Dates set. A provoking theme. The first three performances unveiled.

The 79th Edinburgh International Festival is only nine months away. Read on to discover what awaits the curious mind.

Save the Date

From 1–24 Aug 2025 we are presenting a curated programme of world-class opera, music, theatre and dance. This marks the third Festival led by Festival Director Nicola Benedetti. Pop the dates in your diary.

2025 Theme: The Truth We Seek

For the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, we invite you to explore Truth in all its forms. The search for truth is an essential part of being human, but today this search for meaning can be fractured.

Through the lens of this year’s theme, The Truth We Seek, our 2025 programme will offer contemporary reflections on the world alongside time-honoured tales. A place where fact meets faith and fiction.

Mary, Queen of Scots

One of Scotland’s most famous figures, Mary, Queen of Scots, is told through the eyes of Queen Elizabeth I. Blending history with legend, this new production from Scottish Ballet delves into the stories— the true and the fictional —that surround Mary’s life and legacy.

A conceptual, spectacular set. Striking period-inspired costumes. Original music from Mikael Karlsson & Michael P Atkinson, the team behind the reimagined score for Scottish Ballet’s 2022 International Festival performance Coppélia.

The casting for Mary, Queen of Scots will be fluid and intergenerational, with various members of the company playing the part of Elizabeth I.

Orpheus and Eurydice

Journey to the underworld and back. This is Orpheus and Eurydice like you’ve never seen before.

At the 2025 Festival, Opera Australia and Edinburgh International Festival present Opera Queensland’s production of Orpheus and Eurydice in association with Circa. This groundbreaking production explores the themes of true love, and the depths to which our inner beliefs are challenged.

The tale of Orpheus and Eurydice follows a heartbroken Orpheus who been granted the chance to bring his wife Eurydice back from the underworld. There is one condition; he must not look at her – at all – on their long journey home.

This European production premiere of Orpheus and Eurydice is a modern reworking of Gluck’s 18th century tragédielyrique opera. Not only featuring world-class musicians and performers, but also acrobatic artistry from Australian contemporary circus company, Circa. Led by conductor Laurence Cummings, the production will feature the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a chorus from Scottish Opera. 

NYO2: National Youth Orchestra 2

NYO2 is one of three acclaimed national youth ensembles from New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall, a venue renowned for its leadership in music education.

At the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, NYO2 performers aged 14–17, will join their Scottish peers on stage for a family concert. Their visit will form cross-border connections and share the views of the next generation of musicians. This performance inaugurates a new three-year creative partnership with Carnegie Hall and its national youth ensembles.

NYO2 are one of our three resident orchestras in 2025. This residency model strengthens the orchestra’s connection with Edinburgh, offering workshops and diverse performance styles to enrich the local cultural landscape. 

Early access for tickets

The full programme for the 2025 Edinburgh International Festival, including dates for these performances, will be announced in March. You’ll be able to get your tickets soon after that.

Our International Festival members can book tickets before anyone else.

From £5 a month, you can become a Friend and receive priority booking for Orpheus and Eurydice, Mary, Queen of Scots, NYO2, and the rest of our 2025 Programme. Our members get access to an exclusive programme of member events during August, including backstage tours, open rehearsals, and social events.

Become a member today.

Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to hear when we announce the full programme.