Please find some frequently asked questions about the cancellation of the 2020 International Festival below. If you have another question not listed here you can contact us, send an email to contact@eif.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
The Covid-19 outbreak has had major global impacts and created many uncertainties about the immediate future. These uncertainties include the planned touring and rehearsal schedules as well as our ability to congregate in our city’s venues. At this point in time, it is not possible for the 2020 International Festival to proceed.
Please consider donating to the International Festival here.
Donations to the International Festival will support our organisation in a year where we are not able to make ticket revenue. There are many core costs associated with running a festival which include but are not limited to staff salaries, office and building costs, supplier fees, planning for future programmes and costs relating to our year-round work with schools, young people, communities and artists.
Any gift voucher intended for use in 2020 will remain valid for use in 2021.
Planning for the 2021 Festival is continuing as normal and we will announce the upcoming launch dates in due course.
Please email us at contact@eif.co.uk
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about visiting the International Festival. If you have another question not listed here you can contact us, send an email to contact@eif.co.uk or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter.
Tickets are not currently on sale. Please keep an eye on this website for further announcements about ticket sales.
When tickets are on sale, you can buy tickets for all International Festival events on this site, by calling Hub Tickets on +44 (0)131 473 2000, or by visiting us in person at The Hub at Castlehill.
Hub Tickets are open Monday to Friday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm.
If you have selected to collect your tickets, you can pick them up from our friendly Box Office staff at The Hub until the day of the event. Tickets will be available to collect from the event venue from one hour before the performance.
If you have selected e-tickets, they will have been emailed to you at the time of booking. Make sure you check your ‘junk’ folder in case they have accidentally found their way there. If you still can’t find them, please email boxoffice@hubtickets.co.uk
You can find out more information about ticket discounts and special offers here.
To reassure our customers, we have temporarily updated our refunds policy relating to the COVID-19 outbreak. If you are unable to attend any event at the 2020 International Festival for any reason related to the outbreak, we will refund the full cost of the ticket.
Refunds must be requested up to two working days in advance of the performance by contacting Hub Tickets on +44 (0)131 473 2000 or email boxoffice@hubtickets.co.uk. Booking and postage fees are non-refundable. Refunds will only be issued to the customer who made the booking and proof of ID will be required for cash refunds. If you opt for printed tickets, you will need to return these to Hub Tickets at least two working days in advance of the performance.
Our standard refund and exchange policy is that no refunds will be given except in the event of cancellation of a performance.
All companies and artists taking part in the International Festival are here by invitation from our Festival Director. The planning of each year's International Festival – an exhilarating mix of music, theatre, opera and dance from the world's leading artists – is an ongoing process. Projects and programmes are developed with companies and individual performers often several years in advance.
The Festival Director and colleagues keep in touch with what's happening in the arts around the globe, travelling the world in search of artists and performances to bring to Edinburgh.
If you think you or your company have something exciting that the Edinburgh International Festival is missing then email performing@eif.co.uk or send invitations and information to:
Planning Administrator
Edinburgh International Festival
The Hub
Castlehill
Edinburgh
EH1 2NE
Please note that we receive a lot of information and unfortunately are not able to acknowledge receipt or return material.
Singers in Scotland can take part in the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, which performs in several concerts each year. To find out more, see the Chorus's page.
The International Festival happens every August, however it is not going ahead in 2020 due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Provisional dates for the International Festival in forthcoming years are listed below:
6-30 August 2021
5-29 August 2022