obviously done that for me!”
Pic Neil Hanna
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Maureen Combe, who leads the Sheltered Housing team at Harbour Homes, said: “Betty is a much-loved member of our Hermitage Court community, and it has been a privilege to celebrate her birthday with her.
“Reaching 100 years old is an incredible milestone. Betty’s warmth, resilience and positive outlook are an inspiration to everyone around her. The whole community has enjoyed being part of her special celebrations.”
The NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is supported bythe Sean Connery Foundation and BBC Film
EIFF runs from 13 – 19 August 2026
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), the National Film and Television School (NFTS) Scotland and The Sean Connery Foundation have announced that the six short films created as part of the second NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab will have their World Premieres as part of this year’s Film Festival.
The short films are Bubbles (Writer/Director: Jagoda Tlok); Shutterbug (Writer/Director: Fin Bain); My Little Blue Heart (Writer/Director: Iqbal Mohammed); PANG (Writer/Director: Lara Delmage); St Anthony (Writer/Director: Declan Dineen); Angel in the House (Writer/Director: Missy McNaught).
These six films will World Premiere at EIFF’s prestigious showcase event with an invite list of key industry figures from across Scotland, the UK and beyond.
This is the second consecutive year that NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab films have had their World Premiere at EIFF.
Made with the financial support and creative guidance of BBC Film, the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is a transformative 12-month talent development programme which provides a unique opportunity for 22 aspiring filmmakers across five disciplines (writer/directors, producers, cinematographers and editors) to create their own unique short films.
To ensure the programme is as accessible to as many people as possible, each of the 22 places have been substantially subsidised, with 70% of fees underwritten by the Sean Connery Foundation.
Located in Leith, close to the expanding creative quarter under development by FirstStage Studios in partnership with Forth Ports and others, the participating filmmakers from across Scotland have embarked on a collaborative filmmaking journey which began in April 2025.
Six dynamic filmmaking teams were assembled, gaining access to a first-class training curriculum, made up of seminars, hands-on workshops and mentorship opportunities. Dedicated guidance from renowned NFTS Heads of Department and prominent industry executives, including BBC Film, also enriched and enhanced the development and post-production process.
Each filmmaking team received a £25,000 production budget, with free access to cutting-edge equipment and unrivalled training facilities provided by NFTS Scotland. The tailor-made programme has been designed to further amplify the expertise of each participant in their respective craft specialism, allowing them to refine their skills and push the boundaries of creativity.
The programme was also designed to be part-time, enabling participants to strike a balance between other paid work and professional engagements.
Aligned with the unwavering commitment of NFTS to promoting diversity within the industry, the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is dedicated to providing a supportive and inclusive experience for disabled and neuro-divergent individuals, including those with conditions such as dyslexia, a cause close to the heart of The Sean Connery Foundation.
Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded an NFTS Diploma in Filmmaking.
Now, after an intensive 12 months, the NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab has culminated in the creation of six short films that serve as powerful industry ‘calling cards’, offering an invaluable launchpad for the 22 talented individuals to make their mark on the world of film.
The NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab is supported by a wide range of industry partners, trusts and foundations who have pledged their support to underpin the programme with additional funding, bursaries and scholarships.
BBC Film is the production partner with several other partners joining the Talent Lab including: The Dana and Albert Broccoli Foundation, FirstStage Studios, Blazing Griffin, DNA Films, Hartswood Films, Juniper Trust, LS Productions, the Rank Foundation, Synchronicity Films, Baillie Gifford and Progressive Broadcast Hire.
Paul Ridd, CEO and Festival Director of EIFF, has said: “We were once again highly impressed by the range, quality and ambition of these short films.
“We are delighted to World Premiere the work emerging from this exciting initiative, and we look forward to these new filmmaking voices from Scotland announcing themselves at Edinburgh in August.”
Jon Wardle, NFTS Director said: “It’s so rewarding to see the second slate of NFTS Sean Connery Talent Lab films premiere at EIFF.
“Having these six compelling films make their debut at Scotland’s leading film festival is a powerful reflection of the Lab’s ethos, the commitment of our partners, and above all, the extraordinary talent emerging from the filmmaking community across Scotland and beyond.”
Chris Young, Head of the Sean Connery Talent Lab commented: “It’s incredibly exciting to see a second slate of films from the Sean Connery Talent Lab premiere once again at EIFF.
The success of our debut films demonstrated not only the value of this programme but the strength and originality of emerging filmmaking talent in Scotland.
“These latest films continue that momentum, showcasing distinctive and ambitious storytelling.”
Alice Ojha, Commissioning Executive, BBC Film, said: “We’re delighted that the six films from the second year of the lab will receive their world premiere at EIFF; it’s brilliant to see the work of the Sean Connery Talent Lab’s participants being recognised by the festival in this way.
“The range and quality of the films speaks to the wealth of emerging film talent coming out of Scotland and beyond. BBC Film is proud to have been involved in supporting this slate of films and very excited for them to be enjoyed by audiences in Edinburgh this coming August!”
Stephane and Jason Connery, on behalf of the Sean Connery Foundation, said: “We are incredibly proud of what this second cohort of Sean Connery Talent Lab filmmakers has achieved.
“The creativity, ambition and dedication they have shown throughout the programme is reflected in this outstanding new slate of films.
“We are also deeply grateful to the many industry mentors and guest lecturers who have helped make the Talent Lab such a unique experience.
“Their generosity in sharing their knowledge, including contributors such as Andy Harries, creator and executive producer of The Crown, has played an invaluable role in supporting these emerging filmmakers as they take the next step in their careers.”
Edinburgh International Film Festival will run from 13-19 August 2026. Building on EIFF’s reinvigorated vision under new leadership from CEO and Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa, the Festival continues to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.
More information will be released on the shape of the 2026 Festival, venues and key strategic partners in the coming months.
EIFF 2026 is supported by Screen Scotland and the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund.
The EIFF team continues to create a world-class showcase for independent film and filmmaking talent. The Festival is supported by a Board chaired by Andrew Macdonald of DNA Films, producer of the iconic Edinburgh-based film Trainspotting, including Vice Chair Amy Jackson, producer of BAFTA award-winning indie, Aftersun; Peter Rice, former Chairman of General Entertainment at Disney and President of 21st Century Fox; Teresa Moneo, producer and former Director of UK Film, Netflix; Isla Macgillivray, Partner at Saffrey; and gaming executive Romana Ramzan.
Thousands of young people across Great Britain will benefit from access to expanded employment and wrap-around support services as the locations of almost 180 new Youth Hubs are confirmed
Thousands of young people across the country are set to receive employment, education or training support as almost 180 new Youth Hub locations are confirmed.
Areas including Inverclyde, St Albans and Cardiff will see new hubs open in local sports clubs, libraries and other venues at the heart of the community– bringing support out of the jobcentre to meet young people where they are.
Youth Hubs are central to the Government’s once-in-a-generation drive to tackle youth unemployment, backed by £2.5 billion investment.
Thousands of young people across Great Britain will benefit from access to expanded employment and wrap-around support services as the locations of almost 180 new Youth Hubs have been confirmed.
The rollout forms part of a national expansion of Youth Hubs to over 360 areas with the aim that a young person is no more than one hour away from a Youth Hub by public transport.
This will ensure that vital support, delivered in the community, is available to even more young people, making local support services accessible, no matter where they live.
From football clubs to colleges and libraries, the hubs bring together local mental health and housing support, skills and training opportunities as well as careers guidance and work opportunities with links to local employers with live job and apprenticeship opportunities.
Confirmation of the next wave of Youth Hubs came shortly after Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden visited a youth point – the Dutch equivalent of Youth Hubs – during a fact-finding trip to the Netherlands, which has one of the world’s lowest NEET rates.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said: “We want to make sure young people are getting real, personalised support, that’s not one size fits all. I’ve seen how it can change lives.
“Our Youth Hubs have over the past two years pioneered this approach – bringing job centre services together with mental health support, housing advice and more.
“I want to turbocharge this rollout so that every young person has this support within reach that can help them move into learning or earning.”
Yesterday the Work and Pensions Secretary visited the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub, located in the Feldy Community Centre, where he met young people who are currently receiving personalised guidance to allow them to move into employment and training. The Secretary of State heard from young people who have already been helped by the Hub, and how the range of support offered will be central to them moving forward.
Tanzeem Ahmed, Assistant Director of Employment and Training at Poplar HARCA, said: “We’re proud to launch the Tower Hamlets Youth Hub at the Feldy Centre in Poplar this June, supporting local young people to move into work, training or volunteering.
“This welcoming, community-based space brings together personalised support – from CV writing and job applications to accredited training and wellbeing advice – helping young people build confidence and skills.
“By working with partners like Jobcentre Plus, we’re removing barriers and creating clear, positive pathways into employment for local young people.”
Since opening in May 2026, The Tower Hamlets Youth Hub has established itself as an exemplary Youth Hub, working with local stakeholder and partners to ensure a joined-up approach, bringing together access to mental health, wellbeing, employment and skills support for local young people.
Over the next three years, the Government is expanding its network of Youth Hubs to over 360 local areas across Great Britain. This will connect every 16-to-24-year-old across the country and provide themreal opportunities in their local area, ensuring each person has access to high-quality, wide-ranging support to move towards learning or earning.
Our new Youth Hubs will meet young people where they are, in football stadiums and community venues across Britain, giving them access to housing support, mental health help and a clear pathway into work or training, exactly as Alan Milburn recommended.
Youth Hubs are a key part of the £2.5 billion investment in the Youth Guarantee and come alongside changes to the Growth and Skills Levy which aim to refocus the skills system towards people at the start of their working life.
The government is also supporting businesses to hire young workers with a Youth Jobs Grant worth £3,000 for every 18- to 24-year-old hired who has been on Universal Credit for six months, while a £2,000 apprenticeship incentive is available for each new employee aged 16 to 24 taken on by a small business.
Ensuring every young person has the chance to earn or learn through the government’s Youth Guarantee and turning the tide on the nation’s high NEET rate is essential to driving the nation’s plan for growth.
The DWP will now work with local authorities and partner organisations to identify the best locations for the hubs.
Youth Hubs may open ahead of the roll out schedule detailed below subject to local readiness.
Hubs opened in Year One (since announcement in March 2026):
England
Wandsworth, Stockton-on-Tees, Bromley, Bracknell Forest, Guildford, Swindon, Crawley, Reigate and Banstead, Sefton, West Berkshire, Derby, Tower Hamlets, Thanet, Knowsley, Leicester.
Scotland
South Lanarkshire
Wales
Carmarthenshire (Llanelli), Rhondda Cynon Taf, Neath Port Talbot, Caerphilly.
Hubs scheduled to open in Year Two :
England:
Norwich, East Suffolk, Cannock Chase, Greenwich, Ashford, North Northamptonshire, East Staffordshire, Thurrock, North East Derbyshire, Rother, North Devon, Harlow, Maidstone, Lincoln, Bedford, Torridge, Chorley, Milton Keynes, Arun, North Warwickshire, Cheshire West and Chester, Dartford, Breckland, Gedling, East Riding of Yorkshire, High Peak, North Norfolk, South Holland, South Ribble, Somerset, North Somerset, Stevenage, Havering, Slough, Fylde, Melton, West Northamptonshire, Castle Point, Teignbridge, Stafford, Lancaster, South Derbyshire, Canterbury, South Kesteven, Lewes, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire East, Braintree, West Lancashire, Mid Devon, Colchester, North West Leicestershire, Redbridge, Hillingdon, Broxtowe, Bexley, Dacorum, Wychavon, Camden, Malvern Hills, South Staffordshire, Reading, Watford, North Yorkshire, Sutton, Southwark, Dorset, Rugby, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Tewkesbury, Merton, Kensington and Chelsea, Forest of Dean, Broxbourne.
Scotland
Angus, Inverclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Highland, East Lothian, Argyll and Bute, Perth and Kinross, Moray
Wales
Vale of Glamorgan, Flintshire, Cardiff, Powys, Monmouthshire, Gwynedd
Hubs Schedules for Year Three:
England
Lichfield, New Forest, Hinckley and Bosworth, Rushmoor, West Suffolk, Hertsmere, Central Bedfordshire, Staffordshire Moorlands, North Kesteven, Cheltenham, Adur, Rochford, Wiltshire, South Norfolk, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Huntingdonshire, Test Valley, Bromsgrove, Tonbridge and Malling, North Hertfordshire, Wealden, Welwyn Hatfield, Tunbridge Wells, Cherwell, East Devon, Mid Suffolk, Oadby and Wigston, Fareham, Broadland, Sevenoaks, York, Maldon, Exeter, Derbyshire Dales, Charnwood, Blaby, Vale of White Horse, Stroud, West Devon, Babergh, South Gloucestershire, Harrow, Bath and North East Somerset, East Cambridgeshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, West Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Epsom and Ewell, South Hams, Epping Forest, Chichester, Warwick, Runnymede, Tandridge, Winchester, Brentwood, Harborough, Three Rivers, East Hampshire, St Albans, Cotswold, Horsham, Cambridge, South Cambridgeshire, Rushcliffe, East Hertfordshire, Mid Sussex, Ribble Valley, South Oxfordshire, Wokingham, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames, Uttlesford, Hart, Rutland, Waverley, City of London.
Scotland
Stirling, City of Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, Na h-Eileanan an Iar.
TODAY, 16 June 2026, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has unveiled the first look of the new permanent home for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe community, which will be known as Fringe Central.
Historically, Fringe Central was the name given to the Fringe’s annual temporary pop-up hub for artists, media and arts industry during August.
From August 2026 Fringe Central will be a permanent place for everyone who participates at the Edinburgh Fringe, as well as being a new base for the Fringe Society team.
Over the last 12 months, the former schoolhouse at 6 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, has undergone a major refurbishment, with accessibility and sustainability at its core. New features include air source heat pumps, an accessible Changing Places toilet and a new lift, all while preserving the history and aesthetic of both the building and the surrounding area.
Throughout the refurbishment process the Fringe Society has engaged with nearby schools who will benefit from access to the new building and arranged performances and workshops with Royal Mile Primary School, Sciennes Primary School and James Gillespie’s High School as part of this process.
They have also worked with community groups including Canongate Youth (co-tenants in the building) and LGBT Youth Scotland, building on the strong relationships that have developed thanks to the Fringe Days Out project.
The Fringe Society is extremely grateful for the funding support from the UK Government via the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, The Foyle Foundation, SP Energy Networks Transmission Net Zero Fund, and Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund.
The Fringe Society would also like to thank the City of Edinburgh Council for supporting this project with the signing of a 99-year lease for the building.
Tony Lankester, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Societysaid ‘Today is an exciting day for everyone at the Fringe Society, as we formally move into 6 Infirmary Street, which will be known from now as Fringe Central.
“For nearly ten years we have had a desire to create a welcoming space for everyone involved with the Festival Fringe – from artists, producers and venues to Edinburgh’s residents and stakeholders across the city.
“We are extremely grateful to the UK Government, the City of Edinburgh Council and our wider funders and supporters for helping us realise this long-held ambition.
“With just weeks now until the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, we can’t wait to open the doors to the thousands of participants coming to Edinburgh this August for the most important cultural event in the world.”
Arts Minister Ian Murray said: ‘The Fringe Society does fantastic work keeping the largest performing arts festival in the world thriving. It’s high time they have a permanent home, and I know this will support their great ambitions for the festival.
“I know from my summers working at the Edinburgh Fringe that it is all about bringing people together. This hub for the Society, the artists, producers and media is the perfect embodiment of that.
“I know everyone associated with the Fringe and the wider Edinburgh festivals will benefit hugely from the new hub.’
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Robert Aldridge said: ‘It is wonderful to see the vision for Fringe Central realised in this first look.
“As a year-round city centre base, this fantastic facility will provide a welcoming space for everyone involved in the Fringe festival while also creating valuable opportunities and space for local cultural organisations.
“It will serve as a hub for the outstanding outreach work carried out throughout the city all year round.’
The Fringe Society is thankful to all the funders who have supported this project to date, and there is still more to accomplish. As work continues on Fringe Central, the Fringe Society welcomes conversations with organisations and individuals who want to help build the home of the world’s most important cultural festival.
Fringe Central will be a permanent investment in artist support, creative freedom and the future of the performing arts – a space where careers begin, ideas flourish and thousands of artists each year can access the support they need to succeed.
Fringe Central will open to the media and arts industry from Wednesday 05 August, and to artists from Friday 07 August.
Nearly 600 writers from 41 countries gather in Edinburgh from 15–30 August for the 2026 Edinburgh International Book Festival
Over 600 events span fiction, politics, science, history, music, and live performance in a 16-day curated programme
At a time of intense polarisation and entrenched positions, our 2026 theme Changing Your Mind invites audiences to stay open and curious, championing deep listening and celebrating our capacity to evolve our thinking, informed by a range of reliable experts and diverse perspectives
The Festival brings together a carefully curated programme of voices, experts, and ideas, to create space for informed, nuanced public conversation, and encourage new and alternative thinking – a much-needed alternative to debate driven by reaction and polarisation
Major public figures include former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, technology writer Cory Doctorow, best-selling author Michael Pollan, and award-winning poet Claudia Rankine, alongside leading writers from across the world
A landmark rare event brings one of the bestselling writers of all time, John Grisham, and iconic Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin together on stage, crowning The Front List line up at the McEwan Hall. The roster also includes Tom Holland, David Olusoga, Diana Gabaldon, Kiran Desai and Kae Tempest.
Other renowned fiction writers appearing include Maggie O’Farrell, Ann Patchett, Ali Smith, Jenni Fagan, Colm Toíbín, Matt Haig, Louise Welsh, Nao-Cola Yamazaki, Candice McCarty-Williams, Ben Lerner, and 2026 International Booker Prize winner Yáng Shuāng-zi
Greyfriars Kirk becomes a Book Festival venue for the first time, hosting Scotland to the World – a new series connecting leading Scottish writers Ali Smith, Len Pennie, Kathleen Jamie, and William Dalrymple with international musicians, artists and performers.
A strong focus on trust and information runs across the programme, with journalists, analysts and researchers examining misinformation, data, and global narratives, including The New Yorker’s Fergus McIntosh, The News Agents podcast co-host Lewis Goodall, and journalist Yi Ling Liu
The Festival explores the AI revolution and its regulation, with pioneers in the development of AI tools and their application – including Steve Crossan, part of the original DeepMind team; Sarah Wynn-Williams, former Director of Public Policy at Facebook; and Tim Wu, inventor of the term ‘net neutrality’ – weighing its impact and risks
Global Ink convenes 20 cultural leaders from five continents, reinforcing the Festival’s role as an international meeting point for ideas
BBC collaboration transforms the Spiegeltent into a daytime broadcast hub (17–21 August), with live and recorded programming on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds
The Festival’s Young Adults programme returns for its second year, bringing together leading YA authors such as Juno Dawson, Samantha Shannon, and Holly Bourne with performance, spoken word and interactive events tailored for audiences under 30 More than 150 events for children and families, with a Schools programme supporting around 5,000 pupils through free tickets for those in need, transport and books
New partnership with LNER delivers a reimagined Kids Zone with free activities every day of the Festival
Livestreamed and Pay What You Can events, alongside library streaming, extend access across Scotland and beyond
The Edinburgh International Book Festival returns to Edinburgh Futures Institute from 15–30 August with one of its most relevant and international programmes to date.
In a moment of increasing global polarisation, the 2026 Festival – with a hero theme of Changing Your Mind – brings together almost 600 writers from 41 countries for 16 days of ideas, literature, conversation, and performance.
The Festival is where books and words spark new thinking, forge connections across borders, and generate conversations that matter.
The 2026 programme spans the full breadth of contemporary writing – world-class fiction and nonfiction, a rich programme for children and young people, food, poetry, and live performance – with a special focus on how we engage with the world’s biggest questions: from geopolitics and the flow of global power, to the nature of consciousness, the reliability of information, and how we live well together.
The theme, Changing Your Mind, runs through the programme as an invitation to listen, reconsider, and discover something new, unfolding across strands exploring public debate, new thinking in science and consciousness, and the role of stories and art in reshaping how we understand one another.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, pictured outside the Book Festival’s home at Edinburgh Futures Institute. Photo credit Aly Wight.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh international Book Festival, said: “Our theme ‘Changing Your Mind’ speaks to the moment we’re in.
“At a time when opinions seem increasingly polarised and online debate is so divisive, we’re creating space for thoughtful, nuanced conversations – exploring the reasons for our increasing social and political divides, and how we might change each others’ minds, or at least agree to disagree, more agreeably.
“We’re also looking at the potential of the human brain to adapt and relearn, and at the unparalleled power of stories to change our thinking.
Changing your mind is a lifelong process of staying open to new ideas. By bringing amazing speakers and curious audiences together, around knowledge and perspectives that help us challenge our assumptions and see the world differently, we hope the Festival programme this year will help us gain a deeper understanding of both ourselves and each other.”
ARE YOU OPEN TO CHANGING YOUR MIND?
As the world becomes ever more polarised, and opinions increasingly entrenched, we’ve reached a moment where to change your mind is seen as a sign of weakness, or even disloyalty – this year’s key theme seeks to reframe that. A wide range of experts, across three thematic strands, share reliable information and nuanced perspectives, encouraging audiences to think both critically, and flexibly, on a number of prescient topics – and maybe even change their minds about their current stances as they learn more, and expand their understanding.
Can You Change Your Mind? explores how we form and revise our views – featuring internet pioneers Sarah Wynn-Williams, Jimmy Wales and Cory Doctorow on the development of the web, and leading political voices including Gordon Brown, Jeremy Hunt and former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin on the forces shaping our world today. Practical workshops offer tools for more open and productive dialogue.
Consciousness Now looks at how our understanding of the mind is being transformed – with Michael Pollan and Anil Seth in conversation about what remains distinctively human in a machine-led world, and Gwen Adshead and Orlando Swayne on the brain’s remarkable capacity for adaptation and recovery.
Stories That Change Us celebrates reading as a route to new perspectives, with Daisy Fancourt and choreographer Wayne McGregor examining how the arts support wellbeing and cognition, and Claudia Rankine and Kiran Desai sharing the books that have shaped their lives and work.
INFORMATION WE CAN TRUST
The Festival has a long-standing commitment to trusted, verifiable sources and data – and this year’s Good Information strand brings together journalists, analysts and researchers to examine how we know what we know. Sir John Curtice examines what data tells us about Britain’s electorate today; Fergus McIntosh, who runs The New Yorker’s fact-checking department, discusses rigour in modern journalismwith The News Agents podcast host Lewis Goodall; while journalist Yi Ling Liu takes audiences behind the Great Firewall for a fascinating account of China’s internet.
The New World Orders strand brings together leading voices in economics, law and politics – including former US State Department official Edward Fishman and Oxford economist Carl Benedikt Frey on the shifting flow of global money and power, and Rana Dasgupta and Ece Temelkuran on borders and displacement.
More widely, nonfiction programming this year includes discussions on topics as wide-ranging as the World Cup (Simon Kuper, who has attended every one since 1990), designing cities for the future (Gabriella Bennett), bringing data to life with design (Mona Chalabi), and using the law as a framework to navigate and protect our rights, with Baroness Brenda Hale.
GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS
At the Festival, a book is just the beginning, and a starting point for conversations that reach far beyond the page – and that spirit is at the heart of this year’s programme.
Scotland to the World is a special series at Greyfriars Kirk – the first time the venue has been part of the Book Festival – bringing together Scottish writers including Ali Smith, William Dalrymple, Kathleen Jamie, and Len Pennie with artists and performers from Japan, India, the Netherlands and the United States. Supported by the new Expanded Festivals Fund, the series reflects Edinburgh’s status as a global meeting point for culture, and Scottish writers as our ambassadors.
Highlights include a highly experimental production created by pairing Kathleen Jamie’s writing with performance from Japan’s Noh Reimagined theatre company, alongside leading musicians Aidan O’Rourke and Brìghde Chaimbeul; and Dutch contemporary classical collective New European Ensemble presenting four new pieces inspired by Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet, with the author reading alongside.
The Front List, presented in partnership with Underbelly at McEwan Hall, forms one of the programme’s flagship strands: a curated series of large-scale events bringing leading writers, journalists, historiansand performers into in-depth conversation on some of the most pressing questions of our time.
Highlights include Diana Gabaldon marking 35 years of Outlander, Pulitzer and Booker Prize winners including Colson Whitehead, Douglas Stuart (hot on the heels of his Oprah appearance), and Kiran Desai, as well as conversations with voices such as Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Cory Doctorow and the BBC’s Lyse Doucet.
Fiction this year ranges from Colm Tóibín and Maggie O’Farrell to recent International Booker Prize winners Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and Lin King, and international stars Daniyal Mueenuddin and Japanese literary sensation Mieko Kawakami, with Scottish voices including Fern Brady, Jenni Fagan and Graeme Armstrong.
This August also sees a landmark pairing: John Grisham – whose books have sold over 500 million copies worldwide, with more than 50 consecutive number-one bestsellers and translations into almost 50languages – joins Ian Rankin for an event marking Grisham’s first visit to the Festival.
It is a rare chance to see the godfather of the legal thriller genre with one of the biggest names in contemporary crime writing together on stage, celebrating the accessibility of books and highlighting this year’s status as a National Year of Reading.
A limited number of VIP tickets will offer audiences the chance to enjoy a pre-event drinks reception with Ian Rankin, with proceeds supporting the Festival’s charitable aims, including its communities and Schools programmes.
BUILDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The Festival’s international reach extends well beyond its programme. Global Ink, the Festival’s industry forum, reaches a new milestone in 2026 – spanning five continents for the first time, bringing senior figures from 20 of the world’s leading festivals and cultural organisations together for three days of exchange and collaboration with the support of Scottish Government EXPO funding. Now in its third year, Global Ink reflects the Festival’s role as a global meeting point for ideas and the people who champion them.
A multi-year creative partnership with Celtic Connections continues, with The Golden Road – inspired by William Dalrymple’s award-winning book – which premiered at Celtic Connections in January 2026developing into an expanded Festival performance in August.
This year, the BBC will use the Spiegeltent as a base for wider Festival coverage, curating its own selection of content and voices for broadcast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, bringing the atmosphere of theFestival to national and international audiences.
COMMUNITIES, YOUNG PEOPLE, AND ACCESSIBILITY
In the National Year of Reading, the Festival maintains its commitment to bringing the benefits of reading to all. New research shows fewer than 1 in 5 children currently read daily; 1 in 4 children do not reach the expected reading level by age 11. Both within the National Year of Reading, and as a long-term commitment, the Festival creates environments where reading is fun, sociable and imaginative, rather than solely educational.
Twenty percent of this year’s programme is for children and young people, with more than 150 events for families alongside a Schools programme supporting around 5,000 pupils each year through free ticketsfor pupils in need, transport support, and a free book for every participant, supported by Claire and Mark Urquhart. Authors appearing include Cressida Cowell, Julia Donaldson, Neill Cameron, and Jodie Ounsley of Gladiators fame, while the LNER Kids Zone and Families Hangout offer creative activities and relaxed reading spaces designed for all ages, with free events daily.
A dedicated Young Adults programme for readers aged 30 and under includes BookTok sensation Jack Edwards bringing his Inklings Book Club to life as a live podcast, alongside YA authors Juno Dawson, Samantha Shannon, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and Holly Bourne, and a range of special pop-up events let audiences connect with one another and make new friendships.
The Festival’s year-round Communities Programme works to address literacy inequality and social isolation. Paper Trails, the flagship five-year library initiative launched by HM Queen Camilla in 2025 and developed with City of Edinburgh Council, works with five Edinburgh libraries through co-created creative programming.
This August, events will be livestreamed free to libraries across 20+ Scottish local authorities (up from 13 LA’s in 2025), including as far afield as Shetland. Community work will also be visible throughout the Festival in the Communities Cabaret, the Where We Are exhibition featuring work by Edinburgh College of Art students, and writing from young people at Spartan Foundation’s Alternative School, as well as in visits to hospitals and prisons by a range of authors.
Events will continue to be livestreamed globally with a Pay What You Can model helping to widen access, alongside live and AI captioning, British Sign Language provision and events designed for audiences with learning disabilities.
Lyse Ducet, Chief International Correspondent and senior BBC presenter
FURTHER PROGRAMME HIGHLIGHTS
How to Live a Meaningful Life offers warmth and perspective: Waterstones Children’s Laureate and the first ever Children’ Booker Prize judge Frank Cottrell-Boyce discusses protecting childhood, Prue Leithreflects on the pleasures of ageing, and philosopher Julian Baggini celebrates the meaning of coffee – with a tasting from Santu Coffee.
Table Talks returns with the chance to share a meal with writers including Ella Risbridger, Yasmin Khan, Jess Elliott Dennison, Meera Sodha, Michelin-starred chef Santiago Lastra and former Ottolenghi pastry chef Helen Goh.
Poetry ranges from Loud Poets’ Grand Slam Final and Push the Boat Out’s Open Mic Night to Simon Armitage, Hanan Issa and Peter MacKay – the UK and Welsh Poet Laureates and Scottish Makar – on the idea of national poetic identity.
The Festival’s Spiegeltent programme includes a new edition of Buffy’s Book Club, a celebration of 50 years of Scottish punk with Caledonia Screaming, and Hamish Hawk performing the Festival-commissioned Life in a Scotch Sitting Room, Vol. 0, following a UK tour and sold-out Glasgow show.
Workshops cover war reporting with Sally Hayden, translation with Polly Barton, Tarot as a writing tool with Jill Dawson, and – building on the Festival theme – open conversations with Sarah Stein Lubranoand deep listening with Emily Kasriel.
We are excited to share with you this year’s free performances, workshops, talks and activities – including our wonderful art installations (and of course our many fabulous stalls during the day)!
We are really looking forward to seeing you all there, keep an eye out for further info and easy read versions being released soon!
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This week is Men’s Health Week and it is all about encouraging men to take steps to look after both their physical and mental health, as well as breaking the stigma around asking for help.
For more support for men check out the organisations signposted or visit our website: mentalhealth.org.uk
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