Shows for all ages at the Edinburgh International Children's Festival
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival is the UK's leading festival for children and young people, an annual celebration of exceptional Scottish and international theatre and dance with a focus on live performances that are deeply engaging, innovative and inspiring.
The Festival is attended by children, their families, as well as artists and professionals from all over the world. But we know that saying 'young' is as crazy as saying 'old', because different age groups like different things.
So below we've created a quick run through of this year's programme [30 May to 7 June 2026] broken down into three different age groups - which we're sure will keep all your young ones happy, interested and excited.
Pre-Schoolers [0-5 years]
For little ones, a visit to the Festival this year could well be their first trip ever! And, the shows we have hand-picked for their age group will make it a magical experience they’ll remember for years to come. Performances are all fairly intimate (60 to 80 max), with children sitting on benches or cushions close to the stage and performers. Some even have the opportunity to interact and play on the set after the show for a full immersive experience.
ISLAND (for 0-12 mths) from Scotland
ISLAND's multi-sensory landscape awaits, inviting you and your baby into a playful place to tumble and fall and experience the joys of being caught and cared for. It is a special space to celebrate the unique relationship between babies and their grown-ups where loving connections can be stretched and strengthened. With original live music and dance, this intimate, non-verbal performance is created specially for you and your little one to share and enjoy together. Your baby is free to explore the space with all their senses, while you take a moment to pause and reflect on the joys and challenges of new parenthood. Cosy up together as you drift away with us on a gentle journey of discovery.
Antes de ... (for 2-6 yrs) from Belgium
What happens in the moment just before a first time? Before a first step, a first word, a first leap into the unknown? When curiosity meets fear. Two acrobats stand at the edge — hand in hand, foot to foot. They wobble, wonder, and dare each other forward. Taking turns to lead, to follow, to find the way together. A tender, playful and acrobatic adventure about all the big, small, scary, wonderful first times.
WOW (for 2-6 yrs) from The Netherlands
WOW! is a physical and musical performance that reveals the world through the eyes of toddlers, who delight in everyday objects and situations. Ordinary things that appear mundane or challenging turn out to be much more interesting, exciting, and beautiful than we initially think. Using colourful and multi-sized honeycomb paper books that unfold like fans or accordions, the performers explore endless possibilities, inviting us into their world of play, wonder and delight.
In Time (for 3-7 yrs) from Scotland/Denmark
One seed, two men – three lives and a budding beginning. Two men need to look after a tiny seed; it is their job to nurture this small life and help it blossom. But as every new parent knows, this is no easy task. When a sheep wants to nibble its leaves, how do you protect it? When techno tracks replace lullabies, how do you accept the change? And as the seedling becomes a sapling and needs to branch out, how do you let go? In Time is a playful, gentle, and highly visual show that, through humour and absurdist touches, shares the joys and frustrations of parenting a new life.
Curious Little Minds [5-10 years]
Acrobatics, slapstick, shadow play and tongue twisters – when it comes to primary-aged children, they’ll be spoiled for choice this year!
Cheeky Zippy Violette (for 5-10 yrs) from Belgium
Sent to the attic to think things over, Violette find herself surrounded by memories of her grandpa: his farewell party, the scary stories he used to tell her at night and even their crazy pickle recipes. So she decides to send him a letter to the moon, to tell him about the intense emotions and questions that make up her daily life. Where do you go when you’re dead? Can you have two crushes at once? Since I can see the moon, does that mean it’s closer than Spain? From sea storms to lunar landings, Violette dives into her wild imagination with humour and tenderness to bring everyday objects to life, and draws the audience into accomplices in her whirlwind adventure.
Gretel (for 5-10 yrs) from Italy
Gretel lives in a tiny house, surrounded by small and precious objects: a tray, a teapot, a plant, a stool to sit on. She is absent-minded but rigorous, meticulously sticking to her bizarre logic in a world where everything is out of scale and out of place. But a catastrophe suddenly destroys her home, and Gretel must make her new path alone. Inspired by fairy tale themes of loss and the search for home, the performer blends contemporary circus, dance, and the manipulation of objects to celebrate migration and the need for reinventing ourselves when everything falls apart. It is a joyful and profound reflection on the meaning of home and a tribute to determination and perseverance.
Mirkids (for 5-11 yrs) from Switzerland
Mirkids is a feast for the eyes and the imagination. The audience lies on the stage around a cylindrical structure, gazing at a suspended mirror and glimpsing dancers reflected on its surface. Here an arm, there a leg, disconnected and multiplied. In sync, with a geometric rhythm, body parts create mesmerising shapes like the vibrant patterns of a kaleidoscope: symmetrical, fluid, enigmatic and forever-changing. This stunning dance production is a fascinating visual spectacle that fires our imagination and invites us to marvel at what (literally) unfolds before us.
Everything/Nothing (for 7-11 yrs) from Belgium
How can we make people see, feel and grasp the passing of time using movements? Circus artist Alexis Rouvre takes up this challenge in his circus of objects. Juggler of time, rather than gravity, he manipulates a variety of simple materials to astonishing effect. Using chains, needles and wool, volcanic stones, sand and magnets, he creates a poetic work of wonder which defies the laws of physics. A magical ballet of hanging objects, flying and tumbling down.
Boys Don't Dance (for 8-12 yrs) from Scotland
Boys Don’t Dance is a poignant dance theatre show by acclaimed disabled artist Marc Brew, reflecting on his journey as a boy who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance. The performance unfolds through a tapestry of memories, shedding light on the loneliness of being the only boy in a rural Australian town who dared to dance. The production combines movement, BMX tricks, storytelling, lighting and an uplifting 80s soundtrack, alongside visual projections and animation, to reflect Marc’s inner journey and create an immersive experience for young audiences. Boys Don’t Dance celebrates individuality and the liberating power of dance, encouraging audiences to embrace their unique passions and find strength in their differences.
The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl (for 8-12 yrs) from Scotland
Two friends perform breathtaking aerial shows. They fly, spin, hang from the rooftops and fall out of the sky...But they weren’t always so glorious. How did they transform from feeling like outsiders, unable to fit in, to the fantastical creatures they always knew they had inside them? The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl is the touching story of a girl who wants to be a monster and a boy who wants to fly. Exploring the universal yearning to belong and sharing the joy of friendship, this is a dynamic and visually stunning aerial show.
Big Kids, Big Questions [10 - 16 years]
Children know what’s going on around them and we believe they should have access to inventive theatre that explores the topics and questions already on their minds. From learning to accept outsiders to finding your true self, the programme of performances for older children is curated to inspire and open up conversations, just as much as they are to excite and entertain.
Toto Kerblammo (for 10-13 yrs) from England
Poor Effy. Sent to live with her aunt and uncle in a block that won’t allow dogs. What’s a girl to do? She smuggles her furry friend in, of course. Keeps him under a blanket. Feeds him biscuits. Ssh Toto, quiet. But it can’t last forever. Effy needs saving. And Toto is up to the task. Tim Crouch’s powerful new play is a tender and powerful story about listening, friendship and finding hope in the darkest of places. Wearing headphones, the audience will experience Effy’s world through 3D binaural audio technology. Immerse yourself in a compelling live mix of sound and action and discover the sound of things you never knew had sounds.
Cringe (for 10-15 yrs) from Scotland
It’s Reid Aitken’s first day of high school and he just wants to vanish. When an embarrassing incident spirals into a legend known only as “The Creeping Snake,” Reid finds himself at the centre of the cruellest joke in school. Suddenly, the question isn’t how to disappear – it’s how to survive, and who will stand beside you when everything feels impossible. Fast-paced, funny, and painfully true, Cringe is a story about surviving the minefield of growing up, standing up to bullies, and finding the friend who makes you braver than you ever thought you could be.
Note: The video below is just a rehearsed reading presented at the 2025 Festival and is only intended to give audiences a taster of the script.
It Would be Such a Shame if You Missed Out (10-16yrs) from The Netherlands/Switzerland
Do you ever feel that you’re missing out? That life is happening outside of your control? That's how these three characters feel - they are trying to rehearse a play, despite the big party box taking up all the space on stage. Something is going on that they're not part of. It feels like one big, thumping, steaming party, that they can't find the entrance to. They hear the bass, but where's the music coming from? Everyone else seems to know exactly where to go. Or are those just ghosts in their head? The creators of the 2019 Festival sell-out show Invisible Man returns with a farcical play full of humour where the most unexpected events take place on stage, and to everyone’s delight… with the audience! Will you get invited inside the party box?
Brrr is a multi-sensory installation and dance performance for young audiences with complex needs aged 10-18. Set within an inflatable dome, Brrr is an immersive exploration of winter featuring dance, sound, video, and lots and lots of snow! Created in collaboration with young people and a team of artists specialising in inclusive practice, the performance is tailored to meet the specific needs of each audience member, offering audiences the freedom to engage in their own way and at their own pace with the shimmering winter landscape. Brrr is an unforgettable encounter where needs are not only accommodated but celebrated. The performance is suitable for those with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD), Autistic and neurodivergent individuals, and wheelchair users or other mobility aid users. It features minimal to no language, so is suitable for non-verbal and Deaf audiences.
AND FINALLY
The Festival will once again open with a FREE day of pop-up performances and artist interventions for families in the beautiful settings of the National Museum of Scotland – an ideal way to get creative and experience exciting new ideas from local artists. Just come along and enjoy a visit to the museum while soaking up the Festival atmosphere!