Festivals d'Edimbourg

The first of the big 3 to come to town is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which this year runs from 6-30 August. The world’s largest arts festival draws crowds from all over the world and has something for everyone: theatre, comedy, music, dance, musicals and much more. With no artistic selection, anything goes, and even the streets of Edinburgh are transformed with buskers, street theatre and live entertainment filling nearly every cobblestone.

It’s also a great opportunity to spot the next big comedy, theatre or film star – the festival has been the launch pad for the careers of High Grant, Eddie Izzard, Robin Williams, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Billy Connolly and many more.

Next up is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which is a unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre set against the magnificent Edinburgh Castle creating one of the world’s greatest shows. This year marks the Diamond Jubilee of the Royal Military Tattoo and it runs from 6-28 August.

This year, the world’s most spectacular Tattoo will host a celebration of talent from 4 continents, including pipers, gymnasts, singers, dancers and an amazing motorcycle display team. As always, the exciting programme will include the music of the Massed Pipes and Drums and that of the Massed Military bands.

If you still haven’t experienced enough of Edinburgh's amazing festivals, you don’t have long to wait as the Edinburgh International Festival comes to town on 13 August, running until 5 September. For these 3 weeks, the finest in classical music, theatre, opera and dance gather to present one of the most innovative festivals of the performing arts.

This year, performers from the Americas and the Pacific rub shoulders with artists from Spain, Holland, Germany, Russia and the UK, creating an amazing melting pot of entertainment. Highlights include El Niño, the opening concert which gives a new life to the miracle of the nativity. Opera highlights include Porgy and Bess and Bliss, based on the novel by Peter Carey. Don’t miss the UK debut of choreographer Alonzo King and his Lines Ballet from San Francisco, the Paco Peña Flamenco Dance Company, and theatre performances of The Sun Also Rises, Vieux Carré, and much more.

Visit the individual festival websites – Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh International Festival – for tickets and programme information.