Edinburgh Festivals Kick Off with Thousands of Performances

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Edinburgh's festival season is in full swing with the start of the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Thousands of performances from artists around the world are set to take place throughout August, attracting massive crowds to the city.

What's Happening at the Edinburgh Festivals?

Edinburgh's festival season has kicked off with thousands of performances across the month of August getting under way. The city will see huge crowds descending for the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and Edinburgh Festival Fringe until 25 August.

About the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF) and Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Fringe will showcase more than 3,853 shows from 63 countries, including comedy, theatre, dance, and musicals at various venues. The city's population will nearly double to one million during August as artists and visitors converge on Edinburgh.

Artists and Shows

About 2,000 artists are participating in EIF under the theme of "The Truth We Seek." In addition, the Edinburgh Book Festival and Edinburgh Film Festival are also part of the lineup. The Royal Military Tattoo, celebrating its 75th anniversary, will feature a fly-past by the Red Arrows and Apache helicopters.

Ticket Information

Organizers aim to make ticket prices accessible, with 300 free shows and 530 under a pay-what-you-can model. The average Fringe ticket price is just over £13, featuring performers like Bill Bailey and Jenny Eclair. The EIF offers half of tickets for £30 or less and £10 tickets for every performance.

Theme for 2025

The theme for this year is "Dare to Discover." Chief Executive Tony Lankester encourages attendees to explore the amazing work on offer. EIF director Nicola Benedetti highlights the festival as a bold invitation to question the world around us.

Conclusion

With a diverse range of shows, performances, and events, the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe promise an exciting month of cultural celebrations for residents and visitors alike.

Published on 14 August 2025 by UKFG

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