DISTINCTIVELY SCOTTISH Yet profoundly international
Posted on 11/25/2016 | About Edinburgh, United Kingdom
In 2017, the world’s leading festival city will be celebrating 70 years of artistic and cultural performances. Edinburgh’s 12 major annual festivals inhabit every corner of the historic city; from old university halls to private Georgian gardens and from residents’ living rooms to the Castle Esplanade. The number of tickets sold for Edinburgh’s festival events are on a par with the FIFA World Cup, both being second only to the Olympic games.
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Edinburgh’s Science Festival is the world’s first celebration of science and technology and the largest in Europe. Over a two-week period, there are 200 events and activities throughout the city with visitor numbers over 100,000.
Dates: 1 - 16 April 2017 www.sciencefestival.co.uk
IMAGINATE FESTIVAL
Imaginate Festival is UK’s largest festival of performing arts. Expect Scottish and international theatre, dance and performances for children and youth. The festival goes on tour throughout Scotland after its Edinburgh run.
Dates: 27 May - 4 June 2017 www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Established in 1947 The Edinburgh International Film Festival is the longest continuously running film festival in the world, showcasing international film and documentary genre. The 2017 edition will focus on Poland.
Dates: 21 June - 2 July 2017 www.edfilmfest.org.uk
EDINBURGH JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL
The biggest festival of its kind in Britain presents over 170 gigs over 10 days. The best international musicians rub shoulders with top Scottish talent to present unique collaborations and outstanding musicianship.
Dates: 15 - 24 July 2017 www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk
EDINBURGH ART FESTIVAL
More than 40 museums, galleries and pop-up spaces come together in August to programme the Edinburgh Art Festival, with free entry to most exhibitions. It presents the best, most exciting and intriguing work in visual arts practice.
Dates: 27 July - 27 August 2017 www.edinburghartfestival.com
THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO
Set against the dramatic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, this 100-minute performance is a unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre, hosting over 1,000 military and civilian performers nightly, and attended by 220,000 people every year with a further 100 million watching it on television across the world.
Dates: 4 - 26 August 2017 www.edintattoo.co.uk
EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE
Theatre, comedy, dance, physical theatre, music, children’s shows, exhibitions, musicals, street performers and much more take place in over 250 venues in Edinburgh. Anyone with a show to produce and a venue willing to host them can take part; there is no artistic vetting of the more than 3,000 shows on offer.
Dates: 4 - 28 August 2017 www.edfringe.com
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Inaugurated in 1947 as a celebration of peace through the arts, the Edinburgh International Festival showcases the very best in opera, music, theatre and dance from around the world, with tickets starting at $13.43 (£8).
Dates: 4 - 28 August 2017 www.eif.co.uk
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the largest public celebration of ideas and the written word in the world with 800 participants from 55 different countries. The venue is Charlotte Square Gardens in the historic heart of Edinburgh, the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature. More than 220,000 people come to the gardens to soak up the atmosphere, take part in creative workshops and attend meet-the-author events.
Dates: 12 - 28 August 2017 www.edbookfest.co.uk
EDINBURGH MELA
The Edinburgh Mela is one of Scotland’s biggest festivals of world music, dance and food, with South Asian roots and an international spirit. Expect variety from Ghanian drumming to Polish folk, Brazilian capoeira and elegant Argentine tango to gritty Bangladeshi hip-hop.
Dates: 26+27 August 2017 www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk
SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
The Storytelling Festival is a ten-day celebration of traditional and contemporary storytelling, oral traditions and cultural diversity, bringing together artists and audiences from Scotland and beyond.
Dates: 21- 30 October 2016 www.tracscotland.org/festivals
EDINBURGH’S HOGMANAY
150,000 revellers from 80 countries celebrate New Year in Edinburgh, the ‘Home of Hogmanay’. The festival begins with the Torchlight Procession on Dec 30, and on Dec 31 there is dancing under the stars with 75,000 party people at Street Party, with live music stages and traditional ceilidh. The arrival of the New Year is celebrated with Midnight Fireworks lifting from Edinburgh Castle, as the crowds break into the world’s largest rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
Dates: 30 December 2016 - 1 January 2017 www.edinburghshogmanay.com
