Here you can discover previous International Festival events
An afternoon event celebrating the folk music and the social community that surrounds it
Alan Cumming returns to the International Festival with his Club Cumming hedonistic extravaganza.
The Unsung Women Pioneers of Scottish Pop
A live event celebrating the music of woman-fronted Scottish bands and the new generation of musicians who are challenging the gender balance.
Presented by Numbers
An evening of exciting names in dance music, with live performance and DJ sets as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside at Leith Theatre.
With Michael Rother (Neu!), Fire Engines & Lydia Lunch
A special evening at the International Festival from Neu! Reekie! as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside at Leith Theatre.
With Honeyblood & Spinning Coin
A special evening at the International Festival from Hidden Door as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside at Leith Theatre.
Presented by Celtic Connections
An evening with Celtic Connections, part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside.
Performed by The Grit Orchestra & Greg Lawson
A unique performance of an epic orchestration of Martyn Bennett’s second album, Bothy Culture. Part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside.
Performed by stargaze
André de Ridder conducts s t a r g a z e for a re-imagining of Hi Scores by Boards of Canada as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside.
Scotland's own Mogwai return to the International Festival for two special concerts as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside at Leith Theatre.
The world's Culture Ministers will gather in the Scottish Parliament to debate the importance of culture, with a range of international speakers discussing the subject.
With The Vaselines, The Pastels & Linton Kwesi Johnson
A special evening at the International Festival from Neu! Reekie! as part of Light on the Shore with Edinburgh Gin Seaside at Leith Theatre.
Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord / William Christie / Robert Carsen / Ian Burton
John Gay’s 18th-century opera is brought into the modern day in this brand new production by two commanding figures of the international stage.
16-19 August 2018
RSNO / Sir Andrew Davis
A stunning international cast tell this bewitching fairy tale in a concert performance of Engelbert Humperdinck's opera.
15 August 2018
Hallé / Sir Mark Elder
A star-studded cast provide the third instalment of Wagner’s monumental Ring Cycle in this concert performance.
8 August 2018
Opéra de Lyon / Stefano Montanari / Stefan Herheim
A visually stunning and boldly staged production of Rossini’s opera. The classic tale of Cinderella is radically transformed by renowned director Stefan Herheim.
24-26 August 2018
Théâtre des Champs-Elysées / Jérémie Rhorer / Laurent Pelly
A new production of Gioachino Rossini's comic opera that brings a refreshing immediacy to this irresistible masterpiece.
5-8 August 2018
Mariinsky Opera
Berlioz's visionary Les Troyens is opera on an epic scale, and deals with some of mankind's profoundest questions.
28-30 August 2014
Festival d’Aix-en-Provence
A brand new production of Mozart and da Ponte’s provocative opera, direct from this year’s Aix-en-Provence Festival.
25-28 August 2016
By Vincenzo Bellini
Cecilia Bartoli sang the title role in a powerful, passionate production of Bellini’s searing opera masterpiece on love, betrayal and revenge. Since its unveiling at the 2013 Salzburg Whitsun Festival, it has been acclaimed throughout Europe, winning that year’s International Opera Award for best new production.
5-9 August 2016
Mariinsky Opera
Das Rheingold introduced the vast, mythical world of Wagner’s monumental Ring cycle, one of the greatest achievements in all opera.
15 August 2016
Scottish Opera / Huw Watkins / Stuart MacRae
Presented as a double bill, these two short operas explore the capacity of the mind to shape our lives, whether through the potency of imagination or the overwhelming power of memories
30 August 2012
Welsh National Opera / Richard Wagner
Wagner’s extraordinary opera Tristan und Isolde is one of the most powerful experiences that the artform has to offer.
15 August 2012
Opera North
Janáček’s penultimate opera is at once a mystery thriller and a meditation on desire and eternal life.
11 August 2012
The Sixteen / Henry Purcell
The Sixteen brings its expertise in early English music to bear on the spectacular Restoration drama King Arthur.
27 August 2012
Scottish Opera / Craig Armstrong
A world premiere of the Scottish Opera and Edinburgh International Festival co-production.
29 August 2012
Les Arts Florissants
Love, jealousy, witchcraft and war: Charpentier’s 1688 sacred opera is a dramatic and moving reinterpretation of an Old Testament tragedy set on the eve of battle.
17 August 2012
Oper Frankfurt
Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas is a poignant masterpiece of early English opera that features some of the composer’s most heartfelt music.
24-25 August 2013
Scottish Opera and The Opera Group
Seductress, victim, manipulator: Lulu lives off men as both tortured and torturer, purveyor of ecstasy and angel of death.
30-31 August 2013
Aldeburgh Music
How strongly would you value your principles, even if they brought you into conflict with your family and friends? Would you put yourself in danger to demonstrate what you believe?
15-17 August 2014