Edinburgh Festival

Award-winning talent at the Fringe

Previous Fringe award winners include Flight of the Conchords, Omid Djalili, Sean Hughes, Dave Gorman, Al Murray Pub Landlord, Richard Aoyade, Matthew Holness, Noel Fielding, Lee Evans, Frank Skinner and Dylan Moran. And you never know who you could be rubbing shoulders with – fellow audience members could themselves be global superstars. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins pitched up at the Fringe in 2002, and Christian Slater visited in 2004.

Fun for free on Fringe Sunday

On every day of the Edinburgh Fringe, the Royal Mile is littered with street entertainers, from fire-eaters and tightrope walkers, to unicyclist jugglers and mime artists. Some artists perform highlights of their shows helping you choose what to see.

Fringe Sunday attracts around 250,000 people – there to sample the best the fest’ has to offer for free. This family day out is always on the second Sunday of the Fringe and has been described as 'a buzzing outdoor carnival of live performance'. See street performers, comics, dancers and actors on stage or mingling with the crowds.

Edinburgh International Festival

The Edinburgh Edinburgh International Festival features invited acts only, and largely champions theatre and dance, classical music and opera.

Energetic and entertaining, the Festival's dance programme features imaginative choreography and movement from around the globe. The opera schedule tends to feature amusing and moving tales, some employing historical narratives with others using contemporary themes and music.

Most tickets for the official venues are sold in advance, with some allocated by ballot. However, you can enjoy the display from vantage points across the city without a ticket, including Princes Street itself and the family viewing area at Inverleith Park.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Thousands of spectators from across the globe descend on Edinburgh Castle each year for this major event, which encompasses displays of military costumes, music and parades, bagpipes and pipe bands, combat and motorcycle display teams, parachute displays and more. A visually rich collection of performances by Highland dancers, drummers, military bands and the famous Lone Piper make this a unique experience. It runs from 1 to 23 August. Official website »

Festival of Spirituality and Peace

Originally part of the Fringe, the programme for this independent event includes public debates, drama, film, workshops, meditation, prayer, concerts, exhibitions and more – all in the name of peace. Official website »

Edinburgh International Book Festival

The festival attracts acclaimed authors and performers, with past line-ups including Simon Callow, Will Self, Rick Wakeman, Clive James, Val McDermid, Tariq Ali, Louis de Bernières, Hanif Kureshi, Steven Berkoff, Irvine Welsh and Alex James. Organisers promise "lively debates on ethical, political and environmental matters" and a series of workshops, readings and events purely for children. Official website »

Edinburgh Mela

This multicultural mix of music, dance, lifestyle, visual arts and theatre is a celebration of the arts with a carnival feel. There are also debates, a Bollywood fashion show, DJs, an aerial circus and plenty of fun for children. Treat yourself to a plethora of colourful choreography, a triple-bill of new Pakistani films, and much more. Official website »

Heading to Edinburgh?

AA Getaways offer fantastic deals on breaks to Edinburgh, so you can grab a slice of festival fun for less. Alternatively, you can find a place to stay, somewhere to eat and even plan your route – all with the AA. Better still, there are big savings to be made for AA Members, so why not join us today?