Your Guide for The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2025
The countdown for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is in full swing! This week at Summerhall Distillery we're getting Fringe ready with our very own Pickering's Gin Cocktail Bar, which will be up and running on the 31st oh July, so come and visit us!
Aside from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, there are a number of other festival or events happening within in - very much festival inception. So, to help you cut through the noise, we've compiled a guide to help you know what's on and when.
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
When: 1st - 25th August
Where: All over the city
The Fringe is a three-week festival of performing arts that takes place in Edinburgh every August. You can expect absolutely everything at the Fringe from; comedy, events, exhibitions, live music, circus, cabaret, drag show, spoken word, theatre, dance, and children shows, to name a few.
Some of these are ticketed but there are free shows or they just ask for a donation. Browsing the programme can be overwhelming as there are 3,842 shows this year - yep you read that right. So, our recommendation is to narrow your search down to specific genres, read articles on show reviews and ask friends.
My favourite way to experience a true Fringe is to walk about the city and every 4th flyer you collect, you go see that show, leave it up to the Fringe gods, and hope you picked a goodie.
You truly experience the weird and wonderful during this month, so best just to embrace it.
Edinburgh International Festival
When: 1st - 24th August
Where: All over the city
The International Festival is engrained within the city, it's a global celebration on performing arts in Scotland. They hand-pick some of the finest performers in dance, opera, music and theatre. This year's theme is 'The Truth We Seek', a journey into the elusive nature of truth, in our personal and public lives.
With a number of incredible performances lined up, there is one that's reached the headlines. They have cultural icon Brian Cox staring in a biting satire - Make It Happen - on the rise, fall, and fail of The Royal bank of Scotland.
The Royal Edinburgh Miliary Tattoo
When: 1st - 23rd August
Where: Edinburgh Castle
Taking place in the iconic Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a show that brings together the best of British Military with international performances from a global cast. Presenting emotionally charged entertainment featuring cutting edge lighting, sound and military precision.
Pickering's Gin is actually the official gin sponsor for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, so you can enjoy a world-class performance while sipping on a delicious Gin & Tonic.
This year marks their 75th Anniversary and their theme is 'The Heroes Who Made Us', and with a brand new Creative Director as well, this year's show is sure to something spectacular.
Edinburgh Art Festival
When: 7th - 24th August
Where: All over the city
Edinburgh Arts Festival is the UK's largest annual festival of visual arts. Returning for it's 21st year, the festival will showcase performances surrounding classical myths, major new commissions, tales of folklore, and reflections on queer history.
With a jam packed programme, and plenty of collaborations with venues, artists, and other festivals, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and explore.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
When: 9th - 24th August
Where: Edinburgh Future Institute
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is the world-leading festival in words, literature, and ideas. Every August they celebrate the written word, bringing together over 600 events with the most exciting writers and thinkers on the planet to ignite imaginations, foster human connection, and challenge the status quo.
This year's theme is 'Repair', which seeks to explore the many things around us which feel broken, and how we might seek to fix them. With over 700 events featuring 641 writer from 35 countries, across 6 continents, this is one of their biggest festivals to date.
Edinburgh International Film Festival
When: 14th - 20th August
Where: Cinemas across the city
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is back with a bang, with it's relaunched programme which honours 70+ years of festival history, showcasing the very best talent in filmmaking.
This year’s Festival programme explores the fragile ties that bind communities new and old, thrilling and revelatory journeys inward and outward and light shone in the darkest of places.
It showcases new work from filmmakers from Scotland, UK, US, Ireland, Canada, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Croatia, France, Turkey, Australia, Brazil, Japan and beyond.
