This year, we launched our first Youth Collective, giving young people a real voice in shaping the festival experience for their peers.  

Hear from Youth Collective members, Daisy, Eve and Alice about our year working together.  

Early in 2025, the Edinburgh International Festival’s first Youth Collective came together. We are a group of 16–18 year olds united by a shared passion for music and a desire to make the Festival more accessible to young people.

Initially enticed by the promise of free tickets, opportunities to connect with artists and staff and free food, little did we know we were stepping into a year filled with unforgettable performances and lifelong friendships.

Throughout the year, we met regularly with staff from across the organisation and gained insight into the huge amount of work that goes into creating a world-class Festival. These conversations gave us a deeper appreciation of what goes on behind the scenes.

We shared our own ideas, asked questions, and used what we were learning to make our own mark on the Festival. From creative planning to hands-on delivery, we took on roles across a range of projects. Our skills, enthusiasm and growing confidence helped shape the Festival experience for other young people.

One of our highlights was co-creating, planning and running Youth Takeover Day, where young creatives from across Edinburgh came together to explore the 2025 Festival’s theme, The Truth We Seek. We also immersed ourselves in the filmmaking process and produced a video welcoming Carnegie Hall’s Youth Orchestra, NYO2, to Scotland ahead of their Festival residency. 

Throughout the year, we discovered both personal and collective strengths. Our social, communication and collaborative skills were able to flourish. Being part of the Youth Collective showed us that when young voices are included, the Festival becomes richer, more inclusive, and more connected to the next generation.

Written by Daisy Gallacher

Are you 16-18, passionate about music and want to connect with the Edinburgh International Festival? Our Youth Collective is running for its second year. Applications open on Monday 10 November and close on Monday 1 December.