Edinburgh Summer Diary 2025: What’s On
Summertime in Edinburgh
Summer in Edinburgh is a season full of energy, colour and joy. We welcome visitors to our glorious city to experience a riot of music, dance, art, films, books and theatre, not to mention our world-class food, drink, architecture and hospitality! In this, the first in a mini-series of blogs of what to do in Edinburgh over Summer, we’ll help you navigate the city’s Festivals with our Edinburgh Summer Diary 2025: What’s On. Look out for our next two blogs where we’ll share our insider tips on which neighbourhoods to explore over Summer, and the best food & drink spots to make the most of your Summer in the city.
Summer Diary 2025: What’s On
You’ll never be short of something exciting to do in Edinburgh, but over the Summer months, more than ever, the city is energised and buzzing with Festivals and fun. Whether you’re looking to fill your diary with shows over August or just want to soak up the atmosphere along with some great food and music, here in our Summer Diary 2025 you’ll find a round-up of some of the exciting events we have to look forward to in the capital this Summer.
JUNE
Festivals
Meadows Festival Celebrating the event’s 50th Anniversary, the Meadows come alive with stallholders, live music and performers.
When: 7th-8th June
Where: The Meadows
Leith Festival Kicking off with Gala Day on Leith Links, you’ll find stalls, local makers, artists, food and live music in this community-driven festival.
When: 14th-22nd June
Where: venues across Leith
Royal Highland Show The annual event, showcasing food, farming and rural life. We’re looking forward to the Forestry Arena, The Forge, Scotland’s Larder and brand new to this year Farmer’s Bash presents Royal Highland Hoolie, a live music stage featuring music from Scottish folk to Irish country.
When: 19th-22nd June
Where: Ingliston Showgrounds
Royal Highland Hoolie
Art
Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives This is your last chance to catch this exhibition of breathtaking works by the Scottish Colourists. They are widely recognised as radical painters who forged a new language of colour and pioneers of early 20th Century Scottish art.
When: until 28th June
Where: Dovecot Studios
Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives
John Bellany: A Life in Self Portraiture Bringing together over 80 autobiographical drawings, paintings, prints and sketchbooks spanning from the early 1960’s until the artist’s death in 2013, the exhibition captures the span of an extraordinary life and career.
When: until 28th September
Where: City Art Centre
Theatre
Moulin Rouge! The Musical Baz Luhrmann’s film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical extravaganza in a world of splendour, romance and eye-popping excess!
When: until 14th June
Where: The Playhouse
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Sport
Seven Hills of Edinburgh Race & Challenge A combination of road-running, cross-country, hill-running and urban orienteering in one of the most scenic and challenging courses in the UK. The route includes Calton Hill, The Castle, Corstorphine Hill, Craiglockart Hill, Braid Hill, Blackford Hill and Artur’s Seat, finishing back at Calton Hill.
When: 15th June
Where: start location: Calton Hill
JULY
Festivals
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival Venues across the city welcome an exciting line-up of jazz and blues artists from Scotland and around the globe. Opening this year’s Festival, and celebrating the return of The Famous Spiegeltent, is the amazing raconteur and brilliant jazz violinist, George Washingmachine, playing the music of Gershwin, Porter and Berlin. Expect impeccable musicianship and deadpan Aussie humour.
When: 11th-20th July
Where: venues across the city
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
The Edinburgh Food Festival A celebration of food and drink with chef demos, drink launches and street food stalls.
When: 18th-27th July
Where: George Square Gardens
The West End Fair starts its annual run in the tree-filled grounds of St John’s Church, at the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road. This is always a must-visit event to pick up some beautiful and original crafts direct from the makers.
When: 28th July-24th August
Where: St John’s Church
Art
Andy Goldsworthy: 50 years A major, large-scale exhibition of internationally famous, Scottish born Goldsworthy showcasing over 200 works. The artist is creating several major new works outside at the RSA especially for this exhibition.
When: 26th July-2nd November
Where: Royal Scottish Academy
Music
For the Harry Potter fans you can be treated to a concert with the Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Justin Freer. All of this against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in concert.
When: 13th July
Where: Edinburgh Castle
AUGUST
Festivals
When: 1st-25th August
Where: venues across Edinburgh
Held in venues across the city, this is the largest arts festival in the world. It’s the place to spot up-and-coming artists as well as well-known names in theatre, dance, comedy, music, chidren’s shows and exhibitions. It’s also a hotspot for street-performers, showcasing music, magic, circus and more along the Royal Mile and The Mound.
Performers on the Royal Mile
Edinburgh International Festival
When: 8th-31st August
Where: venues across Edinburgh
Coinciding with the Fringe, the Edinburgh International Festival features a highly curated selection of artists and performers to showcase unique collaborations, world premieres, and critically acclaimed productions in the sphere of music, theatre, opera & dance. It is a celebration of the performing arts and was established in 1947, to encourage the ‘flowering of the human spirit’ post world war.
The theme for 2025 is ‘The Truth we Seek’. Highlights from this year’s programme include…..
‘Make it Happen’, an epic new satirical play. An eye-opening take on the 2008 financial crisis set in Edinburgh, starring Brian Cox.
‘Dance People’, a stellar dance work where the line between audience and performer dissolves. Set outdoors, against the striking backdrop of Old College Quad, the show examines the power structures that influence the artistic process.
Dance People
‘Orpheus & Eurydice’ You will experience an opera incorporating circus for a breathtaking fusion of music and acro, offering a brand new take on the classic Greek myth.
Orpheus & Eurydice
When: 1st-23rd August
Where: Edinburgh Castle
Music, dance, culture and military traditions against the iconic background of Edinburgh Castle.
The Tattoo
When: 1st-2nd August
Where: Edinburgh Playhouse
Three shows featuring a selection of the essential acts at this year’s Edinburgh Festival.
When: 1st-3rd August
Where: Inverleith Park
A feast of food and drink, live music, & live demonstrations.
When: 7th-24th August
Where: venues across Edinburgh
World class art exhibitions at galleries throughout the city including Andy Goldsworthy: 50 years at the Royal Scottish Academy.
Andy Goldsworthy
Edinburgh International Book Festival
When: 9th-24th August
Where: Edinburgh Futures Institute, 1 Lauriston Place
The EIBF has moved to a new venue in the heart of the Old Town, in the former Royal Infirmary Hospital building. The Festival hosts both prize-winning bestsellers and emerging writers. This year’s attending authors include Maggie O’Farrell and Ian McEwan.
Edinburgh International Film Festival
When: 14th-20th August
Where: venues across Edinburgh
Renowned around the world for discovering and promoting the very best in international cinema, cinema-lovers will be in for a treat. ‘Sorry, Baby’ opens the Festival after premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Sorry, Baby
Music
Oasis Live ’25
When: 8th, 9th, 12th August
Where: Murrayfield
Sam Fender
When: 22nd August
Where: Royal Highland Showgrounds
David Gray
When: 25th August
Where: Edinburgh Playhouse
If you still need Edinburgh accommodation for Summer 2025, take a look at our selection of lovely Homes from Home to rent here.
We hope that our Edinburgh Summer Diary 2025 will inspire you to enjoy some of these glorious events in the capital this Summer. And do let us know if there’s anything you’re particularly looking forward to-we’d love to hear from you!
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