Edinburgh International Festival

The Edinburgh International Festival is one of the world’s top events for classical music, opera, theatre, and dance. It began in 1947, just after the Second World War, as a way to bring people together through the arts and “provide a platform for the flowering of the human heart.”

Today, the Festival still follows this goal, emphasising high artistic standards, working with artists from around the world, and including both classic and new performances.

Edinburgh International Festival at the Usher Hall

At the core of the Festival is the Usher Hall, Edinburgh’s premier concert venue and the Festival’s principal home. Famous for its acoustics and dignified Edwardian architecture, the Usher Hall hosts many of the Festival’s flagship events, including major orchestral concerts, solo recitals, and large-scale choral performances. For many visitors, an evening at the Usher Hall is synonymous with the Edinburgh International Festival experience.

The Festival isn’t limited to just one place. Events take place across the city in various venues, making it easy to enjoy a wide range of performances. The Festival Theatre often hosts opera and ballet, while The Queen’s Hall is perfect for chamber music and smaller groups. Other places, such as the historic King’s Theatre (currently closed for refurbishment), local churches, and civic spaces, also take part, showing how closely the Festival is connected to Edinburgh.

What sets the Edinburgh International Festival apart is how it chooses its events. Instead of an open program, the Festival selects a group of performances each year based on a clear creative outlook. Visitors can look forward to top performers, respected companies from around the world, and shows that are often unique to Edinburgh or recently introduced to the UK. This judicious selection has helped the Festival stay important on the world stage.

The Edinburgh International Festival happens every August, at the same time as many other festivals in the city. While all these events make Edinburgh a top cultural destination, the International Festival stands out for its official style, ambitious scale, and strong focus on artistic quality. Whether you’re at an orchestral concert in Usher Hall or watching a play in another venue, you’ll see why the Festival puts Edinburgh at the heart of the arts world.