Children's Festival Launches 2026 Programme
The Edinburgh International Children’s Festival has launched its 2026 programme, with an exciting line up of performances and events for young people, schools, families and industry professionals.
Presenting 15 productions from 9 different countries, the world-renowned festival programme spans circus, dance, music, puppetry and theatre, taking over venues across Edinburgh from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 7 June 2026.
Announced by new Festival Director Adjjima Na Patalung, the Festival’s 36th edition weaves together humour and wonder, but also tackles complex themes such as bullying and grief in a programme specially designed to appeal to young people.
It kicks off with a fully accessible Free Family Day of pop-up performances and artistic interventions by Scotland-based artists at the National Museum of Scotland on Saturday 30 May, including three new commissions in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts, Merchant City Festival, and OneRen.
This year’s programme includes a focus on disabled-led creations with a new commission by award-winning disabled dance artist Marc Brew, and a new play by disabled writer and theatre maker Ross MacKay.
A poignant dance theatre show for 8-12 year olds, Boys Don’t Dance by Marc Brew reflects on the artist’s journey as a boy who defied society’s expectations to embrace his love for dance. While Cringe by Ross MacKay for 10-15 year olds is a funny and painfully true story about surviving the minefield of growing up and standing up to bullies.
Young audiences with complex needs are also catered for in Brrr, a new Scottish work by choreographer Hayley Earlam. A multi-sensory installation and live performance for ages 10 years and over, it features dance, sound, video and snow within the setting of a unique inflatable dome.
Circus is featured prominently this year with family pleasers The Fabulous Tale of BasarKus by Company Lamento and L’ Académie Fratellini for 3-7 year olds which explores themes of identity, cooperation and the wonder of growing up, and Gretel by Quattrox4 for 5-10 years, which is inspired by fairy tale theme of the search for home. The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl by Sadiq Ali and Vee Smith, for 8-12 year olds, also makes a welcome return after being cancelled due to performer injury last year.
Highlights for teenagers include two excitingly innovative works: It would be such a shame if you missed out by Theater Artemis & Theater Basel for 10-16 year olds, is an absurdist play that hilariously captures teenage fears about missing out, featuring a giant party box and unexpected audience interaction. While Tim Crouch’s powerful new play Toto Kerblammo! about listening, friendship and finding hope in the darkest of places will be experienced wearing headphones through binaural audio technology amongst a live mix of sound.
From teenagers to babies, performances for babies are catered for in Island for 0-12 month olds. Presented by Scotland’s arts and early years organisation Starcatchers it is an intimate performance that celebrates the precious bond between babies and their grown-ups.
This year’s programme also features a Focus on Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium, that hosts an eclectic children’s theatre scene. The three productions include: Walangaan by Théâtre de la Guimbarde for 2-6 year olds which celebrates Senegalese culture and water, Cheeky Zippy Violette by Théatre des 4 Mains / La Datcha for 5-10 year olds about a girl and her imagination, and Everything/Nothing by Modo Grosso which is a gravity-defying object manipulation performance using everyday objects for 7-11 year olds.
Colour and visual spectacle shine through in a series of vibrant performances designed to spark imagination. Inspired by toddlers’ sense of wonder, WOW! by BonteHond is a physical and musical performance where colourful honeycomb paper unfolds into ever-changing worlds. Visual magic continues in Mirkids by Prototype Status / Cie Jasmine Morand, a mesmerising dance experience that sees dancers’ limbs reflected in a suspended mirror, creating kaleidoscopic patterns. And Festival favourite Andy Manley returns with In Time by Teater Refleksion for 3-7 year olds. Co-produced with Catherine Wheels, this playful production follows two men tasked with nurturing a tiny seed.