Start Your Festival on a High Note
Sun 3 Aug, 4.00pm

Get your tickets! Scottish national treasure Dougie MacLean, the composer behind the iconic anthem Caledonia, headlines free outdoor event.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Princes Street Gardens, Stephen Deazley, artistic director of Edinburgh’s Love Music Community Choir, leads the crowd in a mass singalong.

So gather friends and family for The Big Singalong to mark the start of festival season in Edinburgh.

Tickets are available from midday on 19 June.

Dance in Princes Street Gardens
Mon 4 Aug, 4.00pm 

Don your dancing shoes, as the outdoor music making continues the next day with The Ceilidh Sessions.

Led by famed Scottish folk musician Donald Shaw, founder of Scottish supergroup Capercaille, and Norwegian folk ensemble Barokksolistene, enjoy an afternoon of music and dance inspired by the Gaelic ceilidh tradition with a caller for the dances.

In the true ceilidh spirit, go with a group. Get £10 tickets for groups of 4+. Tickets available now.

Nicola Benedetti leads Rising Stars: Classical Jam
Fri 15 Aug, 7.00pm

For the third year running, our Rising Stars programme unites up-and-coming young musicians with mentors for performance opportunities. This year, members from our 2025 Rising Stars Strings cohort will be joined by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti in The Hub. 

Rising Stars: Classical Jam is a spontaneous, audience-led performance where you choose the repertoire. 

2025 Rising Stars: Classical Jam will feature Mira Marton and Tiago Soares Silva on violin, Ayano Nakamura and Elena Kuessner on viola and Layla Ballard and Hoda Jahanpour on cello. 

Read more about Rising Stars 2025.

Joe Webb to lead Up Late: Jazz Jam
Fri 15 Aug, 10.00pm

Stay Up Late as Jazz takes centre stage at The Hub. Acclaimed pianist and composer Joe Webb will lead the Up Late Jazz Jam in a night of improvisation and raw creativity in action.

One of the most exciting forces on the UK jazz scene, Webb brings his distinctive energy and improvisational flair, honed through his work with Kansas Smitty’s and as part of the Wynton Marsalis Quartet, where he made his Festival debut last year.

This late-night session sees seasoned professionals and fresh talent share the stage for an electrifying night.

So Get Involved: Sing, Dance and Listen Together