Tag: music

Scottish Opera announces 2026/27 Season featuring seven new productions

  • Six new mainstage productions: The Galloping Cure, Turandot, Alcina, Fidelio, Madama Butterfly, and Così fan tutte 
  • Commitment to bringing opera right across Scotland with a new touring production of Hansel & Gretel with local children’s chorus, threePop-up Opera shows and a newly commissioned Primary Schools Tour, visiting over 80 locations in total
  • Season championed by female creative talent with a world premiere by Grammy-nominated Missy Mazzoli, and productions directed by Olivia Fuchs, Ruth Knight, Daisy Evans, Rebecca Meltzer and Lucy Bradley
  • Britten: Music for Voice and Orchestra concert marks the 50th anniversary of the composer’s death
  • Scottish Opera General Director, Alex Reedijk OBE, celebrates 20 years with the Company
  • BUILD brings together a range of initiatives for young people, nurturing the creative arts in Scotland and developing the professionals of tomorrow, on stage and behind the scenes
  • Tickets on general sale from 28 May for mainstage productions with affordable pricing from £23, £15 for under-26s and £12.50 for Access Opera

WATCH THE 2026/27 TRAILER, READ THE SEASON BROCHURE AND LISTEN TO THE SCOTTISH OPERA PODCAST HERE

In its 2026/27 Season, which is unveiled today (7 May), Scottish Opera presents seven new productions spanning almost 300 years of operatic innovation. Ambitious, outward-looking, socially committed and artistically uncompromising, the Company remains as devoted as ever, holding its artistic nerve in challenging times, producing exceptional work at every scale and creating opera for everyone in Scotland.

As Scotland’s largest arts organisation and an industry leader which currently employs 188 staff, and 450 freelancers, it is also dedicated to cultivating the creative arts pipeline of audiences and professionals for the next era of opera. This includes new initiatives such as BUILD, and a new collaboration with Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Alex Reedijk OBE, Scottish Opera General Director said: ‘Opera is not a luxury, it is a necessity. At Scottish Opera, we believe in the power of music, drama, and great art to provoke thought and move people to their core, and in my 20th year as General Director, that conviction has never been stronger. Nothing matters more to us than bringing opera to everyone across Scotland.

‘The mainstage shows at the centre of the Season centre on brilliant, complex, powerful female characters. We also make a concrete, visible commitment to the women shaping the next era of opera including the work of composers and directors Missy Mazzoli, Olivia Fuchs, Ruth Knight, Daisy Evans, Rebecca Meltzer and Lucy Bradley.  

‘There are new co-productions and co-commissions with Irish National Opera, Opera Ventures Productions, NorrlandsOperan, Canadian Opera Company, San Francisco Opera, State Opera of South Australia, and Edinburgh International Festival.

‘Our impact and reach will also be evident as we tour the country, visiting 34 communities with Opera on Your Doorstep, as well as Pop-up Opera, schools shows and outreach and education projects.

‘We are immensely grateful to everyone who buys a ticket and generously supports the Company as a Patron or a Friend, and indeed all our funders. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our performances.’

Stuart Stratford, Scottish Opera Music Director said: ‘Our unwavering dedication to new work and opera’s future comes to the fore with the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Galloping Cure – a dazzlingly inventive and urgent opera exploring the human toll of the opioid crisis – at the Edinburgh International Festival.

“Our five subsequent mainstage productions – Puccini’s Turandot and Madama Butterfly, Handel’s Alcina, Beethoven’s Fidelio, and Mozart’s Così fan tutte in collaboration with the new Advanced Artist Diploma in Opera programme at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – are no less vibrant and urgent for today’s audiences. 

‘These works are not museum pieces. They ask us difficult questions about identity, freedom and betrayal – questions that constantly re-emerge in our own world. We hope you find something to treasure here.’

SEASON 2026/27

At the core of the new Season are remarkable tales of transformation and transcendence, love and loss, finding oneself, and standing up for truth and goodness in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

At Edinburgh International Festival this August is the world premiere of Grammy-nominated composer Missy Mazzoli’s The Galloping Cure. Co-commissioned with Opera Ventures Productions, it is directed by Tony Award-winning Tom Morris and conducted by Stuart Stratford. Mazzoli’s score blends orchestral and choral writing with club rhythms and DJ textures, and it is performed by a cast including Daniela Mack, Justin Austin and Susan Bullock with Gabrielle Turgeon joining the cast as Noy. This ambitious production has already been picked up by opera houses on three continents for future performances.

This October, Sir David McVicar, who first directed for Scottish Opera in 1996, returns to the Company to stage a new, visually opulent production of Puccini’s Turandot, featuring the more expansive Alfano One ending. Stuart Stratford conducts Trine Bastrup Møller in the title role, alongside Victor Starsky, Insung Sim, and Hye-Youn Lee in what promises to be a production like no other. Reuniting with the creative team behind 2023’s award-winning Il trittico, McVicar confronts the darkness of Puccini’s work head on.

In February 2027, Olivia Fuchs directs Handel’s romantic fantasy, Alcina. For the Company’s first Handel in over a decade, renowned conductor Dmitri Jurowski is on the podium, and the cast includes Madeline Boreham, 2026/27 Emerging Artists Charlotte Clapperton, Charlotte Jane Kennedy, and Luvo Maranti; and Emerging Artist alumni Chloe Harris and Edward Jowle.

In the same month, Ruth Knight directs Beethoven’s Fidelio, to mark the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. Beethoven’s only opera, conducted by Kensho Watanabe, features a cast including Julia Sporsén and Thorbjørn Gulbrandsøy. Fidelio has been designed on the same set as Alcina, demonstrating how the Company is consistently thinking of more sustainable and innovative ways to present opera.

In May 2027, Daisy Evans directs Puccini’s heartbreaking masterpiece, Madama Butterfly.  Stuart Stratford conducts a cast led by Sunyoung Seo, with Andrés Presno, Lea Shaw and Phillip Rhodes. Hailed in the press as a ‘Butterfly for the ages’, it reimagines Cio-Cio-San’s story as a journey through memory and identity. There are also two relaxed Access Opera performances of Madama Butterfly, in Glasgow and Edinburgh, which make coming to a favourite title as easy and stress-free as possible.  

Rebecca Meltzer directs Mozart and Da Ponte’s biting social satire, Così fan tutte, also in May of next year. In this first opera presented in collaboration with the RCS Advanced Artist Diploma in Opera, John Butt conducts The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and a cast of hand-picked, international singers in the final stages of their training.

At the mainstage shows, those who are visually impaired can also take advantage of audio-described performances, free Touch Tours and pre-show talks, all of which enhance the audience enjoyment and extend their knowledge of the piece.

CONCERTS

Britten: Music for Voice and Orchestra this September marks the 50th anniversary of the renowned British composer’s death. The concert at Lammermuir Festival features Arvo Pärt’s Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten, and Britten’s Les Illuminations, Our Hunting Fathers and Phaedra. Douglas Boyd conducts 2026/27 Emerging Artists Charlotte Jane Kennedy, Avery Lafrentz and Charlotte Clapperton.

This November,to celebrate 120 years of His Majesty’s Theatre, Aberdeen, The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and soloists including Jamie MacDougall unite for a one-off concert. The programme includes the Great American Songbook and opera and operetta’s best-loved composers.

Presented in November by much-loved broadcaster and tenor Jamie MacDougall, and with the full forces of The Orchestra of Scottish Opera is an evening at Eden Court Inverness, which celebrates its 50th year. From Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves to iconic arias from Carmen, Madama Butterfly, and The Magic Flute, this is opera at its most vivid. As a special treat, Jamie also performs a collection of irresistible songs popularised by Harry Lauder.

TOURING

Opera On Your Doorstep returns with a staged production of Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel, directed by Lucy Bradley. Thanks to a new funding partnership with Laidlaw Opera Trust, it istouring to 34 locations across Scotland in Autumn 2026 and Spring 2027.

The Music Director/Pianists José Javier Ucendo and Alistair Burton are joined by Charlotte Clapperton, Charlotte Jane Kennedy, Holly Teague, Avery Lafrentz, Rosie Lavery, Alexey Gusev, Ross Cumming, Emily Wishart and Audrey Tsang. In each location on the tour, local children will have the unique opportunity to perform in the production.

Pop-up Opera tours to audiences all over the country from May, with performances of A Little Bit of The Elixir of Love, A Little Bit of Rigoletto, and children’s opera, Be a Sport, Spike!, for children aged four to eight. Directed by Darren Brownlie, these 30-minute, miniaturised classics are ideal for anyone new to the artform. There will also be free school performances plus free illustration workshops for kids at select venues.  Storytellers Marc MacKinnon and Dani Heron, along with singers Holly Teague, Marie Claire Breen, Ross Cumming, Colin Murray, cellist Andrew Drummond Huggan and guitarist Sasha Savaloni — present the story.

EMERGING ARTISTS, NATIONAL OPERA STUDIO & ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE PARTNERSHIP

The Scottish Opera Emerging Artistsprogramme offers rising talent a period of full-time work with the Company to help launch their careers. The Company is delighted to welcome sopranos Charlotte Jane Kennedy, Avery Lafrentz, mezzo-soprano Charlotte Clapperton, tenor Luvo Maranti, baritone Daniel Barrett, repetiteur Alistair Burton and casting officer Joseph Hookway, with the name of the Elizabeth Salvesen Costume Trainee to be announced. The Emerging Artist singers perform in several of this Season’s productions and tours, and a recital at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Scottish Opera is once again partnering with National Opera Studio, hosting the 2026/27 cohort – a group comprising some of the brightest rising star singers and repetiteurs from around the world, for a brand-new showcase performance of operatic scenes and extracts on the set of Alcina.

Scottish Opera’s Music Director Stuart Stratford is a regular guest tutor at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; he and The Orchestra of Scottish Opera are helping to train the next generation of conductors studying at the Conservatoire. RCS MMus conductors enjoy concerto workshop sessions with The Orchestra of Scottish Opera and RCS student soloists, under Stuart’s guidance.

The Company also supports the Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship, facilitated through RCS, with each year’s Fellow closely involved with Scottish Opera. This Season’s Fellow, Stefano Boccacci, will receive coaching and performance opportunities, including on Così fan tutte, and other professional classical music organisations across Scotland.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

BUILD, supported by The William Syson Foundation, is new for the 2026/27 Season and brings together a range of initiatives for young people looking to further their knowledge of the arts industry. Through practical and transferrable experiences, the Company aims to equip budding artists and arts professionals for future employment and help them make informed and ambitious choices – to fulfil their potential and define opera’s next era with confidence, passion, and skill. 

Over the years, the Scottish Opera Primary Schools Tour has inspired over 850,000 children across all 32 Local Authority areas. This year’s show is newly commissioned work, Vive La Révolution, with a live tour, supported digital package and on-demand digital packages all available to prepare for a performance in costume in front of friends and family. Music is by Alan Penman with words by Natalie Arle-Toyne, and through song and stagecraft, pupils will find out what really happened in 1789 when the people of Paris stormed the infamous Bastille.

The Elixir of Love: Three Ways to Stage an Operais a free teaching resource for teachers, where Secondary School pupils learn about music, drama, and art and design – incorporating elements of history, storytelling, and critical thinking – as they explore Donizetti’s comedy.

Disney Musicals in Schools collaborates with primary schools facing challenges in engaging with the arts. Teaching Artists guide pupils through rehearsals for special adaptations of Disney musicals and, crucially, provide training for teachers to build their pupils’ skills and confidence through the performing arts, creating a sustainable arts legacy for the future. Scottish Opera is Disney Musicals in Schools’ first Scottish partner, and this sixth successful year of the programme is the third year to engage with Additional Support Needs Schools.

Scottish Opera partners with key specialist music schools across Scotland, Aberdeen City Music School at Dyce Academy, St Mary’s Music School in Edinburgh, and Douglas Academy in Glasgow, to support and mentor young singers exploring opera as a career. In 2026/27, the Company now expands this very successful programme to engage with secondary age students at other institutions who are exploring classical music as a career, giving more students a chance to engage with the operatic repertoire. The aim is to bolster arts industry career pathways and support the classical music industry in Scotland.

Scottish Opera’s Children’s Chorus led by Chorus Director Susannah Wapshott and the Company’s Outreach & Education Department, for youngsters aged 8-11, continues, as does Edinburgh Tonic Arts Chorus for NHS Lothian staff.

Expanding the Company’s partnership with Tonic Arts and NHS Lothian is a new dual-strand pilot programme in West Lothian to offer extra support, build physical strength and promote emotional wellbeing for new parents. It will offer therapeutic singing for families of premature babies, to encourage bonds when the baby might still be in an incubator, and specialised yoga, stretching and breath control.

Another new project this Season is for young instrumentalists, led by The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, alongside award-winning composer Karen MacIver and renowned playwright, poet and theatre-maker Martin O’Connor. The players will mentor secondary school-aged pupils, and encourage new ways of thinking about composition, collaboration and creating new work.

Scottish Opera is once again running Memory Spinners for those living with dementia, with the free project using music, storytelling, movement, and visual arts to help Glasgow-based people living with dementia get creative and form new support networks.

The ground-breaking, online programme, Breath Cycle, winner of the 2025 Classical:NEXT Innovation Award, continues to benefit those living with conditions affecting lung health – particularly Long COVID – with free resources that introduce participants to vocal exercises and breathing techniques.

Places are available in Scottish Opera’s Community Choir, open to adults of all ages and conducted by Katy Lavinia Cooper. It gives members an opportunity to sing a wide variety of music in a supportive atmosphere, with sharings each term and chances to perform in full operas.

Resources for The Small Magician, a trauma-aware, inclusive, accessible vocal education resource, are available online. These enable participants to healthily challenge and build their vocal technique and knowledge from the comfort of their own home or chosen space.

Further information on the 2026/27 Season can be found at:

 www.scottishopera.org.uk 

season-brochure-26-27-final-spreads-optimised-for-webDownload

TradFest: An unmissable final weekend in Edinburgh

MUSIC | FILM | STORYTELLING

Live-looping Ukrainian musician GANNA Gryniva headlines on Saturday night. 

Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Choir perform ahead of a rare screening of cinematic classic Andriesh (1954). 

The Nexus Project launch their new album Glaisvair.

Folk legend Dick Gaughan in conversation. (Available online)

A jam-packed, free Living Heritage Discovery Day on Sunday at the Storytelling Centre with Michael Fortune, one of Ireland’s leading folklorists, a traditional fayre, cèilidh and taster sessions.

EDINBURGH TRADFEST runs until Monday 11 May 2026

An unmissable weekend of the very best in traditional music, storytelling and film kicks off with Swedish folk trio Northern Resonance on Thursday playing explosive rhythms using a combination of viola d’amore, Hardanger fiddle and 12-string guitar.

Followed by, internationally acclaimed saxophonist Brian Molley and his quartet (Tom Gibbs-piano, David Bowden-bass, Stephen Henderson-drums) sharing tunes from their recently released album Tùs/Origin which loosely follows an 18th century journey from the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, all the way to Louisiana, and features a mix of traditional folk, Afro-Caribbean Grooves, Gospel, Sea-Shanties and Fugue. 

Continuing into the weekend, on Friday night The Nexus Project led by piper Bede Patterson launch their new album Glaisvair which unites different musical voices from around the world. Plus, headliners RANT (Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, Bethany Reid, Gillian Frame) who areat the forefront of the Scottish fiddle scene, share powerful melodies and some favourite tunes from their new album, that celebrates a decade of them performing together. 

The trad tunes continue over the weekend with Isla Ratcliff’s reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons released last year to mark the 300th anniversary of the work’s original publication; multi-award-winning harp and percussion duo Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black; and live-looping artist GANNA Gryniva performing tracks from her new album UTOPIA which mixes Ukrainian folk tunes, with Peruvian grooves, jazz- tinged arrangements, and electronic soundscapes.

Plus, singer-songwriter and artful banjo player from Montreal Kaïa Kater performs solo, ahead of this year’s ETF Spotlight concert which will showcase threeamazing up-and-coming combos: Jeri Foreman & Ruth Eliza, Curlew and Dauntless. (Fans can also find Dauntless popping-up on stage at Nobles Bar, in Leith on Friday 8 May at 2pm.)

Other unmissable weekend highlights include:

·      Folk legend Dick Gaughan in conversation with Dr Lori Watson from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Celtic and Scottish Studies. (This talk is currently sold out but will be streamed online.)

·      The Cold Heart by storyteller Franziska Droll and musician Greg Harradine which explores the terrible cost that comes with the desire for wealth and belonging. (Storytelling Centre)

·      A jam-packed Living Heritage Discovery Day which will include a talk with Michael Fortune, Ireland’s folklore aficionado, to discuss approaches to Intangible Cultural Heritage (Living Heritage) and tradition-bearing. On the day there will also be a Living Heritage Fayre, Come and Try Sessions, and a traditional ‘house cèilidh’. (Storytelling Centre – Sun 10 May)

·      The Folk Film Gathering’s screening of Jack Archers’ Sailm nan Daoine (Psalms of the People) fresh from its recent success at the Glasgow Film Festival, which follow’s psalm precentor Rob MacNeacail’s journey across Scotland and Ireland, to bring together communities old and new through the power of Gaelic psalm singing.  (Cameo Cinema)

·      A rousing performance by Edinburgh’s Ukrainian Choir who will perform live ahead of a rare screening of 1954 Ukrainian classic cinematic folk tale Andriesh. (Cameo Cinema)

·      And, finally Scotland’s original folk supergroup Session A9, will close the festival with great tunes and top banter on Monday night.

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “Don’t miss the final weekend of this year’s festival, there are some amazing bands coming up, and fantastic films and storytelling events still to come.

“Shows are selling out and the 5 star reviews are rolling in. The buzz around the ETF venues is palpable, come and be part of it.”

Edinburgh Tradfest runs until Monday 11 May.

For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com   

Live Music Now exchange comes to National Galleries of Scotland for Festival of Europe

Live Music Now Scotland will join this year’s Festival of Europe Scotland with a special performance at National Galleries Scotland: National, presented in partnership with Live Music Now Vienna. 

Taking place on 7 May 2026 (18:00–18:30), the concert features Duo Winter–Djurdjevic — flautist Anna Winter and guitarist Mihajlo Djurdjević — in a programme celebrating European composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.

This event forms part of an ongoing international exchange between Live Music Now organisations, creating opportunities for emerging musicians to share their work across borders and connect with new audiences through live performance. It also builds on Live Music Now Scotland’s continuing partnership with the National Galleries of Scotland, which this year is celebrating 85 years of musical performances in the galleries.

Rooted in the vision of founder Yehudi Menuhin, Live Music Now supports musicians at the start of their careers while bringing high-quality live music into communities and settings where it can have real impact. 

Jude Anderson, Chief Executive, Live Music Now Scotland, said: “At this concert we will be treated to some brilliantly talented musicians in a programme celebrating European artists; it is a real pleasure to be presenting in partnership with the Festival of Europe. 

“Artists hold such an important role in our society, exploring new ways of thinking while providing moments for joy, peace and togetherness.’   

Set within the informal surroundings of the National gallery, the performance invites audiences to experience live music in a relaxed and welcoming way — offering a moment to pause, listen, and connect through a shared cultural experience. 

This event is supported by the NGS Foundation and the Festival of Europe (Scotland). Elaine Ballantyne, the festival’s Trustee and Director, said: ‘Scotland has a rich heritage of European connections and the Festival of Europe (Scotland) is delighted to support Live Music Now and the National Galleries of Scotland in furthering new European opportunities for young musicians.  

“We very much look forward to the Duo Winter–Djurdjevic concert on the opening of our 2026 Festival programme on 7 May.”

Event details 
Duo Winter–Djurdjevic will perform a varied programme of chamber music by European composers of the 18th and 19th centuries.  
Date: 7 May 2026 
Time: 18:00–18:30 
Location: National Galleries Scotland: National, The Mound, Edinburgh 
Admission: Free – booking required via the National Galleries of Scotland 

Images: Duo Winter–Djurdjevic 

For full programme details, please visit https://festivalofeuropescotland.org/‘ 

Edinburgh man to bring joy of Scottish music to people with dementia at new Fringe show

SINGALONG FOR SCOTLAND

A former business executive is swapping spreadsheets for songs to perform for people with dementia at the Edinburgh Fringe in memory of his father.

Johnny Collington, 62, who lives in the capital, first picked up the instrument in a bid to connect with his dad Stan, who had recently been diagnosed with dementia. Stan, originally from Motherwell, passed away in February aged 99.

Johnny is now registered to perform a series of shows at the Fringe in August to raise funds for Alzheimer Scotland.

The married dad-of-two, who was born in Irvine but grew up in Lanarkshire, said: “I had been living and working in London for many years, but I took early retirement and moved back to Scotland, to Edinburgh, about six years ago. My mum Betty had passed away and my dad was in his early 90s and needed more support.

“My dad was diagnosed initially with severe cognitive impairment but his condition progressed quickly to dementia. He moved into a care home and soon could no longer communicate.

“I’d never been much of a musician in the past, but I owned a guitar and knew a few chords. By chance I took the guitar with me to visit dad and tried to play and sing a couple of traditional Scottish songs that I knew he liked.

“Amazingly, as soon as I started playing I could see him connect with me and start singing along. It was remarkable how he suddenly came to life. I realised then that music is a great connector.

“From that point I started seriously teaching myself how to play the guitar and looked for more songs to sing – anything quite traditionally Scottish with a good beat is always a winner.”

Before long, Johnny was asked by the manager of his dad’s care home if he would play for all the residents – many of whom also had dementia. Word soon spread and he now plays at 12 care homes, centres and other venues from Perth to North Lanarkshire and across the east coast, including at Alzheimer Scotland’s outdoor dementia resource centre at Lauriston Castle.

Johnny said: “I get the same reaction from the other people with dementia who I play for as I did from my dad. It’s fantastic how everyone brightens up when they hear the music and join in.

“One chap who was non-verbal and would usually seem quite disconnected, suddenly sat up, took a tambourine and started hitting it in time with the music.

“I’m a bit nervous about the Fringe but also really looking forward to performing and being part of such a world-famous festival. My shows are aimed at people with dementia but also to anyone who enjoys traditional Scottish music. It feels great to be on a new journey now and to be able to give back to the community.

“I want to keep doing what I can to bring music to people living with dementia and to support the amazing work of Alzheimer Scotland for as long as I can.”

  • Johnny Collington will be performing his show, Singalong for Scotland, at the LifeCare Centre in Cheyne Street, Stockbridge, each day from August 7 to 14, from 3pm to 4pm. Find out more at: www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/sing-a-long-scotland
  • Find out more about Alzheimer Scotland at www.alzscot.org, or call their 24 hour Freephone Dementia Helpline at 0808 808 3000.

Tomorrow: Cherry Blossom Picnic at Starbank Park

We are very excited about our Cherry Blossom Picnic this Sunday 26th April from 2 – 4pm. The blossom is incredible at the moment.

The Edinburgh Brass Band will be playing.

Our volunteers will be serving tea, coffee and cakes Children’s activities, Japanese writing, plant sale and many more stalls!

Please remember to bring your picnic blanket and picnic.

Donations of home baking labelled welcome. See you all on Sunday!

🌸
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Hidden Door 2026 Festival Line-Up announced

Hidden Door returns to The Paper Factory in June for another ambitious and unique multi artform experience marking “The Last Shift” for the iconic building.

From Wednesday 3rd – Sunday 7th June, the festival brings together the talents of over 100 creatives to offer live music, immersive art installations, dance performances, poetry and spoken word, unique collaborations and much more.

The festival will explore how spaces and objects hold memory, and how fragments of everyday activity become preserved, misremembered or reimagined over time.

Audiences will navigate deep into the site as the programme unfolds around them. Unique experiences will be shaped through individual routes, encounters and personal perspectives. No single path will reveal the whole truth as the building and performances shift around you.

Tickets are on sale now – read on for more about what to expect ….

Music

Each night of the festival offers a diverse roster of musical acts, kicking off on Wednesday with enigmatic electro-pop sensation BIG WETT and experimental artist ICHI taking the concept of a one-man band to new limits with his quirky handmade instrument inventions.

Thursday brings punk duo Cowboy Hunters along with a mystery headliner to be revealed soon, whilst Friday presents local dream pop duo Sarah/Shaun, electronic genre hopper Makeness and Norwegian singer-songwriter, producer and novelist Jenny Hval before feminist DJ collective EPiKA get the party started in the club space.

On Saturday Skye natives Valtos present their acclaimed High Water Mark show, fusing traditional Gaelic folk with club-ready electronic music. Later that night in the club space, Fred Deakin, the legend behind Lemon Jelly, will take to the decks to play us out. Then on Sunday, the last shift welcomes the endless energy of Tinderbox Orchestra, harpist Dara Dubh and the hypnotic orchestral pop of Lauren Auder.

We’ve got more musical surprises to be revealed in the coming weeks, including the ten bands selected from over 300 applications to our open call, in partnership with Creative Edinburgh and the National Centre for Music.

Visual Art

Once again, the festival’s visual art programme will make the most of its unique setting, inviting audiences to explore and discover every corner of The Paper Factory. Discover a range of work including large sculptural installations, wall-based work, projection and textiles, all curated amongst the defunct machinery and industrial spaces.

The visual artists confirmed so far include Chema Rodriguez Alcantara, Ellie Harrison, Emma Macleod, Tiphereth, Fraser MacBeath, Iris Ollier, Jamie McNeill, Jo Fleming Smith, Lilian Ptacek, Michele Marcoux, Nathan Smith, Oana Stanciu, Pandora Vaughan, Ray Downie, Rosie Aspinall Priest, Silas Thomas Parry, Stuart Stafford, Tess Glen and Holly Booth.

Poetry and Spoken Word

Thought provoking, personal, funny and moving – this year’s programme brings the power of spoken word back into a building that has fallen silent; the factory’s atmospheric chambers echoing with the voices of raw human expression.

Over the five nights, our spoken word programme will feature Iona Lee, Josh Cake, Emily Grace Briggs, RJ Hunter and Sean Wai Keung.

Dance

Once again, the Paper Factory will play host to cutting-edge dance performances, popping up around the cavernous industrial spaces.

Look out for experimental multidisciplinary artist and choreographer Ellen Crofton seeking rhythms in chaos and repetition, plus award-winning duo PCK Dance, celebrated for pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance. Elsewhere, Lothian Youth Dance Company present Flies, reimagining the classic Lord of the Flies through a raw and physical dance language, with choreography by Tough Boys Dance Collective.

Creative Collaborations

Threading throughout the 2026 programme are four newly commissioned interdisciplinary collaborations, waiting to be encountered by visitors as they explore The Paper Factory.

Artists, musicians, dancers and performers have joined forces to create something unique for this year’s former factory space. Between them they tell the Paper Factory’s story – both real and imagined – through its past, present and future.

Ghosts in the Machines is a physical theatre and roaming performance art piece featuring animal-like ghost figures emerges from the fragments and residues of the site itself. Awoken by last year’s festival, the Ghosts will return but not all is the same. They now move across the site, searching for clues, performing rituals and searching the factory for their missing pigeon companion.

Everyone Left is a live, site-responsive performance; immersive encounter between dance, architecture and moving image. Dancers navigate the industrial environment and the traces left behind when bodies disappear. The work also draws on the after-hours life of such spaces, shaped by decades of unofficial gatherings and temporary use, where activity continues beyond their original function.

The Last Worker at the Paper Factory: A Musical Tour of 7 Visual Artworks. Poet and performer Josh Cake had conversations with seven Hidden Door visual artists about the processes behind their work to be featured at the festival. Cake turned these conversations into a musical story about the work and their creators, told through song.

The Machine Stops is a celebration of factory life told as a mini symphony of words, pictures and noise across five short acts, featuring DIY film footage, archive photographs, recordings of former factory workers and bespoke live and recorded sound.

These four works form key routes through the building, shaping distinct ways for audiences to encounter the festival. Alongside these works will be a wider set of collaborative projects creating additional pathways, connections and ways of navigating the space. Expect everything from visual art pieces, community-led projects, layered sonic installations and live drumming – we’ll be sharing more on these projects very soon.

This year’s festival also welcomes back Tinderbox’s Room to Play bringing interactive experiences through sound, art and performance with their customary playful spirit.

Buy Tickets for Hidden Door 2026

Hazel Johnson, Director of Hidden Door, said: “We are excited to invite audiences to the Paper Factory’s “Final Shift” to witness the last, most vibrant chapter of this incredible site’s history.

“By bringing together sound, movement, performance and visual art, we are transforming these now silent warehouses into a living, breathing, shifting entity.

“It is a celebration of collaboration and the incredible artistic talent we have here in Scotland; this year’s programme has created the environment for our team to explore the story of a truly unique space. The result is going to be something entirely unrepeatable and spectacular.”

Hidden Door 2026 is possible thanks to vital support from Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Fund, a major funding commitment that secures the future of the festival through to 2027 and enables our volunteer-run charity to embark on ambitious planning for 2026.

We look forward to welcoming you back to the Paper Factory this June!

Massive May Day Parties at The Pitt

We’ve gone massive for May – not one, not two, but FOUR epic day parties.

House, electronica, techno, fusion… even a bit of Dolly Parton… whatever you’re into, we’ve got you covered!

The Pitt & Box Energy Present:

Auntie Flo LIVE

Sun 3 May, 4pm-10pm

From £15.00

Suitability: 18+

Get ready for an electrifying night as we bring you the genre-defying sound of Auntie Flo’s full live band! Known for fusing global rhythms with experimental electronica, Auntie Flo will be bringing his captivating live set to our inclusive and welcoming space.

Northern Rodeo Country Festival

Sat 16 May, 4pm – 10pm

From £15.00

Suitability: all welcome until 8pm, then 16+

Northern Rodeo is riding back into The Pitt for another boot-stompin’, line-dancin’, bronco-buckin’ night of country fun! So round-up your crew and come join the fun at Northern Rodeo – where the North meets Nashville.

Musika presents Skyline feat.
Hernan Cattaneo 5hr set

Sun 24 May, 2pm-midnight

From £45.00

Suitability: 18+

A huge Bank Holiday All-Dayer as Musika presents Skyline’s last ever Scottish show celebrating 4 years of the crème de la crème of progressive artists. Joining Hernan, Kamilo Sanclemente makes his long-awaited Edinburgh debut. Support comes from both families — Alan Dobson, Jamie McKenzie and Twilo — carrying the Musika x Skyline sound from day into night.

DAYS

Sat 30 May, 1pm-10:30pm  

From £55.00

Suitability: 18+

DAYS returns to the Granton waterfront taking over the warehouse and yard for our best party to date.

With Daniel Avery, DJ Seinfeld, and Helena Hauff, while Sweely brings his signature live energy. Rounding things out are Papa Nugs and MarcelDune, two selectors currently at the top of their game.

Performing For Peace

CHARITY CONCERT at INVERLEITH ST SERF’S CHURCH

FRIDAY 15th MAY at 7pm

Join us for an inspiring evening of music, dance, and culture at Performing for Peace — a special charity concert bringing people together in support of for two very worthwhile causes.

This is more than a concert.

Every ticket you purchase is a direct contribution to real people, real families, and real lives.

Event Details

📍 Inverleith St Serf’s Church, Ferry Road, Edinburgh

🗓 15 May 2026

🕢 Doors open: 7:00 PM | Concert starts: 7:30 PM

🎟 Tickets: £15

What to Expect

• Live music performances

• Dance showcases

• Cultural programme

• A warm and welcoming atmosphere

• A chance to be part of something that matters

Where Your Support Goes

All proceeds from the event will support:

• Children of Heroes (Ukraine) — helping children who have lost one or both parents due to the war. Your support provides care, stability, and future opportunities.

• Edinburgh Direct Aid — delivering humanitarian aid directly to communities affected by crisis, ensuring help reaches those who need it most.

Why It Matters

One evening can make a real difference.

One ticket can support a child.

One room full of people can create impact.

Organised by Rotary Club of Leith

ICONIC Festival: Britney, Oasis, Queen and more – the Icons are coming to Edinburgh this summer

Scotland’s first-ever full tribute festival weekend is set to take over Conifox this June. Britney Spears hits live in Edinburgh. Oasis anthems. Queen classics. ABBA, Elton John, Cher and the Spice Girls, all in one place, across one huge weekend.

Introducing ICONIC Festival – a brand new, adults-only music event bringing together the world’s most legendary artists (through world-class tribute acts) for a high-energy, nostalgia-packed festival experience like nothing Scotland has seen before.

Taking place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June at Conifox, next to Edinburgh Airport, ICONIC Festival promises two full days of non-stop live music, singalong moments and feel-good festival vibes, with doors opening at 1.30pm and performances running into the evening.

Saturday’s line-up features tributes performing Britney Spears, ABBA, Oasis, Queen, Elton John, Cher and the Spice Girls, while Sunday brings Take That, Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Ed Sheeran, Madonna, Kings of Leon and Tina Turner-inspired performances to the stage. Each night will close with a live DJ set, keeping the party going until late.

This marks Scotland’s first full-scale tribute festival of its kind, designed as a strictly 18+ event for those looking to relive the biggest hits of their lives in a fun, festival setting.

Conifox previously introduced its first adults-only event with Terror at Conifox Scream Park, a sold-out horror experience which will return later this year for a seven-night reign of Terror. ICONIC Festival builds on that success, offering a completely different kind of adult experience centred around live music, nostalgia and an unforgettable summer festival atmosphere.

James Gammell, owner of Conifox, says the festival is all about creating a shared experience through music people already know and love. “These are the songs that everyone knows – the ones you grew up with, the ones you still turn up in the car, the ones that bring people together instantly. ICONIC Festival is all about celebrating that, in a way that feels big, fun and unforgettable.”

Festivalgoers can expect a lively outdoor setting with delicious street food vendors, festival drinks and Taylor’s of Edinburgh funfair available throughout the day, alongside a packed main stage schedule of back-to-back performances.

With both day tickets and weekend tickets available, organisers are expecting strong demand as word spreads about the unique concept.

From guilty pleasures to all-time classics, ICONIC Festival is set to deliver one of the most talked-about music events of the summer – bringing together generations of hits, one stage, and one unforgettable weekend.

Tickets are on sale now at www.iconicfestival.co.uk or via www.conifox.co.uk.

For a limited time only, festivalgoers can enjoy 15% off with code ICONIC2026.

A term of musical achievement for Edinburgh’s young musicians

Even more pupils have had the opportunity to perform as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.

Over 5,500 young people in Edinburgh receive weekly music lessons in their schools through the Instrumental Music Service. Over the last month (28 February – 31 March 2026) even more children and young people in Edinburgh have had the opportunity to experience the benefits of live music making, performing as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s citywide ensembles and events programme.

  • At the end of February, 60 young pianists took part in the second annual piano festival, hosted in the City of Edinburgh Music School. Young pianists performed a range of pieces on the Steinway Grand Piano in the recital room.
  • On the 1 March, the Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Senior Guitar Ensemble were selected, from a range of national entries, to perform at the Scottish Young Musician Ensemble Final at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
  • Young jazz musicians have had the opportunity to showcase their talent this term, including on the 10 March at the city’s iconic Jazz Bar. The Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra performed an hour-long set, featuring the internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Sue McKenzie.
  • BBC Proms presenter, saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam, delivered an inspiring masterclass for young saxophonists on Thursday 12 March, prior to her Scottish premiere with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.
  • On the 15 March, three bands from Leith Academy, James Gillespies High School and Boroughmuir High School performed a sold-out gig at the Jazz Bar as part of Edinburgh Rocks! Festival. The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble took to the stage as the headliner for the festival.

On 23 March, over 600 young musicians, with pupils from the majority of Edinburgh’s schools, took to the stage at the Usher Hall, performing across seven different ensembles.

The first half featured Edinburgh Schools’ Jazz Orchestra, Edinburgh Schools’ Classical Guitar Ensemble and Edinburgh School’s Rock Ensemble.

The first half closed with the inaugural performance of the City of Edinburgh Schools Training Wind Ensemble, with over 120 wind musicians from 17 secondary schools taking part.

The second half opened with over 120 string players performing as part of the Edinburgh Primary String Ensemble – the first public performance for many of these learners. The concert closed with the Edinburgh Schools’ Wind Ensemble performing music from three iconic movie scores and the Edinburgh Schools’ Symphony Orchestra performing Shostakovich’s Festive Overture.

This school session is the first time all Edinburgh’s secondary schools have been represented as part of the Instrumental Music Service’s Usher Hall concert series. In recent years, the Instrumental Music Service has invested in additional resources including instruments, with a focus on equity, to further remove barriers to learning and participation.

Education, Children and Families Convenor, Councillor James Dalgleish said: “We want as many children and young people as possible to have the opportunity to not only learn an instrument, but to make progress, have the chance to play as part of a group or ensemble, and to perform to an audience.

“All of this is hugely beneficial for young people in both the short and long term, helping to build perseverance, self-esteem, communication and creativity. These skills and experiences, together with the sense of achievement, pave the way for better attainment and life chances.

“We are committed to making sure that pupils who may not have had the opportunity to do so before are now taking part in our ensembles and getting to experience the buzz of performing to an audience.

“I want to thank our dedicated instrumental instructors and those who give up their time to coach and lead our ensembles – I am confident that these experiences will stay with our young people well beyond their time at school.

To round off the term, on 31 March, the city hosted their Scottish Young Musician Regional Final, in Portobello High School. The competition featured representatives from 12 secondary schools, all competing for the coveted title of The City of Edinburgh Council Young Musician of the Year.

In the end, it was pianist Joshua Gibson, from Queensferry High School, who found favour with the judges.

With singer Liza Aquado, from St Augustine’s R.C. High School, awarded runner up and guitarist Ivar Mackie, from Portobello High School, awarded the most promising young musician. Joshua will now represent the City of Edinburgh Council, performing at the national Scottish Young Musician Final, at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, in May.

Oscar, S4 pupil at Boroughmuir High School said: “The Edinburgh Schools Rock Ensemble is brilliant fun, I really enjoy it, it’s an opportunity like no other!

“Our teachers and all the young musicians are totally committed to our weekly rehearsals and to all our gigs throughout the year – of which our recent performances at Edinburgh’s Jazz Bar and the Usher Hall were just two.

“I’ve made some really good friends and I cannot wait to go on tour in June!