SAVE THE DATE: 22 Oct – 1 Nov 2025
FULL PROGRAMME LAUNCHES: Wed 10th September
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival, now in its 36th year, (22nd October to 1st November 2025) is the world’s largest celebration of storytelling – encompassing a wealth of cultures, traditions and styles.
This year’s programme, inspired by the traditional folklore, myths, and legends of Nordic culture, includes storytelling events for adults and families, workshops, exhibitions, and discussion events online.
International storyteller Heidi Dahlsveen from Norway (above)
Under the theme ‘Lights of the North’, storytellers from Scotland will be joining storytellers from Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Iceland for an 11 day celebration, thanks to continued support from Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding and the Scottish Government Festivals EXPO Fund.
Among the international storytellers taking part, are Hjörleifur Stefánsson who will present classic folk tales from Iceland; award-winning Swedish actor and storyteller Jerker Fahlström; nature writer and storyteller Georgiana Keable Jerstad and folktale performer Heidi Dahlsveen from Norway; storyteller and folk singer Anna-Maria Toivonen from Finland; and Suse Weisse from Germany, whose dark myths and fairytales include stories by authors such as Calvino and the Brothers Grimm.
Festival favourites returning from Scotland include Ruth Kirkpatrick, Mara Menzies, Marjolein Robertson, Daniel Serridge, and Niall Moorjani,with many more to be announced when the full programme launches in September.
The Festival takes place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh and in venues across Scotland as part of the festival’s Go Local programme and its Story Ripple events.
It is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), and is a key platform for showcasing Scotland’s intangible cultural heritage, which includes traditional songs, dances, storytelling, customs, local languages and rituals of everyday life, passed down through the generations.
This year, storytelling traditions of the Travelling community will be highlighted in the programme, with celebrated Traveller tradition bearers Jess Smith and Jimmy Williamson taking part, along with a celebratory event exploring Martyn Bennett’s use of Traveller stories and culture through his musical legacy.
As well as events for adults and families, the Festival includes performances from young emerging voices in association with FEST (Federation for European Storytelling); and networking events for those interested in storytelling skills and sources, community projects and creative collaboration.
Plus, new for 2025, the festival is partnering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust on its Words of the Wild nature writing competition for aspiring writers to tell their own story based on the theme ‘From Source to Sea’ about Scotland’s freshwater and marine habitat. The competition closes in July, with the winner being announced at this year’s festival.
Full details of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s programme will be announced on Wednesday 10 September at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street, Edinburgh.
