The Edinburgh International Festival runs concurrently with the Fringe every August and is a distinct entity – a curated programme of world-class opera, classical music, dance and theatre that brings the best international companies and ensembles to the city for three weeks. Where the Fringe is democratic and sprawling, the International Festival is selective and produced. Both are worth attending; they serve different purposes.
The Venues
The Usher Hall on Lothian Road is the primary concert venue – one of Scotland’s finest concert halls and the home of most of the orchestral and chamber music programme. The Festival Theatre on Nicholson Street takes the opera and dance programme. The King’s Theatre handles the more intimate theatre productions. The Hub on the Royal Mile is the festival’s booking centre and information hub and is worth visiting to understand the full programme layout.
The Programme
The International Festival director selects a thematic focus for each year that threads through the programme – a particular country’s culture, a historical anniversary, a musical form. Understanding the year’s theme helps navigate the programme: the productions that connect to the central thread are usually the most artistically interesting. The free outdoor events programme, including the opening event and the closing concert in Princes Street Gardens, gives non-ticketholders access to the festival atmosphere.
The Opening Event
The free outdoor opening event at the start of the festival weekend in August is one of Edinburgh’s great public occasions – a performance in Princes Street Gardens that uses the castle as a backdrop and draws tens of thousands of people. Arrive early to get a position on the grass with a clear sightline. The atmosphere is one of the best things the city produces in summer.
Booking
The International Festival programme launches in spring and the premium events – the main opera runs, the headline orchestral concerts – book out quickly. The mid-programme recitals and the chamber music events are more available. Student and under-26 ticket deals significantly reduce the price for the more accessible events. The programme is worth reading in full rather than picking off the headline names; some of the best evenings at the International Festival are shows that arrive with no pre-existing name recognition.
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