Edinburgh is certainly a city of festivals. There is actually an organisation, Festivals Edinburgh, dedicated to supporting the city’s 12 main festivals.
Festivals Edinburgh looks at joint marketing, programming, sponsorship, technology, environmental sustainability and professional development for all the events. The Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council, EventScotland, Scottish Enterprise and the VisitScotland Growth Fund all support and fund the organisation.
The 12 festivals supported by the organisation are: Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Bank of Scotland Imaginate Festival, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and New Year Party, Edinburgh International Film Festival, Edinburgh Mela, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Science Festival and Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is renowned across the world and aims to showcase new and established talent with a packed programme of music, theatre, art, dance and more in venues across the city.
The Edinburgh International Festival celebrates the arts from opera to ballet, classical music to theatre and aims to bring together cultures from the East and West.
Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival runs for 10 days every summer and has over 100 concerts at indoor and outdoor venues in the city.
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival offers live storytelling performances, talks, workshops, discussions and family activities. It has public events and activities in schools in the city. This event takes place in the autumn.
The Edinburgh Mela includes music, theatre, film, visual arts, speeches and exhibitions and celebrates work from ethnic minority artists.