Edinburgh International Festival Tickets 2026: How to get tickets now the full progamme has been announced - including Wagner Moura play
It’s nearly time to get booked up for August.
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.
Festival Director Nicola Benedetti launched this year’s programme earlier this week,
Here’s everything you need to know about bagging a ticket.
When is the Edinburgh International Festival 2026?
This year’s festival runs from August 7-30.
When do tickets for the Edinburgh International Festival go on sale?
Tickets go on sale to the general public for all shows at 12noon on Thursday, March 26.
Are there any presales for Edinburgh International Festival tickets in 2026?
The Edinburgh International Festival runs a membership scheme with a range of levels of patrons and friends - each of which will have access to the presale. You can find out more about joining here.
Here’s when members will have access to presales:
Gold Ambassador and USA Gold Patron: 12 noon on Thursday, March 19
Silver Ambassador, Ambassador and USA Silver Patron: 12noon on Friday, March 20
Gold and Silver Friend and USA Patron: 12noon on Monday, March 23
Friend: 12noon on Tuesday, March 24
What’s on at the Edinburgh International Festival 2026?
There’s a huge programme of events taking place this year, from jazz and orchestral music, to plays, operas and ballets.
Check out what The Scotsman’s teams of critics reckon is worth getting a ticket for here:
You can also browse the full programme - and book tickets - here.
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