Tag: Edinburgh International Festival

‘A Budget filled with hope for Scotland’s future’

Progress for Scotland, by Scotland

The 2025-26 Budget will deliver progress for the people of Scotland, with a record increase in frontline NHS spending, and plans to lift 15,000 children out of poverty by mitigating the UK Government’s two-child limit from 2026.

Setting out the Budget to Parliament, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the government had listened and would now act on the priorities of people, businesses and organisations across the country – delivering progress for Scotland, by Scotland.

The 2025-26 Budget includes:

  • a record £2 billion increase in frontline NHS spending taking overall health and social care investment to £21 billion to reduce NHS waiting lists, making it easier for people to see their GP, and progress the Belford Hospital, Monklands Hospital and Edinburgh Eye Pavilion projects
  • funding for universal winter heating payments for older Scots, and investment to allow the mitigation of the two-child cap from 2026
  • tax choices that freeze income tax rates, increase the Basic and Intermediate rate thresholds to put more money in the pockets of low and middle-income earners, and provide business rates relief for hard-pressed local pubs and restaurants
  • a record £15 billion for local government to support the services communities rely on and £768 million to provide 8,000 more affordable homes
  • £4.9 billion of action on the climate and nature crises to lower emissions and energy bills, protect the environment, and create new jobs and opportunities
  • a real-terms uplift of 3% for spending on education and skills to maintain teacher levels and invest in school infrastructure, as well as new funding to put more breakfast clubs in primary schools
  • a £34 million uplift for culture in 2025-26

The Finance Secretary said: “I am proud to present a budget that delivers on the priorities of the people of Scotland.

“Parliament can show that we understand the pressures people are facing. We can choose to come together to bring hope to people, to renew our public services, and deliver a wealth of new opportunities in our economy.

“This Budget invests in public services, lifts children out of poverty, acts in the face of the climate emergency, and supports jobs and economic growth.

“It is a budget filled with hope for Scotland’s future and I look forward to working with all parties in Parliament to secure agreement around its provisions.”

Scottish Budget 2025 to 2026 – gov.scot

The 2025-26 Scottish Budget also includes:

  • £6.9 billion total investment in social security, including the Scottish Child Payment
  • almost £4.2 billion across the justice system in 2025-26, including £1.62 billion for policing to support capacity and capability, £881.1 million for prisons, including £347 million for the prison estate to deliver HMP Glasgow and HMP Highland, and £159 million for community justice services to support the wider use of community interventions
  • over £2.6 billion towards public transport to support bus, rail and ferry services and increases the dedicated funding available to the four councils operating their own ferry services to £50.3 million
  • over £660 million for rural communities to support the crucial contribution of Scotland’s farmers, crofters and the wider rural economy
  • almost £90 million to protect, maintain and increase our woodlands and peatlands, to restore more than 15,000 hectares of degraded peatland and ensure the creation of more than 11,000 hectares of woodland across Scotland
  • a £34 million uplift for culture in 2025-26, building on the £15.8 million increase in the last Budget to take the total incremental increase in culture funding to almost £50 million – the halfway point in our commitment to increase funding to culture and the arts by £100 million more annually by 2028-29
  • £6 million for the National Islands Plan to deliver infrastructure projects designed in partnership with islanders to support successful and resilient island communities
  • protection for free tuition and a 3.5% increase in total investment in Higher Education, compared to a 3.08% increase in university funding in England

Ben Macpherson MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s budget commitment to provide significant additional funding for the Granton Waterfront regeneration project, with a long-term agreement to be formalised in 2025.

Having spoken regularly about Granton in the Scottish Parliament this year, and previously, to promote the area as a strategic development site for Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole, Ben Macpherson MSP is delighted that the Scottish Government has committed financial support to significantly progress the City of Edinburgh Council’s ambitions plans.

The budget statement by Shona Robison MSP included: “I can confirm today that we will be working with Edinburgh City Council to unlock over 800 new, net zero homes at their Granton development site.”

In the Scottish Parliament, during the Budget statement and question session, Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith said: “As the local constituency MSP, I believe passionately in the significant potential for the development of Granton Waterfront to help tackle Edinburgh’s housing challenges, to transform the northern part of our capital city for the common good, and to deliver economic growth, new opportunities and multiple positive benefits for existing communities and our country more broadly – that’s why I have worked constructively to highlight all of this to Ministers, and am therefore delighted and grateful that the Finance Secretary has committed to working with City of Edinburgh Council to deliver 800 more homes.

“Can the Finance Secretary say more about the Scottish Government’s commitment to the development of Granton Waterfront – as a strategic site – and the positive impact this will deliver for the people of Northern Edinburgh and Scotland as a whole?”

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Shona Robison MSP, replied: “Ben Macpherson is absolutely right, the Granton Waterfront development is a big deal for Edinburgh, and we will work with Edinburgh Council over the coming months and hope to announce a deal on the detail early in the 2025-26 financial year to support this multi-year project.

“And I talked in my statement about it unlocking 800 new net-zero homes of mixed types and tenures but also sustainable transport links and placemaking initiatives.

“This can be a gamechanger for Edinburgh and I am very acutely aware of the housing need in Edinburgh, and I think this will go a long way to helping as part of this solution.”

Ben Macpherson MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, added: ““This is a very significant step forward towards tackling Edinburgh’s housing emergency and realising all of North Edinburgh’s remarkable potential.

“I have passionately and consistently supported the regeneration of Granton Waterfront throughout my time as the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and have worked to be a constructive link between the Scottish Government and the City of Edinburgh Council in this collective endeavour.

“The vacant and derelict land in Granton has the potential to be transformed into a new residential hub and a destination to visit for locals and tourists alike – just like in Dundee and other waterfront cities across the world. It is fantastic that the Scottish Government has committed to this vision and given pivotal financial backing to make it happen!

“Edinburgh continues to face significant, various housing challenges and building more affordable homes is crucial in helping to tackle this. With Scottish Government support, the development plans for Granton will deliver transformational change to benefit the local area and the wider economy.

“It has been a consistent priority since my election to promote and deliver more affordable housing in Northern Edinburgh – as well as accompanying infrastructure and facilities in the area, like cultural and creative hubs, opportunities for small businesses to thrive, and key services such as schools and health centres – and I look forward to seeing the development of Granton benefit the people of Edinburgh in the years ahead, and the additional investment and opportunities that will be created.”

BUDGET REACTION:

Responding to today’s Budget statement by the Finance Secretary, John Dickie, Director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, said: “The Finance Secretary is absolutely right to mitigate the two-child limit in the absence of abolition at UK level. It’s a pernicious policy that pushes 15,000 children into poverty in Scotland alone.

“Investing in social security for families is key to delivering on the First Minister’s number one priority of eradicating child poverty.

“The devil will be in the detail and families really can’t wait until 2026 to see their incomes boosted, so an above inflation increase to the Scottish child payment is still needed in the meantime.

“But there is no question this is the right focus for prioritising spend. We need the UK government take the same approach to investing in family benefits as a matter of utmost urgency.”

CHILD POVERTY ACTION GROUP

COSLA

Responding to today’s Scottish Government draft budget, Poverty Alliance chief executive Peter Kelly said: “The two-child limit is a huge injustice that has no place in a compassionate society – because every child matters and every child should get support they need.

“We welcome the Scottish Government’s proposals today, and we hope that the UK Government works positively and quickly to get this extra support to households with children. We hope it adds to the pressure to scrap the two-child limit across the UK.

“With record numbers of children in temporary accommodation, additional investment in affordable homes and homelessness prevention is necessary and welcome. But we know that more social homes are needed to tackle the housing emergency in Scotland – meeting that challenge requires further investment.

“Many of our members have called for the Scottish Government to make up the difference for pensioners who have had Winter Fuel Payments taken away from them. They will welcome today’s plans.

“We have worked directly with people who are forced to live on a pittance by the unjust UK asylum system, and we supported their campaigns for free bus travel. It is welcome that the Scottish Government have allocated to funding to that proposal, which will increase their freedom to build a life beyond poverty and take part in society. We hope this is the start of a move to provide bus passes to more people – starting with those eligible for benefits.

“But we can do more. There are around 240,000 children in poverty in Scotland. We need to go further and faster if we are going eradicate child poverty.

“That means more immediate support through the Scottish Child Payment and using our powers over tax and investment to build a stronger society for all of us – especially people in poverty.”

POVERTY ALLIANCE

SAVE THE CHILDREN SCOTLAND

SCVO

SCOTTISH HOSPICES

“Today @scotgov announced £768m to buy or build 8k affordable homes next year. It is a sign it’s taking the housing emergency seriously but it is only a reverse of previous cuts. As a result, it’s a cut in real terms as same money buys less now compared to two years ago.

“Though it is a step forward, 8,000 homes is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed There are 243,000 people on waiting lists in Scotland. The last decades have seen the decimation of council housing because of a lack of funding, stock transfer and right to buy.

“This government needs to deliver more social housing by allocating greater funding for stock buy back and for social and council house building programmes, to ensure more people have a stable, secure, affordable place to live.”

LIVING RENT

We welcome the budget statement from the Scottish Government signalling the value it places on culture & the arts.

Culture is the beating heart of Scotland & this budget offers us all hope for a more stable, positive future.

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Creative Scotland wholeheartedly welcomes the positive news of the substantial uplift for Culture, including Creative Scotland, in the Scottish Government’s draft budget announced today. 

In 2025/26, Creative Scotland’s draft Grant-in-Aid budget from the Scottish Government will be £80m, up from £51.4m in the previous year. Included in this is an additional £20m, specifically for use in supporting the Multi-Year Funding programme and an additional £2m to support delivery of Screen Scotland’s strategy. 

The Board of Creative Scotland will meet on 16 December to agree the final budget for Multi-Year Funding and a further update will be made following that meeting. 

The final outcomes from the programme will be announced by the end of January. 

Creative Scotland’s Chair, Robert Wilson, said: “Today’s draft budget announcement by the Scottish Government is enormously welcome. The major boost to Multi-Year Funding and other activities opens up wider opportunities, and we are grateful to the Scottish Government for this significant vote of confidence in Creative Scotland and the creative and culture sector. 

“This is especially positive in the light of the long-term financial challenges the sector has been dealing with and will enable people and organisations to once again look forward with more confidence.” 

CREATIVE SCOTLAND

Today’s budget released by the Scottish government is a “step in the right direction” but comes too late to ease the winter crisis already hitting some of the country’s A&Es.

This is the response from The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) following the budget announcement today – Wednesday 4 December 2024 – by Finance Secretary Shona Robison MSP.

The College has welcomed the announcement of £200 million to tackle delayed discharge, a key contributor to long A&E waiting times and a 25% increase in social care spending.

The budget also included a £2 billion increase in frontline NHS spending to reduce waiting lists and improve access to GPs.

However A&Es continue to face the current reality, with NHS Grampian declaring a ‘critical incident’ last week due to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary being over capacity.

Dr Fiona Hunter, RCEM’s Vice Chair for Scotland said: “We welcome the government’s commitment to addressing many of the systemic issues that have plagued our health care system – its patients and staff – for far too long.

“RCEM has long campaigned for a sustained focus on tackling delayed discharge and improving social care capacity and this budget represents a step in the right direction. We are glad our call, and those of others highlighting this issue, have been answered.  

“However, it has not come soon enough to ease pressures faced by A&Es who are working under extreme pressure to care for patients right now.

“We restate our commitment to working with the Scottish government to bring an end to this reality and #ResuscitateEmergencyCare in Scotland, for generations to come.”

The budget statement comes just one day after an Audit Scotland report revealed the number of people remaining in hospital because their discharge has been delayed – often due to a lack of social care capacity – is the highest on record.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE

In response to today’s Scottish Government Budget, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Older people across Scotland will be relieved to see the return of some help with winter energy bills through the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment from next year.

“For many not currently receiving Pension Credit, or those just above the eligibility, this money is desperately needed. Although not what they were originally due to receive, last week’s decision has been welcomed by older people in financial hardship across Scotland.  

“It’s also good news that Scottish Social Security has been uprated with inflation, including entitlements that are important to older people, such as Pension Age Disability Payment and Winter Heating Payment. Many people in later life will be reassured that this has been confirmed.  

“We are pleased to see that the Scottish Government is focussed on supporting renters. Over recent years both the number of older people renting privately and the proportion in poverty has risen. The increase in the Discretionary Housing Payment funding pot is an important lifeline to many older private renters, making up rent shortfalls, and the increased investment in social homes building should give tenants of all ages more security.  

“However, it is concerning that the Scottish Welfare Fund, which can be a crucial safety net for older people when emergencies occur, such as needing help with food or heating costs, has not been increased. 

“Generally, the older people in financial hardship that we speak to will feel heard by the Scottish Government today. However, we remain concerned about older people this winter. Going forward, the Scottish Government must continue to make decisions that improve the lives of older people in poverty.”

INDEPENDENT AGE 

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive, LGIU Scotland, said: “We know from our annual survey that local government finances in Scotland are hanging by a thread. One in four councils are afraid they won’t be able to pass a balanced budget next year. Three quarters are warning that they may not be able to do so within the next five years. Today’s Budget from the Scottish Government does not engage with the scale of that challenge.

“Local government may welcome commitments to the New Deal with Local Government continuing work on a fiscal framework and plans to deliver new revenue raising powers. However, they will be dismayed to see how much funding continues to be ring fenced.

“There is an increase in core funding in today’s Budget but it doesn’t cover the ever growing costs of core statutory services.

“The Scottish Government has responded to the concerns of councils and has removed the freeze on council tax rises, but the Cabinet Secretary’s expectation that record funding levels should mean councils do not need to put up council tax is too complacent. 

“The truth is that even with the additional funding announced today, local authorities will still need to raise council tax and make cuts to services and will still edge closer to being unable to balance their books.”

LOCAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION UNIT

Commenting on the Finance Secretary’s Budget statement this afternoon, Director of CAMRA Scotland Stuart McMahon said: “Pub goers and licensees will be raising a glass to the news that the Scottish Government are finally introducing help with the burden of business rates that have contributed to scores of pubs having to close their doors in recent years, and at a higher rate than elsewhere on these islands. 

“Pubs are a vital part of our social fabric and it is right that they will now get the same 40% reduction in business rates that pubs in England get. It is also encouraging that pubs on island communities will continue to get a 100% reduction with their business rates. 

“In order to make sure our pubs survive and thrive at the heart of our communities ministers must now commit to reforming the entire Business Rates system to make it fairer. The Scottish Government should level the playing field between online and bricks-and-mortar businesses and finally end the shocking overpayment that pubs have to cough up under the current system.” 

CAMRA

Mary Glasgow, chief executive at Children First said:  “The Cabinet Secretary says this budget will lift children out of poverty but given that Scotland faces a childhood emergency it is difficult to see how. 

“The promise of jam tomorrow, in the form of mitigating the UK two-child cap does nothing to alleviate the plight of thousands of children and families across Scotland who are going hungry today. 

“We called on the Scottish Government to invest in early help and support for families and to increase the Scottish child payment.  It is disappointing that they have chosen to delay investing in children rather than taking immediate action. Children can’t wait.” 

CHILDREN FIRST

Edinburgh International Festival attracts new audiences

EIF attracts new audiences with Affordable Tickets and Innovative Experiences

  • The 2024 Edinburgh International Festival was more inclusive than ever: more than twice the number of tickets were issued to under 18s, young musicians, and D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent audiences compared to last year.
  • The most expansive affordable ticket offer to date saw over 50% of tickets for the 2024 International Festival sold at £30 or less, with over 5,000 £10 tickets purchased by those who needed them most — a 100% increase on 2023.
  • Scottish talent took centre stage, with 50% of performers from or based in Scotland, all five national performing companies featured, and over 200 specialist freelancers, demonstrating the essential role of Scotland’s arts sector in delivering the International Festival. 

The 2024 Edinburgh International Festival concluded yesterday after an exhilarating 24-day celebration of opera, dance, music and theatre in Scotland’s capital. With over 160 ticketed performances and more than125,000 attendees across the city’s venues, the Festival showcased 21 world, European, UK and Scottish premieres affirming its role as an essential destination for arts and culture. 

Under the leadership of Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, the theme Rituals That Unite Us successfully brought together over 2,000 internationally renowned artists from 42 nations, exploring the deep connections which bind us all through live performance.

At the heart of this year’s Edinburgh International Festival was a commitment to ensuring that cost is not a barrier to cultural discovery, making high-quality art accessible to the broadest possible audience. 

Over 50% of tickets were sold at £30 or less, and more than 5,000 targeted £10 tickets were sold — a 100% increase on last year. Double the number of free tickets were taken up by NHS staff, charity workers, and low-income benefit recipients through the Tickets for Good programme, marking the highest uptake since the Festival signed up to the initiative.

Additionally, the number of D/deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent concession tickets doubled, with twice as many people enrolling for the Access Pass, which provides a tailored experience for audience members with access requirements. 

The International Festival reaffirmed its dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences, with a notable increase in young people attending and participating. This year saw more than triple the number of free tickets to young musicians issued through the Young Musician’s Pass compared to 2023 and U18s ticket purchases rose by 100% from 2023.

Over half of all bookers were new to the Festival this year, the highest level since the pandemic. The International Festival also focused on talent development, with initiatives like Rising Stars providing early career artists with invaluable opportunities to work and perform alongside professional mentors such as the Leonore Piano Trio and Yura Lee. 

As an international festival deeply rooted in Scotland, an impressive 50% of the artists were from Scotland in 2024, highlighting the exceptional calibre of local talent alongside their international peers.

This included approximately 250 multigenerational performers in the world-first Healing Arts Scotland Opening Celebrationat the Scottish Parliament, and representation from all five Scottish national performing arts companies—National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and Scottish Chamber Orchestra.  

The International Festival also employs over 200 specialist freelancers and relies every year on a pipeline of talented writers, actors, musicians, dancers, singers, producers, facilitators, technicians and cultural workers.

In the precarious funding landscape currently faced by the Scottish arts sector, the Festival remains committed to supporting and advocating for the indispensable community of creative individuals and organisations of which Scotland can rightly be proud. 

Under the theme of ‘Rituals That Unite Us’, the 2024 International Festival programme also reimagined ways in which live performance could bring audiences and artists closer together. 

Audiences sat in beanbags to enjoy six informal concerts at the Usher Hall, including Brazil’s Ilumina, The Hallé, and the European Union Youth Orchestra, while The Hub series once again welcomed audiences into the home of the International Festival for intimate and unforgettable performances from around the world. 

Six artist rehearsals were made accessible to the public and schools, offering a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creative process, while 20 Q&A sessions were offered by artists after their performances to deepen the experience for attending audiences.  

Offering a deeper look into the Festival’s inner workings, 36 audio introductions, hosted by Kate Molleson and Nicola Benedetti, featured insights from artists, programmers, and creatives behind the programme’s performances.

Listened to 32,794 times by audiences, The Warm Up invited artists to discuss the unique rituals they undergo before creating a piece or stepping onto the stage. Nicola Benedetti also made her BBC Radio 3 presenting debut in a six-part series focusing on the origin story and impact of the International Festival, which continues to broadcast until 7 September.

Additionally, nineteen concerts from the Festival were recorded for BBC Radio 3 and will be available on BBC Sounds. More than 130 behind-the-scenes videos shared across the International Festival’s social media channels garnered 1 million views from online audiences. 

Additionally, over 300 people enjoyed a free VR experience with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Festival’s inaugural Community Connections Hub, held this year in the Edinburgh suburb of Broomhouse. Following this, 2,000 attendees attended a Family Concert at the Usher Hall, where young music lovers had the chance to experience the Philharmonia Orchestra in person, with Festival Director Nicola Benedetti performing on violin. 

Over 7,000 people joined together for a new ritual for the city and the International Festival at the highly anticipated Opening Event: Where to Begin, presented in partnership with The Macallan. Where to Begin launched Edinburgh’s festival season with an immersive experience at the historic Old Town site of George Heriot’s, brought to life by the creative team at Pinwheel. 

Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti said, “Our Festival has been an outstanding success this year. The theme, Rituals That Unite Us, resonated in profound ways with our visiting artists and home community. Although we bring stories from around the world, they change when they interact with the unique spirit of Edinburgh, artist upon artist expressing their awe and desire to return.

“We diversified the experiences in our venues, making the Festival as accessible and affordable as possible. Beanbags returned, as did the intimacy of our home, the Hub.  We programmed exceptional international premieres, doubled the number of Under 18 tickets on last year, and tripled the Young Musician’s Pass attendees – an initiative that offers free Festival tickets to young musicians.”

“Against a tumultuous backdrop of funding crisis, two aspects of our identity were reinforced and strengthened. We are deeply rooted in Scotland, and will continue to present the best of Scottish talent alongside our international counterparts.

“Most importantly, we are making an indelible impact on access to culture for our local community. To present the world’s greatest art to the broadest possible audience is what we are here to do.” 

Chief Executive, Francesca Hegyi said “Our theme for this year’s programme, Rituals that Unite Us, beautifully captured the sense of togetherness felt throughout this past month. There’s something profound and powerful about this shared experience that brings people from every corner of the world and all walks of life together.  

“As we celebrate this year’s Festival, we must also recognise the current fragility of the Scottish cultural sector. With 50% of our 2024 artists hailing from Scotland, the Festival relies on exceptional local talent both on and off the stage and we are deeply concerned about the ongoing survival of our creative community.  

“The International Festival is the original spark that lit this city’s path to becoming the world’s Festival City. “Now, 77 years later, we thank you for joining us once again for the ritual that we look forward to each year: the Edinburgh International Festival.” 

Edinburgh International Festival announces free Immersive Philharmonia Orchestra VR experience at Space @ Broomhouse

The Edinburgh International Festival announces the opening of the Philharmonia VR Experience at Space @ Broomhouse Hub, which will be available for four days of music and discovery from 20th – 24th August.

This 360° experience, which is free to attend and unticketed, brings the classical music experience to Broomhouse with the opportunity to see the UK premiere of the Philharmonia VR Experience’s performance of Vaughan Williams’s iconic piece, The Lark Ascending, performed by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti with the Philharmonia Orchestra.

Attendees will wear a VR headset which will allow them to sit right in the heart of the orchestra and experience this profoundly moving performance in astonishing detail. This VR experience will be staffed by graduates and members of Space Station, an entry level skills development course designed to support local people into the hospitality sector.

The Philharmonia VR Experience marks the first Edinburgh International Festival event held at Space @ The Broomhouse Hub which was named as the Edinburgh International Festival’s inaugural Community Connections Hub earlier this year. Which is an 18-month partnership exploring opportunities for creative collaboration and connection between the Festival and the local community.

Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub said: “This is a wonderful thing to be able to bring to Broomhouse. Despite being in Edinburgh, it can often feel as though big cultural activities are set very far apart from communities like those in Southwest Edinburgh.

“This partnership will allow people to experience things they never have before or take part in things that they simply would never have considered. This is the first event as part of our link with Edinburgh International Festival and we are excited to see what the next 18 months might bring.”

This event is free and unticketed. Each slot is 20 minutes long. Listed below are the times the VR Experience is open.

Wed 21 Aug 11.30-13.45, 15.00-16.00, 17.00-18.40

Fri 23 Aug 11.30-13.45, 15.00-16.40

Sat 24 Aug 10.30-11.45, 13.15-14.00, 15.00-16.40

More information on the Edinburgh International Festival’s Discovery and Participation programme, which runs year-round, can be found here: https://www.eif.co.uk/social-impact.

Where to Begin to light up the city

Only one week left before the Edinburgh International Festival’s spectacular Opening Event

  • Exclusive sneak peek of the stunning projections designed by Pinwheel and a legend of Scottish music announced as part of the event’s creative team.

Audiences are invited to ignite their festival season with Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event: Where to Begin, set to light up the grounds of George Heriot’s in the heart of the Scottish capital on 2, 3 and 4 August in response to this year’s Festival theme: Rituals That Unite Us.

Tickets are now available on Festival’s website.

Blending immersive installations, performance, spectacular video projections and captivating storytelling, Where to Begin is the perfect opening to the city’s festival season.

Released today are stills from the projections designed by UK’s leading creative production company, Pinwheel, giving the audiences a taster of the spectacular event they can expect.

It is also announced that “One of the finest singer-songwriters in Britain” (The Guardian), Karine Polwart features on a new track commissioned for Where to Begin, composed by Roma Yagnik with lyrics by Davey Anderson and Simon Sharkey. Listen to a snippet of the song here.

An Edinburgh International Festival production, created by Pinwheel and in partnership with The Macallan, Where to Begin transforms an iconic Edinburgh location into the epicentre of creative power, exploring the myths and rituals which shaped the country, the capital and its festivals.

These include the process of whisky making and the warm welcome visitors to the city received in 1947 thanks to the private donations of coal rations by Edinburgh residents which were used to light up Edinburgh Castle during the first ever Edinburgh International Festival.

Edinburgh International Festival announces a new annual youth exchange programme

This year’s project is inspired by the World Premiere of The Outrun, based on Amy Liptrot’s best-selling book

Edinburgh International Festival devised a new exchange programme for young creatives to connect young people from Edinburgh with peers from another national or international location. Each year, the project will be connected to an artist or performance within that year’s programme.

This year’s Festival sees creatives aged between 16 and 18 in Edinburgh (from Lyceum Youth Theatre) and Orkney (Kirkwall Grammar School) exploring themes of home, nature and identity in connection with The Outrun, directed by Vicky Featherstone and written by Stef Smith, based on a book by an Orkney-born author Amy Liptrot. They are supported by local artists and the artists from the production.

The groups have met separately over the last few months and recently came together in Orkney (28-30 June) and are scheduled to meet again in Edinburgh between 9 and 11 August. The project will culminate during the Edinburgh International Festival in August 2024 where the groups will attend a performance of The Outrun and view an installation of their creative work presented in the Church Hill Theatre throughout August as part of the Festival.

Clara, a young participant from Edinburgh said: “I’m really excited to see The Outrun in August on stage. I haven’t read the book, but I think I’m a very visual person, so seeing it on stage might inspire me to read it afterwards.

“Being in Orkney and seeing what all of this has been based on will be really cool. All the themes of home, some of the like scenes of Orkney, and how she feels about it – I’ll be able to picture somewhere and really connect with it.”

Izzy, a young participant from Orkney said: “I haven’t worked with people in like a big group creatively outside of like school class so it’s nice to do it in a more relaxed environment.

“I’ve got to work with people who have different experiences to me which has made me reflect on my own perspectives. And then you listen to them write about their experiences and what I can take from that and put into my own writing.”

Edinburgh International Festival adds new names to 2024 Programme

  • The Edinburgh International Festival expands 2024 programme, including gigs from Declan McKenna, Nadine Shah and Lisa O’Neill, and keynote speaking events from Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, rapper and activist Akala, and Invisible Women author Caroline Criado Perez
  • Music reaches into Edinburgh neighbourhoods and unites artists and audiences as never before. Activity includes a VR experience in a community hub in Southwest Edinburgh, a mass outdoor celebration with 250 performers of all ages at the Scottish Parliament as part of the world-first Healing Arts Scotland week and pop-up performances in Edinburgh hospitals
  • Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti’s second year as Festival Director promises an exhilarating 24-day celebration of the arts in Edinburgh, featuring world-class artists spanning opera, dance, music, and theatre from August 2-25

New events have been added to the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival programme, culminating in a total of 167 performances across 24 days from the world’s leading performers in opera, dance, music and theatre.    

Anchored by the theme ‘Rituals That Unite Us’, this year’s International Festival is an invitation for both artists and audiences to come together and celebrate the powerful impact live performance and collective experiences have on us all. 

Three gigs are added to a dynamic contemporary music lineup this year, with Declan McKenna, Nadine Shah and Lisa O’Neill joining a stellar array of performers that include Cat Power, Jordan Rakei, Chilly Gonzales and Bat for Lashes. 
 
Under Festival Director Nicola Benedetti’s direction, a renewed focus on dialogue and debate initiates a new series of keynote talks from leading voices calling for change: Former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Gordon Brown, rapper and activist Akala and Caroline Criado Perez, best-selling author of Invisible Women. Further information about speakers found below. 

Cast additions for several International Festival staged shows include The Fifth Step, where Sean Gilder joins Jack Lowden in the world premiere play at The Lyceum from 21-25 August; and Isis Hainsworth, Paul Brennan, Ros Watt and Alison Fitzjohn join the cast of The Outrun, which also makes its world premiere in August at the Churchill Theatre from 3-25 August.  

Former Scottish Opera emerging artist Shengzhi Ren takes centre stage as Oedipus, King of Thebes, in the cast of Oedipus Rex. Joining him in this promenade opera staged in the National Museum of Scotland’s Grand Gallery are Kitty Whately, Roland Wood, Callum Thorpe and Emyr Wyn Jones. Additional tickets for the production are now available. 

As part of the International Festival’s ambition to become cultural convenors in neighbourhoods and healthcare settings across Edinburgh, a range of events will bring artists into new spaces across the city.  

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub becomes the International Festival’s inaugural Community Connections Hub, following a city-wide call-out to community centres to engage in ongoing collaboration during festival season and throughout the year.

After interest from 22 community spaces from across the city, the first partnership with Space @ The Broomhouse Hub will see events and activities take place across the next 18 months, with an ambition to collaborate with more of these spaces in the coming years.   

During August, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub hosts a free VR experience from 2024 resident orchestra the Philharmonia which runs from 19 – 24 August. This 360° experience of Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending makes its UK premiere and features Festival Director Nicola Benedetti as the solo violinist. In Virtual Reality, viewers are placed right at the heart of the orchestra to experience the performance in astonishing detail.  

Audiences can also experience the performance live, as part of a relaxed Family Concert on Sunday 25 August at Usher Hall. The Family Concert is also live captioned and BSL interpreted by deaf musician Paul Whittaker, who will interpret the pieces of music as well as spoken text. 

The first-ever Healing Arts Scotland also launches as part of the Edinburgh International Festival this year, a week-long celebration of arts and health events highlighting the joy they bring to those who take part, and their importance to the nation’s physical, mental and social health. 

It is the first ever countrywide Healing Arts Week, following previous city-wide celebrations around the world, including New York, Paris, London, Venice and Jaipur, and is led by Scottish Ballet as part of the Jameel Arts & Health Lab’s global ‘Healing Arts’ campaign, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation.  

The Healing Arts Scotland Opening Celebration event takes place on Monday 19th August at the Scottish Parliament as part of Edinburgh International Festival, featuring over 250 performers and participants from across Scotland in an energetic celebration of music and dance that captures the spirit and healing power of coming together through the performing arts.

Ensembles featured include Scottish Ballet, National Youth Pipe Band, TRYST, Oi Musica and SambaYaBamba Youth Street Band. 

Scottish Ballet will present a specially commissioned dance piece featuring an ensemble cast of community performers, including Scottish Ballet’s Youth Exchange company, NHS staff, Dance Base’s PRIME Elders Dance company and Dance for Parkinson’s Scotland group.

The work will be performed to the song Mackay’s Memoirs by the late Scottish Celtic fusion artist Martyn Bennett, which celebrates its 25th anniversary – it was originally commissioned for the opening of the Scottish Parliament building on 1 July 1999. 

2024 International Festival artists are also performing across Edinburgh in four NHS hospitals in August. In partnership with NHS Lothian Charity: Tonic Arts, the performance series brings Festival artists into Edinburgh hospitals, creating bespoke moments of musical and creative connections.

Every Friday during August, artists will perform in hospitals including the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, delighting audiences who may not be able to experience International Festival performances in traditional venues. This is part of a year-round programme of monthly music moments in hospitals across Edinburgh and Lothian. 
 
In another outdoor series of performances, the Usher Hall takes the festival experience from the stage to the open-air, with pop-up performances across August. Groups such as Commotion (Edinburgh Women Samba Drummers), the Edinburgh Samba School’s TESS group, Rainbow Ukes and Southside Strummers ukelele groups will light up the Usher Hall forecourt, in a series of free encounters with music makers from across the community. 

Edinburgh International Festival Director, Nicola Benedetti, said: “The Edinburgh International Festival has always been proud to provide a platform for some of the most exciting voices in music, performance and thought leadership.

“Over 77 years, this original festival that started it all, has brought people of different cultures and viewpoints together to share, debate and exchange ideas through art, and this year’s no exception.
 
“Our inaugural Community Connections Hub, NHS Festival Fridays and the world-first Healing Arts Scotland week are a perfect example of the Festival bringing together communities and ideas in spaces and places outside of a theatre in August.

“Art has the power to transform, and I encourage everyone to seize this opportunity to come together and be thrilled, challenged, and discover something new.” 

Scottish Ballet CEO/Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson said:”Healing Arts Scotland 2024 will be an inspirational week-long celebration of the huge impact the arts has on the nation’s health and well-being.

“Scottish Ballet is proud to be leading on this global outreach project in collaboration with the WHO and a host of partner organisations such as Edinburgh International Festival. I’m really excited about the largescale participation performance taking place outside Scottish Parliament – it will be a true testament to all the wonderful arts health work that happens every day across Scotland.” 

Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub said: “The inaugural Community Connections Hub is fantastic news for Broomhouse and Southwest Edinburgh.

“This partnership will open up the Edinburgh International Festival to new audiences, allowing local people and families to enjoy cultural experiences our communities don’t normally access.

“We look forward to seeing all the exciting things the partnership will bring this summer and the coming year.” 

More about the 2024 International Festival artists and speakers: 
 

Declan McKenna, 12 August at Edinburgh Playhouse 

Vibrant indie-pop protagonist Declan McKenna is set to make his dazzling Edinburgh International Festival debut at just 25.

Following his breakthrough win at Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent competition in 2015, McKenna now has three critically acclaimed albums under his belt, and will perform songs from his latest, What Happened to The Beach?

Nadine Shah, 22 August at the Queen’s Hall 

Mercury Prize nominee Nadine Shah adds profound depth to the International Festival’s contemporary lineup with her powerful voice, socio-political lyrics and a unique blend of jazz, post-punk, and indie rock.

She comes to The Queen’s Hall stage after an explosive start to 2024 supporting Depeche Mode on an arena tour and the release of fifth studio album, Filthy Underneath.

Lisa O’Neill, 21 August at the Queen’s Hall 

A striking voice on the Irish folk scene for the last 10 years, Lisa O’Neill brings her distinct blend of folk tradition and contemporary nuance to Edinburgh. A raconteur in the truest sense of the word, O’Neill inimitable voice is raw and loaded with emotion, as evidenced in latest record All of This Is Chance.

Her remarkable adaptation of Bob Dylan’s ‘All the Tired Horses’ soundtracked the final scene of epic TV drama Peaky Blinders. 

Former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Gordon Brown, 25 August at the Festival Theatre 

In a keynote speaking event, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Rt Hon Gordon Brown imagines a world where peace and fairness are the order of the day. He explores the connections between his imagined future and the International Festival’s founding vision.

Now serving as the UN Special Envoy for Global Education and the WHO Ambassador for Global Health Financing, a passion for global access to education, healthcare and improved living standards continues to motivate everything he does.

Caroline Criado Perez, 18 August at the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh 

Award-winning author and activist Caroline Criado Perez’s work is centred around meaningful change. Her campaign work spans across the physical and digital realm, achieving real results from petitioning for a female historical figure on Bank of England banknotes, to getting the first statue of a woman (Millicent Fawcett) in Parliament Square, London.

Following her best-selling book Invisible Women, Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, Criado Perez delves into her continuing research on how to leverage the transformative power of accurate data, and what it takes to create a world that works for all. 
 
Akala, 10 August at the Festival Theatre 

From activist to hip-hop artist to social entrepreneur, Akala is a true polymath with a constantly evolving career. He speaks on a wide range of topics, including race, British and African-Caribbean culture, the arts, and music and youth engagement.

Natives, Akala’s 2018 memoir-polemic, discloses what it was like for him to grow up mixed race and working class in 1980s Britain, linking his own testimony of structural racism with the history of colonialism and the British Empire’s damaging legacy. At the International Festival, Akala confronts home truths, and inspires us to challenge the status quo in a talk that embodies the need for us to unite. 

All keynote events will have BSL interpretation and live captioning. 

Edinburgh International Festival announces first Community Connections Hub

eif.co.uk / @edintfest  

• The Edinburgh International Festival unveils the first Community Connections Hub following an  open call out earlier this year 

• Space @ The Broomhouse Hub will work with the Edinburgh International Festival over a period of  at least 18 months to explore opportunities for collaboration and connection 

• In August, the Community Connections Hub will host a free VR Experience where visitors can use a  VR headset to be fully immersed in a 360° concert by the Philharmonia Orchestra 

The Edinburgh International Festival today announces Space @  The Broomhouse Hub as the very first Community Connections Hub.

Space @ The Broomhouse Hub  was chosen following an open call out by the International Festival for an Edinburgh-based community organisation for a partnership that will last at least 18 months and will explore opportunities for collaboration  with the International Festival and the local community in Broomhouse. 

In August, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub will host a free VR experience from resident orchestra  Philharmonia. This 360° experience of Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending makes its UK premiere  and features Festival Director Nicola Benedetti as the solo violinist.

This will allow the user to sit right in the heart of the orchestra through Virtual Reality, allowing them to experience the performance in  astonishing detail.  

As well as hosting the Philharmonia VR Experience, this partnership will be a fully collaborative process, and will be entirely shaped by Space @ The Broomhouse Hub and the International Festival’s shared ideas  and activities. 

This new residency model is designed to deepen understanding between the International Festival and the  local community, strengthen connections and enrich the local community and the spirit of the Festival. 

The Edinburgh International Festival is committed to developing long-term connections with Edinburgh’s Communities by exploring what our core values of discovery and connection mean for Edinburgh’s citizens whilst finding ways to reflect the ideas, ambitions and creative interests of different communities within our organisational commitments.

The International Festival wants to build long-term and sustainable  connections and have chosen a residency model working with one focused partner to allow for deepening  two-way understanding, allowing time to mature connections and realisation of joint ambitions. 

Caroline Donald, Head of Discovery & Participation, Edinburgh International Festival said: “The Edinburgh International Festival are really looking forward to working with our new community  partners Space @the Broomhouse Hub and working together to make new connections, getting to know all  the families and people in the community to create and share cultural experiences.” 

Neil Hay, CEO, Space @ The Broomhouse Hub, said: “This is fantastic news for Broomhouse and Southwest Edinburgh. This partnership will open up the  Edinburgh International Festival to new audiences, allowing local people and families to enjoy cultural  experiences our communities don’t normally access.

“We look forward to seeing all the exciting things the  partnership will bring this summer and the coming year.” 

More information on the Edinburgh International Festival’s Discovery and Participation programme, which runs year-round, can be found here:

https://www.eif.co.uk/social-impact.

Edinburgh International Festival’s 2024 programme brings audiences and artists closer together than ever before

  • The Edinburgh International Festival unveils an expansive programme of world-leading opera, music, theatre and dance from 2-25 August 2024, when the original festival that defines Edinburgh as the world’s Festival City returns for another year. 
     
  • This is the second year under the helm of Festival Director and Scottish violinist, Nicola Benedetti. ‘Rituals That Unite Us’ is the theme underpinning the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival, responding to an overwhelming desire for togetherness from artists and audiences following on from 2023’s question ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’. 
     
  • From immersive beanbag concerts and virtual reality to drop-in rehearsals and a site-specific promenade opera, the 2024 programme is defined by a deepened commitment to creating a closer union between audiences and artists through innovative and informal experiences. 
     
  • To reach the broadest possible audience, 50% of tickets for the 2024 International Festival will be sold at £30 or under, free tickets are available for young musicians, and £10 Affordable Tickets will be available for every performance in the 2024 programme. 
Classical Music: Yuja Wang, Elim Chan, Marin Alsop, Jakub Józef Orliński, Alison Balsom, Hilary Hahn, Dame Sarah Connolly, Ian Bostridge, Steven Osborne, Nicola Benedetti, Maxim Emelyanychev, Sir Mark Elder, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Sir Donald Runnicles, Gianandrea Noseda, Jennifer Stumm, Thierry Fischer, Philharmonia Orchestra, Bamberger Symphoniker, Ilumina, The Hallé, European Union Youth Orchestra
 
Opera: Malin Byström, Opéra-Comique, Komische Oper Berlin, Scottish Opera, Kirill Serebrennikov, Sir Andrew Davis, James Gaffigan, Saimir Pirgu, Golda Schultz 

 Theatre and Dance: Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, Jack Lowden, Crystal Pite, Grupo Corpo, Aakash Odedra, David Ireland, Vicky Featherstone, Stef Smith, 1927, Eline Arbo, Christiane Jatahy, Scott Silven, Teatro La Plaza 
 
Contemporary Music: Cat Power, Bat for Lashes, Chilly Gonzales, Youssou N’Dour, The Magnetic Fields, The Grit Orchestra, Tirzah, Jordan Rakei, Balimaya Project, Endea Owens, Domo Branch  Celtic Music: Breabach, Mànran, Ceilidh Trail, Cätlin and Marko Mägi, Finlay MacDonald and Ali Hutton, Goitse, VRï  

Scottish companies and ensembles: Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus, National Theatre of Scotland, Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh, Scottish Opera, National Youth Choir of Scotland, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Edinburgh Festival Chorus, Scottish Ballet 

From 2-25 August 2024, Edinburgh International Festival presents a hand-picked selection of leading international and local local artists in the world’s Festival City, with 24 days of world-class opera, dance, music and theatre.  

The 2024 programme comprises 161 performances from over 2000 artists across 42 nations, all joined under the theme,‘Rituals That Unite Us’.

The theme responds to an overwhelming desire for togetherness from artists and audiences following on from 2023’s question ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’.

Reasserting the value of shared experiences, the 2024 International Festival celebrates the practices, traditions and festivities that give us meaning and connect us – as a festival, a city, and as a society.

The second year under Festival Director and Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, the 2024 programme offers an increased range of innovative and informal audience experiences, designed to create closer union between artists and audiences.  

Audiences can enjoy a virtual reality experience filmed within an orchestra, a site-specific promenade opera and, by popular demand, an expanded programme of beanbag concerts placing the audience among performers to experience music in a unique way.

The programme also features an all-ages family concert, a participatory dance and music work outside The Scottish Parliament, and post-show talks with artists in The Hub, returning with a bigger programme as the International Festival’s home and ‘green room’. This year the venue will be open to the public for informal dining, drop-in rehearsals and Up Late performances.

There is also a deepened commitment to reach the broadest possible audience, with 50% of tickets for the 2024 International Festival to be sold at £30 or under, thousands of free tickets available for young musicians, and £10 Affordable Ticketsavailable for every performance in the 2024 programme.

Year round, the International Festival offers three pathways for people of all ages and backgrounds to make the most of their creative potential and create a growing social impact in Scotland.

Underpinning the 2024 Festival is an ambition to deepen connections with young people, communities and the arts industry, from a youth takeover day and opportunities for emerging talent to a first-time partnership with an Edinburgh community space and pop-up performances in NHS healthcare settings.

Highlights of the programme include:

  • Two world premiere theatre productions from Scottish creatives: The Fifth Step, a thrilling new play written byDavid Ireland,directed by Finn den Hertogand starring BAFTA-nominated Scottish actor Jack Lowden; and the stage adaptation of Amy Liptrot’s bestselling memoir,The Outrun, brought to life by Oliver Award-winning playwright Stef Smith, director Vicky Featherstone and Edinburgh’s producing theatre, The Royal Lyceum Theatre Company.
  • Five extraordinary operas, of which three are staged and two are performed in concert, including Opéra Comique’s production of Bizet’s Carmen with Gaëlle Arquez in the title role; and Komische Oper Berlin’s production of Mozart’sThe Marriage of Figaro, directed by Kirill Serebrennikov. A new production of Stravinsky’sOedipus Rex by Scottish Opera takes over the National Museum of Scotland, performed in promenade with a 100-strong community chorus from across Scotland. 
  • A two-part opening weekend exploring different ways of telling the same great story, with two distinct interpretations of the Passion: Latin American and Afro-Cuban musical styles mix with contemporary classical expressions in the Scottish premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’s La Pasión según San Marcos, and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, their Chief Conductor Ryan Wigglesworth and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus take on Johann Sebastian Bach’s masterpiece, the St Matthew Passion, in Mendelssohn’s 1841 version. 
     
  • The return of beanbag concerts, inspired by Budapest Festival Orchestra’s founder Iván Fischer’s shows last year, with the audience seated on beanbags to experience classical music in a unique way. A variety of musical performances include family-friendly presentations from European Union Youth Orchestra with Gianandrea Noseda, and Barokksolistene’s The Alehouse Sessions, transforming the Usher Hall into a 17th-century English tavern, complete with sea shanties and folk-favourites.
  • The Opening Event – a large-scale outdoor opening event for 10,000 people evoking the mythology and history of Scotland’s rich heritage, in collaboration with single malt Scotch Whisky, The Macallan, with creative producer Pinwheel. Further details will be announced closer to the event. 
     
  • The Philharmonia Orchestra in residency, including performances of Verdi’s Requiem (conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali) and the International Festival’s Closing Concert, Strauss’s Capriccio (conducted by Sir Andrew Davis), with Malin Byström. The Philharmonia also present the UK premiere of Julia Wolfe’s Fire in my Mouth, a multimedia performance conducted by Marin Alsop, with the National Youth Choir of Scotland. 
     
  • A stellar dance and theatre offering full of UK, European and World Premieres with leading creatives and companies such as Internaational Theater Amsterdam, Crystal Pite, Kidd Pivot, Grupo Corpo, Aakash Odedra, National Theatre of Scotland, Jack Lowden, 1927, Teatro La Plaza, Émilie Monnet, Waira Nina, Christiane Jatahyand more.
  • The Bamberger Symphonikerin residence with conductor Jakub Hrůša for three performances that include works by Brahms, Dvořák and Hans Rott, and a family-friendly explainer event, Beyond the Score, taking a deep dive into Dvořák’s New World Symphony.
     
  • A final residency with Ilumina, the São Paulo-based artist collective founded by violinist Jennifer Stumm. Known for their model of 21st century creativity and artist-led advancement of diverse talent, their first visit to the International Festival sees them give two concerts with the audience seated on beanbags and two performances in The Hub. 
     
  • Projects which go beyond the performances on stage with an ambition to create a growing social impact in Scotland through the performing arts, include: a first-time Community Connections Hub, inviting audiences to experience the Philharmonia Orchestra in Virtual Reality within their own community space; Culture Clubs bringing together community groups to explore ‘Rituals that Unite Us’ through a shared meal and performance; pop-up performances in NHS healthcare settings; a Youth Takeover Dayfor senior pupils in Edinburgh schools; and schools performances and workshops across music, opera, theatre and dance for secondary school pupils.
  • A contemporary music programme including gifted singer-songwriter Cat Power; indie-pop sensation Bat for Lashes; polymath composer and piano personality Chilly Gonzales;beloved orchestral-pop group The Magnetic Fields; one of the most famous voices in African music, Youssou N’Dour; the mighty 80-piece contemporary Scottish GRIT Orchestra; South London electronic singer-songwriter Tirzah; a blend of West African folkloric music, the sounds of Black London and the London jazz scene with Balimaya Project; and a signature mix of electronic and soul from New Zealand-born Jordan Rakei.
     
  • Leading soloists include Dame Sarah Connolly, Yuja Wang, Golda Schultz, Alison Balsom, Hilary Hahn, Jakub Józef Orliński, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Ian Bostridge, Steven Osborne and more. 
     
  • The Hub, the International Festival’s HQ on the Royal Mile, is once again home to the most intimate performances and discussions from virtuosic musicians sharing their respective culture, traditions and rituals through music and instrumentation. A programme of leading Celtic musicians includes Irish quintet Goitse, an International Festival debut from Welsh folk band VRï and the 25th anniversary of Fèis Rois’ Ceilidh Trail. Further across the globe, innovative musicians from Brazil, China, America, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, West Africa and India come to Edinburgh in a truly international programme. 

As part of the International Festival’s ongoing commitment to accessibility, the 2024 programme includes 25 accessible performances, including ten audio described performances, five BSL interpreted performances, and nine captioned performances.

The concession ticket for D/deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people is increased from 30% to 50% off all full price tickets, with options for a free essential companion ticket still available where required.

The types of accessible seating options held for members of the free Access Pass initiative has also been expanded to include aisle seats and seats with additional leg room, across all Festival venues. 

General booking for the 2024 International Festival opens on Thursday 21 March, with tickets currently on-sale to Members and supporters.

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival said: “As we join forces with the world’s greatest artists and bring them here to Edinburgh, we do so with a deeper dedication to our audience.

“This year the Edinburgh International Festival inaugurates new and reimagined rituals, honouring tradition and innovation, to bind us closer together. We invite you to seek and gather with us this August – there is always something new to discover.” 

Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said: “It’s fantastic to see the 2024 programme for the Edinburgh International Festival. This promises to be a unique and exciting chapter in the Festival’s rich history with over 2000 of the world’s extraordinary artists performing here this August.”

“It’s particularly encouraging to see initiatives such as making free tickets available for young musicians, and £10 Tickets available for all performances.

“Given we are in the midst of a challenging cost of living crisis and our festivals have a key role in providing us all with opportunities to enjoy exceptional and entertaining experiences, these will hopefully contribute towards the goal of choice and access for everyone in our city.

“The International Festival is an integral part of the Capital’s cultural calendar and as a Council we’re proud to support it.” 

Kaukab Stewart, Scottish Government Minister for Culture and International Development, said: “As we raise the curtain on another Edinburgh International Festival, we’re reminded of the power of art to unite and inspire us all. 

“More than 2,000 artists from 42 countries will exhibit their talents, and these extraordinary performances from a diverse range of cultures and traditions reaffirms Scotland’s place as the perfect stage to host major events.
 
“As the new Minister for Culture, I’m proud to welcome the world to Scotland for the International Festival, and I’m looking forward to enjoying an abundance of exceptional entertainment taking place on our doorstep.” 

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson said: “For more than three quarters of a century, the Edinburgh International Festival has provided a platform for the world-class music and performing arts we are so proud to have in this country, as well as for brilliant artists and musicians from across the globe. 

“The millions of people who flock to Edinburgh to enjoy and take part in it each year enrich our lives and fuel our shared economy. That’s why the UK Government is so proud to support it.

“The arts have a unique power to bring us together, and to help us see the world through others’ eyes. I’m delighted that, this year, the International Festival will focus on the rituals that unite us – and look forward to seeing the diverse and dynamic work that theme inspires.” 
 
Iain Munro, Chief Executive, Creative Scotland said: “Nicola Benedetti continues to drive the Edinburgh International Festival programme forward in her second year as Director with another inspired artistic offering.

“This year’s thematic focus on unity and togetherness provides opportunities to blur the lines between artist and audience, promoting connection and communal experience in our increasingly divided world.

“The International Festival continues to earn its reputation as a shining light in the global cultural calendar by uniting people through great art.” 

Further programme information by genre: 

Classical Music 

Edinburgh International Festival welcomes the world’s top orchestras and musicians for 22 spectacular symphonic concerts at Usher Hall and 19 intimate morning recitals at The Queen’s Hall. The symphonic concert series revolves around residencies from three outstanding orchestras and ensembles. 

Offering unique perspectives on how we experience a contemporary symphony orchestra, these residencies allow for a more profound engagement with Edinburgh communities, from primary school pupils to emerging artists, extending the orchestra’s presence beyond Usher Hall.

This approach also lowers the environmental footprint for each performance by the visiting artists. 

Edinburgh International Festival announces major opening event in partnership with The Macallan

Edinburgh International Festival has announced a new Principal Partner, single malt Scotch Whisky, The Macallan. Together, they will create a large-scale opening event to mark the start of August in Edinburgh.

Responding to this year’s International Festival theme, ‘Rituals That Unite Us’, the 2024 opening event is an outdoor event welcoming 10,000+ people to create a new ritual together for the International Festival and the city of Edinburgh.

The collaboration between The Macallan and the International Festival is a creative union between two iconic Scottish brands, which draws upon a combined heritage, a shared creativity and global reach, all firmly anchored in Scotland.

Ambitious in scope and storytelling, the opening event evokes the mythology, history and Scotland’s rich cultural heritage. It showcases a range of artforms and performers, inviting audiences to step into a transcendent world that explores our past, present and future, inspired by Edinburgh’s iconic landscape as a city built on layers. 

The opening event is devised by an extraordinary creative team led by creative producer Katy Fuller at Pinwheel, whose track record includes projection festival “North of the Tyne, Under the Stars” which celebrated the landscape and legends of the region, “Land of Green Ginger” for Hull UK City of Culture which transformed all corners of the city through a series of Acts of Wanton Wonder, and a portfolio of projects with artists ranging from dreamthinkspeak to Antony Gormley.

Blending myths and reality, the International Festival’s collaboration with The Macallan enlivens a shared history of Scottish creativity and craftsmanship, in what is set to be a visually stunning opening event to mark festival season in Edinburgh.

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, said: “This year’s Edinburgh International Festival will be a momentous celebration of the collective experiences that bind us closer together.

“We share The Macallan’s commitment to artistic innovation and collaboration, and to true mastery. This flourishing partnership will enable audiences to experience Festival traditions in new and extraordinary ways; our unmissable opening event will allow us to see ourselves and our history on the grandest of stages, and inspire us to think differently.”

Jaume Ferràs, Global Creative Director, The Macallan, added: “2024 marks The Macallan’s 200th anniversary through a celebration of time.

“As part of this milestone, we are delighted to be working with the Edinburgh International Festival and draw upon our combined heritage, creativity and artistic power.

“Edinburgh International Festival is renowned as the world’s leading arts festival bringing a rich tapestry of Scottish stories to the global stage. We look forward to combining our creative talents and connecting local and global audiences with the highest quality of Scottish storytelling through this exciting new opening event for Edinburgh International Festival.”

The full Edinburgh International Festival programme will be announced on 7 March 2024.

Tickets will be on sale on 21 March 2024, with priority booking for members. Sign up to the Edinburgh International Festival newsletter for up-to-date information at www.eif.co.uk. 

Rituals That Unite Us: Edinburgh International Festival announces first performances and theme for 2024 Programme

Edinburgh International Festival today unveils the first details of the 2024 Festival, and the second from Festival Director Nicola Benedetti, taking place from 2-25 August 2024.

After a resoundingly successful 2023 Festival, which posed the question: ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’ the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival explores ‘Rituals That Unite Us’.

Reasserting the need for reconciliation and the value of shared experiences in today’s increasingly disconnected world, the curated programme of live music, theatre, opera and dance celebrates the practices, traditions and festivities that give us meaning and connect us – as a festival, a city, and as a society. 

This promises to be a thrilling year for opera lovers as five operas feature in the 2024 International Festival programme, three fully staged and two in concert. The first of these to be announced is the iconic Carmen, from globally celebrated Parisian opera house Opéra-Comique, the venue in which the opera premiered in 1875.

This production, led by German director Andreas Homoki, celebrates Carmen’s 149-year legacy on a replica stage of the Opéra-Comique recreated on the stage of Edinburgh’s Festival Theatre, complete with seven iron doors constructed by Gustave Eiffel, the creator of Paris’ famous tower. 

The score also remains true to the ‘opéra-comique’ style, where musical pieces are interspersed with dialogue, emphasising the comedic elements of Georges Bizet’s visionary writing. 

The cast includes; Gaëlle Arquez as Carmen, a role in which she has captivated audiences since 2017; star tenor Saimir Pirgu as Don José; Elbenita Kajtazibi as Micaëla; and Jean-Fernand Setti as Escamillo.  

In an exciting collaboration that sees the International Festival once again working with Scottish national companies on an international stage, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra performs under the direction of Louis Langrée, General Director of Opéra-Comique and Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  

Assembly Hall is a major new dance-theatre work, Scottish Premiere, and International Festival co-production, from Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite. Described by the Guardian as “a 21st-century dance genius”, Crystal Pite, alongside playwright Jonathon Young, present a dance-theatre hybrid that promises the company’s signature wit and invention. 

Also taking place at the Festival Theatre, but set in a community centre, Assembly Hall follows a group of medieval re-enactors coming together for their annual general meeting, a tradition that for the group serves as a bridge between the past and the present.

The event they are organising has fallen on hard times, and unless they take bold measures, this venerable order faces dissolution. As the meeting progresses, the line between reality and re-enactment begins to blur, ancient forces are awoken, and it becomes clear that there is much at stake.  

Delving into the very human need to gather, Assembly Hall explores what stories we tell and repeat, and how those customs reflect our identity. 

The theme ‘Rituals That Unite Us’ responds to feedback on the International Festival’s 2023 theme, from audiences, artists and the public, that wherever we go next – and despite our differences – we must go together.

The 2024 theme takes inspiration from philosopher Byung-Chul Han. His book The Disappearance of Rituals reminds us that what we do, over time, defines who we are, and that our collectively experienced rituals help ground us and bind us closer together.

A central idea of the book is the humility, sacrifice and participation required to maintain community rituals. This will be explored in the programme through events marking the 900th anniversary of the city of Edinburgh in 2024. Other key ideas include the sacred rituals of life and death, and rituals around the art of seduction. 

As well as a programme of live performances and discussions with the world’s finest artists and rising stars, the International Festival continues its commitment to stage large-scale events, inviting participation from communities across Scotland.

In 2023, 500 amateur and professional musicians joyously performed in Princes Street Gardens for thousands of audience members. In 2024, the International Festival will collaborate with the World Health Organisation and Scottish Ballet to host the first ever nationwide Healing Arts campaign, Healing Arts Scotland.

The week-long activation will begin on 19th August 2024, and will include performances, exhibitions, workshops and high-profile policy discussions. 

Nicola Benedetti, Festival Director, Edinburgh International Festival, says: “Next year’s Edinburgh International Festival celebrates the unifying force of collective live experiences. We continue to pursue an openness towards diverse perspectives, and in exploring ‘Rituals That Unite Us’, reflect our deeply human need to connect with one another.  

“When beliefs differ, when we are not aligned over a shared singular fight, it is always an effort, always tricky, always messy. But this is what our festival was founded to do.

“People use the word ‘soft’ when speaking of the power of the arts, but to open hearts and minds is the toughest and most serious thing we can offer people. It all starts with belief and trust. We led with this feeling in 2023, and we will deepen it in 2024.” 

Full programme will be announced with tickets going on sale in March 2024, with priority booking for members.

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