Edinburgh International Festival

About Edinburgh International Festival

Plans predate the debut: Edinburgh International Festival 2027 in Edinburgh traces an arts-festival line back to public announcements on 24 November 1945.

The inaugural International Festival followed in 1947, rooted in Rudolf Bing’s post-war vision. Scale is documented too. The 2025 Festival drew over 111,000 audience members from 91 countries, while 2024 attendance implies an approximate capacity of 5,200 per day across 24 days.

Nicola Benedetti took up the Festival Director role in October 2022, the first Scottish and first female Festival Director since the Festival began. In 2023, the 76th edition was Benedetti’s first year in post.

Lineup and Programme

The bill spans opera, theatre, music and dance across the city-wide programme. No single arena defines it.

At The Hub, music programming covers traditional music, classical music and late-night electronic gigs. The audience strand includes discussions and talks, with audio introductions also part of the format.

Who Is It For?

The audience brief is deliberately wide: the Festival says it aims for the broadest possible audience, from first-timers to people who have followed it for decades.

Under-16s need a responsible adult. Individual performances may carry their own age guidance or content warnings. Eligible audiences can use free access support including the Access Pass and The Hub Shuttle.

The Venue and Site

The Hub sits on Castlehill, at the top of the Royal Mile. It anchors the site.

The Festival describes The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE, as its home venue. Facilities there include a complimentary cloakroom, level access across key visitor areas and five accessible toilets across all levels.

An induction loop covers the Box Office and auditorium. During August road closures, The Hub Shuttle is free, and two venue wheelchairs are available.

Travel Information

The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE sits around 0.4 miles from Edinburgh Waverley Station. City-centre roads change during August evenings, so the Festival lists specific drop-off and shuttle points.

• Rail: Edinburgh Waverley Station is about 0.4 miles from The Hub.
• Road access: Johnston Terrace is used for the Hub Shuttle pickup and drop-off area, with road closures applying on many August evenings.
• Drop-off: George IV Bridge is the closest drop-off point and has a nearby bus stop.
• Road closures: Lawnmarket is closed to vehicles on most evenings during August road closures.
• Public transport links: Lothian Road is a five-minute walk from the shuttle pickup.
• Parking: City-centre parking is limited. The Festival points audiences to nearby NCP car parks, and the Hub Shuttle pickup is beside NCP Edinburgh Castle Terrace, which has five accessible bays.