This year’s Edinburgh International Festival is now well under way, with over three weeks of music, theatre, comedy and performance taking place.

Running from 5th to 29th August, the International Festival welcomes 2,442 artists from 36 nations to Scotland’s capital city. Opening with an acclaimed production of Bellini’s Norma, starring world-renowned mezzo soprano Cecilia Bartoli in the title role, the International Festival powered into a packed first weekend with productions across the city.

Throughout August the festival will welcome renowned talent to the city. Major artists appearing include legendary Australian satirist Barry Humphries, revered conductor Herbert Blomstedt with the Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, world-renowned ballerina Natalia Osipova, acclaimed pianist Daniil Trifonov, and director Christophe Honoré with his new version of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. Additionally, one of Scotland’s best-loved artists Alan Cumming takes up residence for 20 performances of his cabaret show, Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs.

Musical highlights include the International Festival debut of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano. Theatre productions include the International Festival’s revival of John Tiffany’s Broadway hit The Glass Menagerie, starring Tony award-winning American actor Cherry Jones.

Running alongside the International Festival is the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, helping to make Edinburgh the world’s largest performing arts festival. The Fringe, as it is commonly known, is an ‘open access’ performing arts festival, which means anyone can participate and over 50,000 performances take place in hundreds of venues across the city. The Fringe programme includes everything from comedy and theatre, to musicals and exhibitions.

Janet Redler, Chief Executive of Janet Redler Travel & Tourism, said: “The Edinburgh Festival is one of the most famous and popular performing arts festivals. Visitors from all over the world flock to the city in August to enjoy the best performances and, as well as seeing some of the biggest international stars, the Fringe is a great place to enjoy up-and-coming new talent. It is an experience not to be missed!”

If you would like to include a visit to the Edinburgh International Festival as part of a tailor-made tour of Scotland, please do contact us.