It’s nearly time for the Edinburgh Festivals to take over the theatres, gyms, hotels, streets and pubs of Scotland’s Capital.
Taking place from August 7-28 (although there are Edinburgh Festival Fringe previews in the days running up to the official launch), there are thousands of shows and events taking place across the Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Film Festival and Edinburgh Art Festival.
From film, music and dance, to theatre, comedy and spoken word, there really is something for everybody - including live interviews with some of today’s leading political brains, from former UK Prime Ministers, party leaders and Scottish First Ministers of the past, to freshly-appointed government ministers and the new Prime Minister himself.
Here are 10 of the biggest names in politics appearing at the festivals in 2026.
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9. Joanna Cherry KC
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry has been an outspoken critic of the party in recent years - after serving as Shadow Home Secretary and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice in the House of Commons. She finally quit the party in late 2025 so is likely to be characteristically scathing of the Scottish Government when she appears at the Pleasance at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre at 2pm on Monday, August 10. | Getty Images
10. Stephen Flynn
One of the highest-profile SNP politicians of recent years, Stephen Flynn served as the leader of the SNP in the House of Commons until moving to Holyrood as MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine earlier this year. He's strongly touted as a possible future party leader and First Minister of Scotland and will be chatting to Iain Dale at the Pleasance at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre at 4pm on Saturday, August 22. | Getty Images