Looking to make the most of the final weekend of the Edinburgh International Festival 2022? We’ve got you covered. We’ve set out a handy guide to help you fill each day with world-leading dance, theatre and music, leaving plenty of time in-between to explore the Festival City.

Thursday 25 August

If you're arriving in Edinburgh after work on Thursday evening, you'll still have time to get stuck straight into some theatre. Head to the Church Hill Theatre in beautiful Bruntsfield for 7.30pm to catch Sergio Blanco’s most recent work of autofiction, When You Walk Over My Grave. The play tackles the subject of death from a visceral, unexpected and offbeat perspective and is sure to get you thinking.

If you’re looking for somewhere distinctly Edinburgh to rest your head after the show, Waldorf Astoria: The Caledonian is the ideal place. Sitting proudly opposite Edinburgh Castle, the hotel boasts 241 stylish rooms to choose from and is conveniently located in the city centre.

Friday 26 August

Without wasting a minute, dive straight into the action on Friday morning with an 11am concert at The Queen’s Hall. Celebrated mezzo soprano Magdalena Kožená and pianist Yefim Bronfman continue their long-standing artistic partnership in this concert featuring songs by Bartók, Brahms and Mussorgsky. You can expect vivid and expressive vocals accompanied by Bronfman’s dynamic playing, which is both beguilingly tender and tremendously powerful in turn.

The concert will finish just in time for lunch and luckily, The Queen’s Hall is situated right opposite the House of Oz. If the smell of koftas and steak flipping on the barbie doesn’t tempt you, you can enjoy a pizza, vegemite sandwich or even an Aussie all-day breakfast as you rest on the bohemian cushions and beanbag chairs.

After a couple of restorative hours, it’s time to make your way to the lively neighbourhood of Leith in time to catch a 4pm performance of Muster Station: Leith by theatre company Grid Iron. Grid Iron are renowned for their boundary-pushing, immersive, site-specific theatre, in which the audience become part of the action. Set in the not-so-distant future, Leith Academy is transformed into a place of refuge following a disaster that has forced those in the area to flee their homes.

You'll need some time to sit and think after this emotive production, so we recommend booking a table at Alby’s, well known in Leith for its colossal sandwiches and toasties. With enough energy to power you through the night, head over to Leith Theatre, where you can treat yourself to a post-dinner gin and tonic from our official partners Lind & Lime before welcoming The Cinematic Orchestra to the stage. Fans old and new can look forward to an evening of this British nu-jazz band’s signature improvisational, electronic, vivid sound. From tear-jerkers like To Build a Home to the ethereal, panoramic tracks on their 2019 album To Believe, this concert will take you on a journey full of emotion and wonder.

Saturday 27 August

After a luxurious Saturday morning, head to Murrayfield Ice Rink in the hopes of landing an late morning slot at the ever-popular Dreamachine. Although it’s fully booked on our website, it's well worth trying for walk-ups. Get there 20 minutes before the slot you want to attend, fill out the pre-booking form while you wait and our Front of House staff will let you into the next performance with spaces. Once in, you can enjoy an immersive experience that unlocks the limitless potential of your own mind. Beneath cosy blankets, a bright white light from above will conjure up a kaleidoscope of colour and patterns behind your closed eyes. Formulated by leading neuroscientists with music by Grammy® nominated composer Jon Hopkins, Dreamachine provokes a response that is totally unique to you and your brain. Enjoy reflecting on your experience afterwards, scribbling down what you saw in chalk pastels, discussing with others, or simply enjoying some quiet time in their private pods.

Afterwards, hop on the tram from Murrayfield to Princes Street in a bid to be one of the first 100 people to attend the 3pm Thank You, Edinburgh concert in Princes Street Gardens. Those who succeed will be rewarded with a free snack pack, including goodies from The Pantry and refreshing sodas by Bon Accord. As you picnic among the picturesque scenery, you'll be serenaded by The Philadelphia Orchestra, whose concert at the Edinburgh Playhouse will be livestreamed to big screens in the gardens. The programme is perfect for families and features favourites by Gershwin, Beethoven and Carlos Simon.

Continuing the family-friendly theme into the evening, make your way to Pizza Posto for some crowd-pleasing Italian food (and perhaps an Aperol Spritz for the grown-ups) before crossing the road to the Festival Theatre to catch Jungle Book reimagined at 7.30pm. Suitable for ages eight and above, this adaptation of Kipling’s novel by Akram Khan Company is set in the near future. Mowgli is a climate refugee, exploring a cityscape occupied by wild animals. Dance, animation and an original score work together to tell the story we know and love from a modern perspective.

Sunday 28 August

Spend a sleepy Sunday morning exploring the streets and closes of Edinburgh, or in bed if preferred, then make your way to Tollcross for a spot of lunch. Castello Coffee has an extensive menu of delicious brunch dishes, sandwiches and hot drinks, and is handily located just up the road from the King’s Theatre. That's where you'll want to be at 2.30pm, to see Irish national treasure and star of Hollywood and Broadway Gabriel Byrne perform a staged adaptation of his bestselling memoir Walking With Ghosts. You'll find yourself enraptured in his masterful storytelling as you follow his journey from Dublin childhood to finding fame as a successful actor.

Before returning to Leith Theatre for the evening, there's time for one last feast in the local area. Harmonium is an independent restaurant with a 100% plant-based menu featuring everything from mac and cheese to decadent burgers, plus an ever-evolving cocktail list. Then it’s time to bring your weekend to an appropriately Scottish close with Niteworks: Comann, kicking off at 8pm. The band is known for combining traditional Gaelic music with electronica, stirring bagpipes with thumping basslines. The resulting tunes are sure to get the heart racing and the feet stomping.

As the weekend draws to a close, so too does the 75th Edinburgh International Festival. It’s time to head home for a well-deserved rest and to start dreaming of what next year will bring...