Edinburgh Festivals Sign Up Information

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Packing List

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is one of the world's greatest New Year celebrations featuring three days of spectacular events. The festival is mainly an outdoor event so if you are planning to attend you’ll need to be prepared! In this guide we’ll share with you what to pack for the various events, including the infamous New Year’s Day Loony Dook, and some easy packing tips to have a sustainable festival visit.

10 Facts about The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Why is the event called a 'Tattoo' and where did the phrase come from? Did you know the first Edinburgh Tattoo took place in 1950 and a performance has never been cancelled since? Take a look at our top 'Tattoo facts' and don't forget, tickets for the 2020 shows are now on sale!

The Uniquely Scottish Charm of Edinburgh’s Festivals

Give someone the Edinburgh Festivals for Christmas!

Time's ticking as we head towards the 25th, so if you're still pondering what to get for that special someone in your life, why not plan a 2020 trip to some of Edinburgh's year-round selection of Festivals? It's a present that's sure to surprise and delight... plus you don't even have to arrange anything just yet, so you can 'give' the gift with just a few strokes of a pen in a card (and think about the rest in the New Year!)

So what will be happening in August this year?

August will be very different in Edinburgh this year and although the festivals will not take place as planned they have developed a range of exciting programmes both online and offline - with the latter observing current government guidelines.

Jazz & Blues Festival's altered scale 

The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival moved online in July, with new sets recorded during lockdown, solo home videos and selections from the archives. 4 days, 28 bands, 21 concerts, 5 talks, 2 films, 2 DJ sets, 1 workshop, 1 jazz quiz.

#edfilmfestathome 

The Edinburgh International Film Festival should have launched mid-June. However after the 2020 cancellation they decided on the next best thing. In partnership with Curzon Home Cinema (CHC) the team announced an online festival!

Children's Festival refocuses  

Science Festival first to go online 

In March Edinburgh Science Festival was the first of our festivals to cancel and the first to move into the world of online events with Elements of #EdSciFest. Sticking with the original theme, the team presented a new digital mini-Festival.

The Uniquely Scottish Charm
of Edinburgh''s Festivals

As the great historian Sir Tom Devine says: 'The Edinburgh Festivals are indeed a jewel in the Scottish crown which bring a matchless world-wide profile to our country.' To fully understand the deep roots of the Festivals in Scotland's soil, we'll have to share with you a few stories.................

Get Ready for the
Scottish Jazz & Blues Weekender

Since their online festival in July, our Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival team has been working incredibly hard to get back to what they do best - presenting professional gigs with exceptional musicians that audiences love. This December, they're bringing you four incredible nights of brand-new online gigs which you won''t want to miss.

Tattoo Tickets for 2021 Go On Sale

Tickets for the 2021 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo have gone on sale and Michael Braithwaite has been appointed as the new Creative Director, the first dedicated creative role in the Tattoo''s history - a sign that the Tattoo is committing to giving fans of the show near and far something to look forward to.

The Making of a Prize Winner

During Book Week Scotland it was announced that the 2020 Booker Prize - a literary prize awarded each year for the best original novel written in the English language and published in the UK -- had been awarded to the Scottish writer Douglas Stuart ......and he joined us to discuss his novel at our online Book Festival in August. 

Leading Environmentalist
Awarded the Edinburgh Medal

The prestigious Edinburgh Medal is usually awarded during the Edinburgh Science Festival to those who have made a significant contribution to the understanding and well-being of humanity - and November saw the Medal awarded to environmentalist and author Sunita Narain who joined us from Delhi to make her public address.

Online Fun For All The Family

Every year our Festivals run programmes for children & families both during festival time and throughout the year. Although this year's lockdowns led to the cancellation of much of that work, a number of our festivals have created a range of online activities - fun for all the family, especially during the forthcoming festive period.

Fringemas Comes Early

And Finally,
A Word About Edinburgh''s Hogmanay

Given the current pandemic and the ongoing restrictions on public gatherings, a decision was taken a number of months ago to cancel the world famous Street Party and all the other public events surrounding Edinburgh''s Hogmanay. Discussions are still ongoing as to how the new year moment will be marked this year and we''d suggest that everyone keeps an eye on social media for all the latest news.

Elements of #EdSciFest
 

Spring Festivals Update Regarding COVID-19

Following close monitoring of the ever-changing situation regarding the global spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), our three Spring Festivals have taken the sad but necessary decision to cancel and postpone events.

Edinburgh's August Festivals Will Not Take Place in 2020 

For the first time in over 70 years, the five festivals that transform Edinburgh into the world's leading cultural destination every August are not going ahead this year due to concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic.

Guest blog - Preparing for the 2020 Edinburgh Festivals

If you''re planning ahead for 2020, here''s a great place to start. We asked Edinburgh local and international travel blogger, Laurence Norah, for a different perspective on Edinburgh''s year-round selection and preparing for a festivals trip.

Discover Edinburgh's Festivals for Families

If you''re thinking of joining us with your family for one (or more) of the Festivals in Edinburgh, there's a whole host on offer for young visitors, from creating scientific experiments to meeting their favourite authors!

The World's First Public Celebration of Science

72 Hours at Edinburgh''s Hogmanay

Hogmanay is the day that Scots refer to as New Year's Eve - December 31st - and in Edinburgh is marked with a three day festival packed full of magnificent events. Take a look back at the 2019 celebrations.