Discover what’s on in Edinburgh this Summer.

As summer approaches, Edinburgh comes alive with an abundance of activities and attractions for locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re seeking family-friendly adventures, cultural festivals, or culinary delights, Scotland’s capital city has something to offer everyone. Let’s dive into the top experiences to enjoy in Edinburgh this summer across various categories.

Family-Friendly Things to Do: Summer in Edinburgh is perfect for family outings and adventures. Spend a day at the Edinburgh Zoo, where kids can marvel at exotic animals and enjoy interactive exhibits. For a dose of history and fun, explore the Edinburgh Dungeon, where theatrical actors bring Scotland’s dark past to life. Don’t miss a visit to Dynamic Earth, an interactive museum exploring the Earth’s past, present, and future through immersive exhibits and activities. Learn more

Events and Festivals: Edinburgh’s summer calendar is packed with exciting events and festivals that celebrate art, culture, and music. The Edinburgh International Festival, held in August, showcases world-class performances in theatre, opera, dance, and music, attracting artists and audiences from around the globe. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest arts festival in the world, offers a diverse array of performances, street entertainment, and pop-up venues, transforming the city into a vibrant cultural hub. Learn more

Best Sights and Landmarks: Edinburgh is home to an impressive array of sights and landmarks that capture the city’s rich history and architectural beauty. Explore the iconic Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock, and delve into centuries of Scottish heritage within its ancient walls. Wander down the Royal Mile, a bustling thoroughfare lined with historic buildings, quaint shops, and cosy pubs. For panoramic views of the city, climb Calton Hill or visit the Scott Monument, a towering Gothic structure honouring Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. Learn more

In conclusion, Edinburgh offers an unforgettable summer experience filled with adventure, culture, and culinary delights. Whether you’re exploring historic landmarks, soaking up the festival atmosphere, or indulging in delicious food and drink, Edinburgh promises a summer to remember.

What’s on this Summer?

Music, Theatre and Comedy

June

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Festival Theatre, 30 May – 3 Jun
• Danny Bhoy: Now Is Not A Good Time, Queens Hall, 2 Jun
• Camel: 50 Years Strong, Usher Hall, 3 Jun
• Carrie Hope Fletcher: An Open Book, Festival Theatre, 4 Jun
• Courteeners, O2 Academy, 4 Jun
• Motion house: Nobody, Festival Theatre, 7 Jun
• Judi Love: The One Like Judi Lov, Queens Hall, 8 Jun
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele, Nicolson Square, 9 Jun
• Candlelight: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Nicolson Square, 9Jun
• Steve Earle, Queens Hall, 11 Jun
• Robert Cray, Queens Hall, 12 Jun
• The Proclaimers, Leith Links, 17-18 Jun
• Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Usher Hall, 17 Jun
• Richard Thompson, Queens Hall, 18 Jun
• Finlay Christie: OK Zoomer, The Stand, 18 Jun
• Titanic, Festival Theatre, 19 – 24 Jun
• Ballet Black, Festival Theatre, 28 – 29 Jun

July

• Bass Hunter, La Belle Angele, 2 Jul
• The Lumineers, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 5 Jul
• Rod Stewart, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 6 – 7 Jul
• The Who, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 8 – 9 Jul
• Rush: A Joyous Jamaican Journey, Festival Theatre, 8 Jul
• Belle & Sebastian, Usher Hall, 9 Jul
• Dermot Kennedy, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 13 Jul
• Inspiral Carpets, Liquid Room, 21 Jul
• Levellers, O2 Academy, 21 Jul
• Kiefer Sutherland, Queens Hall, 26 Jul
• Vintage Trouble, Queens Hall, 29 Jul

August

• Forth on the Fringe, Edinburgh Playhouse, 4 – 5 Aug
• Jimmy Carr: Terribly Funny 2.0, Edinburgh Playhouse, 7 Aug
• I Remember It Well: Judi Dench with Gyles Brandreth, Edinburgh Playhouse, 8 Aug
• Daniel Sloss: Can’t, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 – 10 Aug
• First Aid Kit, O2 Academy, 16 Aug
• Patrick Topping Presents Trick Edinburgh, Royal Highland Centre, 18 Aug
• Hot Dub Time Machine, Royal Highland Centre, 19 Aug
• Paul Smith: Joker, O2 Academy, 25 – 26 Aug
• Greatest Days, Edinburgh Playhouse, 28 Aug – 2 Sep
• The Killers, Royal Highland Centre, 29 Aug
• Lewis Capaldi, Royal Highland Centre, 30 Aug – 1 Sep

Festivals and Special Events

June

• Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, various venues, 27 May – 4 Jun
• Hidden Door Festival, Dalkeith Road, 31 May – 4 Jun
• The Mash Up: Whisky & Beer Festival, Holyrood Distillery, 2 – 4 Jun
• Meadows Festival, The Meadows, 3 – 4 Jun
• The Gin to my Tonic Festival, Assembly Rooms, 9 – 10 Jun
• Great British Food Festival, Dalkeith Country Park, 10 –11 Jun
• Leith Festival, various venues, 10 – 18 Jun
• Edinburgh Canal Festival and Raft Race, Edinburgh Quay, 17 – 18 Jun
• Royal Highland Show, Royal Highland Centre, 22 – 25 Jun
• Pride Edinburgh, city centre route, 24 Jun

July

• Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, various venues, 14 –23 Jul
• Scottish Festival of Motoring, Royal Highland Centre, 16Jul
• Edinburgh Food Festival, George Square Gardens, 21 –30 Jul
• Carnival! city centre route, TBC

August

• Edinburgh International Festival, various venues, 4 – 27 Aug
• Edinburgh Festival Fringe, various venues, 4 – 28 Aug
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, 4 – 26 Aug
• Edinburgh Foodies Festival, Inverleith Park, 4 – 6 Aug
• Edinburgh Art Festival, various venues, 11 – 27 Aug
• Edinburgh International Book Festival, various venues,12 – 28 Aug
• Edinburgh International Film Festival, various venues,18 – 23 Aug
• Edinburgh International Television Festival, EICC, 22 –25 Aug
• Connect Festival, Royal Highland Centre, 25 – 27 Aug

Activities and Experiences

June

• Harris Tweed Handbag Workshop, Islander Workshop, every Tue & Fri
• Edinburgh Dungeon Lates (18+), Edinburgh Dungeon, every Fri
• Edinburgh Cheese Crawl, Comely Bank, every Sat
• Backstage Tour, Festival Theatre, 3 Jun
• Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 6, 13, 16, 20 & 27 Jun
• Art and Textiles Workshops, Dovecot Studios, TBC

July

• Harris Tweed Handbag Workshop, Islander Workshop, every Tue & Fri
• Edinburgh Cheese Crawl, Comely Bank, every Sat
• Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 4, 7, 11 & 22 Jul
• Art and Textiles Workshops, Dovecot Studios, TBC

August

• Harris Tweed Handbag Workshop, Islander Workshop, every Tue & Fri
• Edinburgh Cheese Crawl, Comely Bank, every Sat
• Art and Textiles Workshops, Dovecot Studios, TBC

Markets and Fairs

June

• Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat
• Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat
• Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat
• Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal, every Sat & Sun
• Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun
• Jack & Jill Market, Edinburgh Granton College, 3 Jun
• Castle St Fai, Castle Street, 5 – 11 Jun
• Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 24 Jun

July

• Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat
• Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat
• Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat
• Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal, every Sat & Sun
• Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun
• Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 3 – 9 Jul
• West End Fair, St John’s Church, 31 Jul – 27 Aug
• Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

August

• Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat
• Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat
• Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat
• Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal, every Sat &Sun
• Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun
• West End Fair, St John’s Church, 31 Jul – 27 Aug
• Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 4 – 20 Aug
• Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

June

• Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year, Bonnie &Wild, 1 Feb – 31 Jan
• Collaborate! Part III, Dovecot Studios, 4 Mar – 24 Jun
• Local Foreigners: the human face of Immigration, Museum of Edinburgh, 11 Mar – 10 Sep
• Shipping Roots, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 24Mar – 27 Aug
• Sebastián Díaz Morales: Smashing Monuments, Collective, 25 Mar – 11 Jun
• Front PAGE Views, Museum of Edinburgh, 29 Mar – 25Jun
• Kaff e Fassett: The Power of Pattern, Dovecot Studios,31 Mar – 8 Jul
• Alberta Whittle: create dangerously, Scottish NationalGallery of Modern Art, 1 Apr – 7 Jan
• Decades: The Art of Change 1900–1980, ScottishNational Gallery of Modern Art, 29 Apr – 7 Jan
• When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65, City ArtCentre, 27 May – 1 Oct
• The Declaration of Arbroath, National Museum of Scotland, 3 Jun – 2 Jul
• Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 17 Jun – 10 Sep
• Lawrence Abu Hamdan: 45th Parallel, Talbot RiceGallery, 24 Jun – 30 Sep
• Jesse Jones: The Tower, Talbot Rice Gallery, 24 Jun – 30 Sep

July

• Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year, Bonnie &Wild, 1 Feb – 31 Jan
• Local Foreigners: the human face of Immigration, Museum of Edinburgh, 11 Mar – 10 Sep
• Shipping Roots, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 24Mar – 27 Aug
• Kaffe Fassett: The Power of Pattern, Dovecot Studios,31 Mar – 8 Jul
• Alberta Whittle: create dangerously, Scottish NationalGallery of Modern Art, 1 Apr – 7 Jan
• Decades: The Art of Change 1900–1980, ScottishNational Gallery of Modern Art, 29 Apr – 7 Jan
• When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65, City ArtCentre, 27 May – 1 Oct
• The Declaration of Arbroath, National Museum of Scotland, 3 Jun – 2 Jul
• Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 17 Jun – 10 Sep
• Lawrence Abu Hamdan: 45th Parallel, Talbot Rice Gallery, 24 Jun – 30 Sep
• Jesse Jones: The Tower, Talbot Rice Gallery, 24 Jun – 30Sep
• Beyond the Little Black Dress, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jul – 29 Oct
• Scottish Landscapes: A New Generation, DovecotStudios, 1 Jul – 7 Oct
• Grayson Perry, Scottish National Gallery, 22 Jul – 12Nov
• Scottish Women Artists, Dovecot Studios., 28 Jul – 6 Jan

August

• Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year, Bonnie &Wild, 1 Feb – 31 Jan
• Local Foreigners: the human face of Immigration, Museum of Edinburgh, 11 Mar – 10 Sep
• Shipping Roots, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 24 Mar – 27 Aug
• Alberta Whittle: create dangerously, Scottish NationalGallery of Modern Art, 1 Apr – 7 Jan
• Decades: The Art of Change 1900–1980, ScottishNational Gallery of Modern Art, 29 Apr – 7 Jan
• When the Apple Ripens: Peter Howson at 65, City ArtCentre, 27 May – 1 Oct
• Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 17 Jun – 10 Sep
• Lawrence Abu Hamdan: 45th Parallel, Talbot RiceGallery, 24 Jun – 30 Sep
• Jesse Jones: The Tower, Talbot Rice Gallery, 24 Jun – 30Sep
• Beyond the Little Black Dress, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jul – 29 Oct
• Scottish Landscapes: A New Generation, DovecotStudios, 1 Jul – 7 Oct
• Grayson Perry, Scottish National Gallery, 22 Jul – 12Nov
• Scottish Women Artists, Dovecot Studios., 28 Jul – 6 Jan
• Rising Tide, National Museum of Scotland, 12 Aug – 14Apr

Sports and Fundraising Events

June

• Poppy Quest, Edinburgh route, 3 Jun
• Race For Life: 5K & 10K, Holyrood Park, 4 Jun
• Race For Life: Pretty Muddy, The Meadows, 11 Jun
• Seven Hills of Edinburgh, Calton Hill, 18 Jun

July

• Great Scottish Walk & Run, Silverknowes Promenade, 2Jul
• City of Edinburgh Running Festival, Meggetland, TBC

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