‘Edinburgh in August is not just the most thrilling, beguiling, preposterously enjoyable place on earth; it is also wonderfully addictive.’ The Daily Telegraph

Edinburgh is the city that loves a good festival, for many months of the year there is a world class Festival being held in Edinburgh and whilst The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August and Hogmanay at New Year have really put Edinburgh on the world map, there are many other Festival's to enjoy all year round such as the Edinburgh Science Festival, the Children's International Theatre Festival and The Edinburgh International Film Festival now being held in June.

Here’s some useful information on our festivals with links to the relevant websites.

2010 Dates TBC in Edinburgh
www.imaginate.org.uk
The UK’s largest performing arts festival for children and young people.

25th to 29th June 2009
www.royalhighlandshow.org
Occupying a 300 acre site near the airport, if you can spot the difference between a Lincoln Red, South Devon and Longhorn, then this is where you should be.

2010 Dates TBC
www.edfringe.com
The Edinburgh Fringe 2007 offered 1,800 different shows in 261 venues, 36% of which were world premieres. It is the biggest and most celebrated arts festival in the world and we feel lucky and proud to have it on our doorstep. If you've never been before, treat yourself and you'll be hooked!

2010 Dates TBC
www.eif.co.uk
Beginning in 1947 with the aim of providing ‘a platform for the flowering of the human spirit,’ The Edinburgh International Festival delights visitors each year with many of the world’s finest orchestras, dance and operatic companies, directors and musicians. 

2010 Dates TBC
www.edbookfest.co.uk
With 700 events and 600 authors from 40 countries, The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the world’s largest festival of the written word and a vibrant meeting place, where people of all ages can enjoy events by some of the greatest writers and thinkers on the planet. It's gorgeous to lie on the grass on a sunny day sucking it all up. Great bookshop too.

2010 Dates TBC
www.edfilmfest.org.uk
Started in 1947, the Edinburgh International Film Festival is one of the true homes of innovative and exciting cinema and 2008 sees it move away from the August festival programme to its own stand alone spot in June.

Assembly
www.assemblyrooms.com
Box office: 0131 623 3030
Assembly is the most prestigious and successful venue on the Fringe. Established over 26 years ago, Assembly is world renowned for presenting a varied programme of award-winning international comedy, theatre, music, art and dance. 2007 saw 144 shows from 22 countries performing in 8 major city venues.

The Gilded Balloon
www.gildedballoon.co.uk
0131 622 6555
Established in 1986, Karen Koren has built The Gilded Balloon from being a one theatre, 7 shows a day venue, through the dramatic burning down of their venue and offices in 2002, to their new home in Teviot Row House. Over the years she has nurtured and spotted the talents of the likes of Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran, Tommy Tiernan and most recently, The Perrier Newcomer winner Tim Minchin.

The Pleasance
www.pleasance.co.uk
Box office: 0131 556 6550
One of the power house venues of the Fringe, 2006 saw 240,000 people watching shows at The Pleasance. Opened in 1985, The Pleasance has provided a spring board for the likes of Paul Merton, Graham Norton, Jo Brand and Frank Skinner. Young Pleasance nurtures the talents of young actors, directors and stage managers.

Underbelly
www.underbelly.co.uk
Box office: 0870 745 3083
A relative newcomer to the Edinburgh Fringe scene, Ed Bartlam and Charlie Wood have quickly gained a great reputation for their venue which grew in 2006 to include The Udderbelly, an upturned inflatable cow in Teviot Square which played host to some of the fringe’s most popular shows including Into The Hoods.