Edinburgh International Children's Festival

The Edinburgh International Children's Festival is a 9-day festival offering innovative family-friendly theatre and dance for young audiences. The Festival celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world, showcasing high quality, distinctive Scottish and international performances to an audience of children, their teachers, and their families each year. The Festival has also established itself as one of the best places for programmers from all over the world to see work of the very highest standard. It is a place where artists meet, see and discuss work, and take part in professional development activities. The often visually striking productions take place in theatres and community centres across the city, and the Festival opens with a day of free-pop-up performances in the National Museum of Scotland. With an emphasis on striking visual productions, the international programme is designed for babies to teenagers and their families.

What makes it special?

• The Children’s Festival searches high and low for the most exciting and thrilling of performances to share with young audiences. It’s now even seen as a hot-spot to scout new artists and performers of the highest standard.
• Since the International Children’s Festival began in 1990, it has grown to attract, in any normal year, over 10,000 individuals, schools and families.
• The usual 9 day festival has a jam-packed programme with the opening weekend normally featuring events and performances at the National Museum of Scotland