Things might not be quite back to normal, but Edinburgh’s festivals are picking up speed - many of them offering new ways to engage with books, words and ideas within the city. Here’s an overview of just some of the events which are coming up over the next few months.
Sian Bevan
Communications & Community Support
Edinburgh City of Literature Trust
28 May 2021
Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
25 May - 6 June
The Children’s Festival is already underway, but there’s still a chance to see some of this year’s offerings. Family Encounters at the Royal Botanic Gardens offers a selection of installations, while the rest of the programme is a digital delight of performances for younger audiences.
4 - 6 June
The annual celebration of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing is back with a selection of speakers, workshops, book groups and the much celebrated quiz. A weekend pass is available, or tickets can be bought for individual events.
25 June - 11 July
The Science Festival has announced its 2021 programme, with some digital content and outdoor experiences to explore. As with previous years, many of the events look at stories as ways to understand our world, including CreateWorks: Engineering Drama - a series of audio plays which look at the impact of engineering.
Edinburgh International Book Festival
14 - 30 August
The highlight of Edinburgh’s literary year is back, with a hybrid of digital and live events from Edinburgh’s College of Art. The 2021 Baillie Gifford Schools Programme has been announced, which offers free events for Scottish schools online from 23 - 31 August.
The Edinburgh International and International Film Festival programmes are yet to be announced, but are set to bring a taste of August buzz back to the City of Literature.
