Edinburgh International Festival

Founded in 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival is the original and most prestigious of the many festivals that fill the Scottish capital each August. Distinct from the sprawling, open-access Fringe that grew up around it, the International Festival is a curated programme of the world's leading artists in opera, classical music, theatre and dance, presented at Edinburgh's grandest venues over three late-summer weeks.

What to expect

The festival opens on the first Friday of August and runs for just over three weeks; the full programme usually launches in March. Performances take place at established halls such as the Usher Hall and the Festival Theatre alongside other venues around the city, spanning full-scale opera, orchestral concerts, chamber recitals, drama and contemporary dance. The atmosphere is more considered than the anything-goes Fringe, though the two run side by side and the whole city hums with performance through August.

Programmes and tickets are released ahead of the festival through the official site; popular opera and orchestral nights sell fast, so book early, and expect the city to be at its busiest and priciest for accommodation in August.

The Edinburgh International Festival plays out across venues in the city centre, from the Usher Hall to the Festival Theatre. Fly into Edinburgh Airport (EDI), then take the Edinburgh Trams or the Airlink 100 bus straight into the centre — the tram runs to St Andrew Square and Princes Street in around 30-35 minutes. Edinburgh Waverley is the main rail station, central to most venues, which are largely within walking distance of each other. The city is compact and walkable, though hilly and very busy during festival season, so allow extra time between shows.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for the United Kingdom (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.