Taking place (almost) every August, the Edinburgh International Festival is a celebration of culture that sees notable artists from the world of music and performing arts invited to showcase their work in the Scottish Capital.
The first event, then called the 'International Festival of Music and Drama' took place in 1947, with Austrian-born impresario Rudolf Bing acting as festival director and head of programming.
It featured orchestral, choral and chamber music, Lieder and song, opera, ballet, drama, film, and Scottish 'piping and dancing' on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.
It has taken place every year since, other than 2020 when it was completely cancelled due to the global pandemic.
The original idea for the Festival was to enrich cultural life following the Second World War, and it was first financed by £10,000 in winnings that Lord Rosebery made from his horse Ocean Swell - a sum that was matched by Edinburgh Town Council.
Since then it has grown in strength, and is joined by a number of other festivals during August, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and, most notably, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
This year’s programme was launched today (Wednesday, March 11) by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti, with tickets on sale to members from Thursday, March 19, and to the general public from Thursday, March 26.
The Scotsman’s team of critics have been casting a discerning eye over the programme and here are 10 of their top tips.
You can read all of their reactions to the programme below, before booking tickets here.
5. Contemporary music: Mark and Maggie O'Connor
On August 13 at The Hub Grammy Award winner Mark and Maggie O’Connor promise an evening of dazzling fiddle tunes in a programme that ranges from classical to jazz to bluegrass. | EIF
6. Dance: Ihsane
Double Grammy Award-winning choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui explores grief and connection while paying homage to North Africa and the Middle East in a performce that pays tribute to a gay Moroccan man murdered in Belgium. You can see it at the Festival Theatre from August 18-20. | EIF
7. Dance: Mere Mortals
San Francisco Ballet presents a provocative myth for the AI age, in their futuristic retelling of Pandora’s Box, featuring music performed live by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and electronic music DJ Floating Points. It's on at the Playhouse from August 28-30. | EIF
8. Opera: Verdi's A Masked Ball
Zurich Opera House are bringing Verdi’s A Masked Ball to the Edinburgh International Festival and it looks like being an August must-see. The ball in question promises to be "filled with desire, treachery and political peril". It's on at the Festival Theatre from August 26-30. | EIF