New Director for Storytelling Festival 2026
What better time to announce the new Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival than on World Storytelling Day (Friday 20 March) and TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) is delighted to say that Daniel Abercrombie is that new Director.
An experienced creative arts producer deeply embedded within the storytelling community in Scotland, Daniel will take up his appointment from April 2026. He has been Associate Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) for the past five years, and at the forefront of the much-loved Scottish Storytelling Centre since 2010. A key figure in driving and shaping the current resurgence of interest in traditional and contemporary storytelling, Daniel's work, just like a traditional cèilidh, is rooted in shared creativity, partnerships and collaboration.
Under Daniel’s guidance, the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme has developed into a thriving platform for storytellers and trad-artists, becoming a must-see programme of first-class creativity each August. In 2013 Daniel was also part of the team that led the creation of Edinburgh Tradfest.
Raised in Edinburgh, Daniel has a deep understanding of the city’s festivals, but also how the SISF reaches across Scotland and absorbs international friendships. As part of his appointment he will join the Directors of Festivals Edinburgh bringing with him a wealth of experience in working with a wide range of artists and cultural organisations and an educational background in cultural and literary tourism.
SISF was founded in 1989 by former director Donald Smith to promote storytelling, nurture new talent and celebrate community. Today, the festival welcomes audiences in excess of 40,000 participants and connects with new and well-known storytellers from all across Scotland and in other parts of the world. SISF is the world’s largest annual celebration of storytelling and is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), the national network for traditional arts in Scotland. In 2026 the festival will run from 21 to 31 October.
Daniel Abercrombie, new Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival said:
“It’s a great joy to be tasked with continuing the great work of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. I have seen first hand the natural evolution of the festival into the thriving cultural community force it is now and I look forward to being a steward, celebrant and advocate for the great stories, storytellers and traditional artists that make our festival a light in a world in need of stories.”
Beverley Bryant, Chair of the Scottish Storytelling Forum said:
“Daniel absolutely understands the importance of storytelling; both the tradition and culture we are preserving and the need for storytelling in contemporary settings. He is a passionate advocate of the art form and of the Scottish arts scene more broadly. It will be exciting to see the SISF develop in new ways under his direction.”
Steve Byrne, CEO of TRACS, who led the recruitment process, commented:
“I am delighted to welcome Daniel to the TRACS team after many years of working alongside him in partnership, having long admired his innovative programming work at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. His track record speaks for itself – he is an outstanding candidate whose commitment to traditional arts is first rate. I look forward to seeing SISF flourish under his leadership.”