Festival season is almost upon us, and we’re kicking things off this week with the announcement that All-Night trams are back on Friday & Saturday nights throughout the Festivals.
Beginning on Friday 1 August, trams will run a ten-minute service until the usual times, then trams will run every half an hour throughout the wee hours, until the normal 7-minute service resumes the following morning.
Make the most of a packed programme of events throughout the city, with the tramline winding between major International Festival venues like the Edinburgh Playhouse, Usher Hall and Traverse Theatre. It’s also just a short walk away from hundreds of other pop-up venues in the city, which are hosting events from the city’s many festivals.
For visitors coming from outside the city, Ingliston Park & Ride offers a great opportunity to leave the car and parking stress behind and glide into the city. With over 1,000 free spaces and trams from every 7 minutes, it’s a great option for people coming from across central Scotland and beyond - and it will be open throughout the night when the trams are operating overnight.
Scroll on for our quick guide to the festivals...
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
Fri 1 – Mon 25 Aug
With more than 3700 unique shows across its span and comprising more than 50,000 shows in total in 2024, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the world’s largest performance arts festival. With household-name comedians performing alongside theatre, dance and circus troupes, there’s truly something for everyone.
Edinburgh International Festival
Fri 1 – Mon 25 Aug
The Edinburgh International Festival is the at the heart of Edinburgh’s festival season - this year it returns with its central theme of ‘The Truth We Seek’.
With world-class music ensembles, opera and theatre, this year’s lineup also features cultural icon Brian Cox in a new stage show about the rise and fall of The Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2025
Fri 1 – Sat 23 Aug
Set against the spectacular backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo sees military bands joined by cultural performers from across the globe. Plus, if you’re local, they’re offering a special discount for the show on Friday 22 August for people with proof of an EH postcode – see their website for more details.
Edinburgh Art Festival 2025
Thu 7 – Sun 24 Aug
The UK’s largest festival of visual arts returns for its 21st year, working with local and international partners to present a programme of exhibitions and projects across the city.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Sat 9 - Sun 24 Aug
Taking place at the beautiful Edinburgh Futures Institute, as well as other venues across the city, the Edinburgh International Book Festival has a reputation as a powerful forum for discussion of literary and cultural values, as well as the most pressing issues of the time. Don’t miss their excellent programme of children’s events!
Edinburgh International Film Festival
Thu 14 – Wed 20 Aug
The Edinburgh International Film Festival returns in full force in 2025, taking pride of place in the newly-reopened Filmhouse. Featuring World, European and UK premieres across its 7-day span, as well as retrospective screenings of classic films, this is a brilliant celebration of cinema.
