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?

July

Music, Theatre and Comedy

Disney’s The Lion King, Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 Jun – 2 Jul

Anton and Giovanni: Him and Me, Festival Theatre, 1 Jul

Alan Carr: Regional Trinket, Edinburgh Playhouse, 8 – 9 Jul

Deacon Blue, Edinburgh Castle, 9 Jul

Zog and the Flying Doctors, Festival Theatre, 9 – 13 Jul

A Country Night In Nashville, Edinburgh Playhouse, 10 Jul

An Evening with David Sedaris, Usher Hall, 10 Jul

Some Guys Have All the Luck: The Rod Stewart Story, Edinburgh Playhouse, 12 Jul

Russel Howard, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 Jul

Texas, Edinburgh Castle, 14 Jul

Elbow, Edinburgh Castle, 15 Jul

Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Live Show, Edinburgh Playhouse, 15 – 17 Jul

The Script, Edinburgh Castle, 16 Jul

Footloose, Edinburgh Playhouse, 19 – 23 Jul

Girls’ Night Oot! Edinburgh Playhouse, 24 Jul

The Carpenters Story, Edinburgh Playhouse, 25 Jul

Shaggy, O2 Academy, 26 Jul

Billionaire Boy, Edinburgh Playhouse, 28 – 30 Jul

Joe Jackson, Queens Hall, 31 Jul

Festivals and Special Events

Van Gogh Alive, Festival Square, 17 Mar – 17 Jul

The Nickelodeon Experience, Saughton Park, 1 – 14 Jul

Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, various venues, 15 –24 Jul

Edinburgh Art Festival, various venues, 28 Jul – 28 Aug

Edinburgh Food Festival, George Square Gardens, TBC

Carnival! city centre route, TBC

Markets, Fairs and Workshops

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, 4 – 10 Jul

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Museums, Galleries and exhibitions

You are here 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 5 Feb – 8 Jan

The Living Legacy of William Morris, Dovecot Studios, 19 Feb – 16 Jul

Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 25 Mar – 25 Sep

Book of Hours, National Museum of Scotland, 31 Mar –2 Aug

Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 9 Apr – 2 Oct

Japanese Contemporary Design, National Museum of Scotland, 6 May – 5 Mar

National Treasure: The Scottish Modern ArtsAssociation, City Art Centre, 21 May – 16 Oct

Will Maclean: Points of Departure, City Art Centre, 4 Jun– 2 Oct

Alan Davie: Beginning of a Far-off-world, DovecotStudios, 24 Jun – 24 Sep

Céline Condorelli: After Work, Talbot Rice Gallery, 25Jun – 4 Sep

Raphael: Magister Raffaello, Dovecot Studios, 1 Jul – 24Sep

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jul – 13 Nov

Platinum Jubilee Display, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 14Jul – 25 Sep

A Taste for Impressionism: Modern French Art…Scottish National Gallery, 30 Jul – 13 Nov

August

Music, Theatre andComedy

Paw Patrol Live! Edinburgh Playhouse, 3 Aug

Pixies, O2 Academy, 3 Aug

Forth On The Fringe, Edinburgh Playhouse, 5 – 6 Aug

The Dualers, O2 Academy, 6 Aug

Lionel Richie, Princes Street Gardens, 7 Aug

Michael Kiwanuka, Princes Street Gardens, 8 Aug

The Libertines, O2 Academy, 8 Aug

Simply Red, Princes Street Gardens, 9 Aug

Tom Jones, Princes Street Gardens, 10 – 11 Aug

Simple Minds, Princes Street Gardens, 12 – 13 Aug

The Wombats, O2 Academy, 12 Aug

Travis, Princes Street Gardens, 14 Aug

Rage Against the Machine, Royal Highland Centre, 24Aug

Fleet Foxes, Usher Hall, 30 Aug

Festivals and SpecialEvents

Edinburgh Art Festival, various venues, 28 Jul – 28 Aug

Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Castle Esplanade,5 – 27 Aug

Edinburgh International Festival, various venues, 5 – 29Aug

Edinburgh Festival Fringe, various venues, 5 – 29 Aug

Edinburgh Foodies Festival, Inverleith Park, 5 – 7 Aug

Edinburgh International Film Festival, various venues,12 – 20 Aug

Edinburgh International Book Festival, various venues,13 – 29 Aug

Edinburgh International Television Festival, EICC, 24 –26 Aug

Connect Festival, Royal Highland Centre, 26 – 28 Aug

Edinburgh Food Festival, George Square Gardens, TBC

Film Fest in the City, St Andrew Square, TBC

Markets, Fairs and Workshops

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, 6 – 28 Aug

Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 8 – 21 Aug

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

You are here 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 5Feb – 8 Jan

Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 25 Mar – 25 Sep

Book of Hours, National Museum of Scotland, 31 Mar –2 Aug

Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 9 Apr – 2 Oct

Japanese Contemporary Design, National Museum of Scotland, 6 May – 5 Mar

National Treasure: The Scottish Modern ArtsAssociation, City Art Centre, 21 May – 16 Oct

Will Maclean: Points of Departure, City Art Centre, 4 Jun– 2 Oct

Alan Davie: Beginning of a Far-off-world, DovecotStudios, 24 Jun – 24 Sep

Céline Condorelli: After Work, Talbot Rice Gallery, 25Jun – 4 Sep

Raphael: Magister Raffaello, Dovecot Studios, 1 Jul – 24Sep

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jul – 13 Nov

Platinum Jubilee Display, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 14Jul – 25 Sep

A Taste for Impressionism: Modern French Art…Scottish National Gallery, 30 Jul – 13 Nov

September

Music, Theatre and Comedy

Professor Brian Cox: Horizons World Tour, EdinburghPlayhouse, 1 Sep

Foy Vance, Queens Hall, 1 Sep

Embrace, O2 Academy, 1 Sep

Jane McDonald, Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 Sep

No Such Thing as a Fish, Usher Hall, 2 Sep,

Music of Lord of the Rings, GOT and Beyond, EdinburghPlayhouse, 3 Sep

Sister Act, Festival Theatre, 6 – 15 Sep

Adam Kay: This is going to hurt .. more, Usher Hall, 7Sep

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: Series 3 Tour, EdinburghPlayhouse, 9 Sep

The Book of Mormon, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 Sep – 8Oct

Giants of Soul, O2 Academy, 17 Sep

Starsailor, The Caves, 21 Sep

Madeleine Peyroux, Usher Hall, 22 Sep

Don McLean: 50th Anniversary of American Pie, UsherHall, 27 Sep

Ian Brown, O2 Academy, 27 Sep

Sean McLoughlin: So Be It, The Stand, 29 Sep

Richard Marx, Queens Hall, 30 Sep

James IV, Festival Theatre, 30 Sep – 8 Oct

Festivals and SpecialEvents

Great British Food Festival, Dalkeith Country Park, 10 –11 Sep

Doors Open Days, various venues, 10 – 11 Sep

Edinburgh Riding of the Marches, city centre, 22 Sep

BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour, FestivalTheatre, 25 Sep

Ocean Film Festival, Festival Theatre, TBC

Markets, Fairs and Workshops

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

Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, RHC, 3 – 4 Sep

Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 5 – 11 Sep