Edinburgh International Festival goes outdoors for 2021

The International Festival welcomes audiences back to live performances with temporary outdoor pavilions throughout the city.

We are thrilled that the Edinburgh International Festival will be marking the return of live performance to Scotland’s capital city after over a year of silent theatres and concert halls. Taking place from 7 to 29 August, the 2021 International Festival will use bespoke, temporary outdoor pavilions in iconic, easily accessible spaces throughout the city to safely reunite our artists and audiences to rediscover the magic of live performance.

Full details of our 2021 programme, which spans opera, orchestral and chamber music, theatre, and contemporary music, will be announced on Wednesday 2 June. Priority booking for International Festival members opens on Tuesday 1 June before general booking opens on Friday 11 June.

What is the International Festival?

The Edinburgh International Festival exists to bring world-leading artists together with audiences

The Edinburgh International Festival was the inspired idea of Rudolf Bing, then the General Manager of Glyndebourne Opera, Henry Harvey Wood, the Head of the British Council in Scotland, and leaders from the City of Edinburgh. It was established in 1947 as a world-class cultural event to bring together audiences and artists from around the world, and over 70 years have gone from strength to strength.

For three weeks in August, Scotland’s capital becomes an unparalleled celebration of the performing arts and an annual meeting point for people of all nations. The International Festival presents a programme featuring the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music, and theatre. Click here to learn more

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