Annual August arts festival in Edinburgh, inviting international music and performing arts, with exhibitions and talks
Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean say they are in a positive, healing space and hint at ongoing work afterward, while the festival showcases a lineup spanning hip-hop, R&B and global acts. Pras Michel remains absent due to his prison sentence.
Fringe performers from The Scotsman, Guardian and Independent discuss their journeys, challenges and upcoming Edinburgh shows, offering a window into the festival’s evolving landscape.
A new opera, created by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, is presented with a bold fusion of theatre and pain, drawing on Kafka’s story to stage an opioid crisis. The production mixes Trainspotting, Sweeney Todd and Rocky Horror, with a chorus of singing sheep. The Guardian and The Scotsman preview the Edinburgh International Festival 2026 program, highlighting ambitious artistry and industry debates about audience and funding.
Wynton Marsalis has staged All Rise, a 12-movement symphony that blends jazz, gospel and orchestral textures. The Edinburgh Festival opens with Marsalis leading Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra alongside the RSNO and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus, underscoring collaboration and resilience as the city marks American independence’s 250th anniversary.
The Edinburgh International Festival cites the need to protect live performance, with a policy banning phones at Queen's Hall concerts after disruptions. Critics argue it signals a broader clash over audience behavior and artistic focus.
Glasgow City Council has appointed architects to explore a meanwhile-use proposal for the Union Corner fire site, following a blaze that damaged the adjacent B-listed building. O’Donnell Brown will draft options for commercial and cultural uses over the next four years as authorities seek a rapid return of life to the city centre.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society has moved its operations into a permanent space on Infirmary Street, transforming Fringe Central into a year‑round hub for artists, welfare support, rehearsal spaces and industry services. The project, funded by the UK Government and partners, is designed to support a thriving, inclusive fringe ecosystem alongside the city’s galleries and venues.
The Guardian reports that Ray Exworth’s six-decade body of sculpture has been hidden in seven sheds on a Cornish smallholding. A new book, Ray’s Sheds, documents the unseen works and raises questions about public access to art.
Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre has reopened after a near-four-year closure following a £41 million refurbishment. The Edwardian venue now features enhanced accessibility, a level stage, extended fly tower, upgraded technical infrastructure and doubled hospitality capacity. Test events have taken place and tours are selling quickly ahead of fringe season.