Discover the unmissable festivals coming to Edinburgh this spring.
While Edinburgh is known for its world famous summer festivals, springtime can be just as an exciting time to visit, with a host of unique festival experiences to entertain all ages.
From the wonders of science to traditional music, food and drink and outdoor cinema, take a look at some of the fantastic festivals coming to Scotland’s capital this spring.
Eat Out Edinburgh
Bringing together over 50 of the city’s best restaurants, cafes and bars, Eat Out Edinburgh is a month-long celebration of food and drink.
This year’s festival is bigger than ever, with an exciting line-up of participants, as well as exclusive dining offers, and, for the first time, a brand-new supper club series.
Eat out Edinburgh takes places from 01 to 31 March 2025.
Edinburgh Science Festival
The world’s first and largest celebration of science, Edinburgh Science Festival has a bumper programme of workshops, shows, talks, exhibitions and nights out, all with a fun and interesting scientific twist that aim to educate and inspire.
Exploring the theme Spaceship Earth, this year’s Festival includes over 115 events to entertain all ages. Play the role of scientist and let your curiosity run wild at venues across the city, including Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh Zoo, National Museum of Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Science Festival runs from 05 to 20 April 2025.
Edinburgh International Harp Festival
Established in 1982, Edinburgh International Harp Festival is the UK’s premier harping event.
Over the course of its 5 day programme, which takes at the city’s George Watson’s College, there are a variety of concerts, courses and workshops to choose from. The popular family ceilidh returns and the festival’s concerts will feature an eclectic mix of UK and international genres.
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival takes place from 11 to 15 April 2025.
Pomegranates Festival
With exhibitions, ceilidhs, workshops, walking tours, and talks about traditional dance from Scotland and around the world, every year the Pomegranates Festival explores the intrinsic links of traditional dance with live music, film, fashion, poetry, art and heritage craft.
This year’s festival theme is masks, and explores the significance, beauty and mystery of masks and mask-making in traditional dance from antiquity to modern days.
Enjoy Pomegranates Festival between 25 and 30 April 2025.
Beltane Fire Festival
Wave goodbye to winter with a bang with Beltane Fire Festival.
A modern reinterpretation of an ancient Iron Age Celtic ritual celebrating the first signs of summer, acrobatics, drummers, dancers, clowns, musicians, actors and puppeteers all take to Calton Hill in an awe-inspiring cavalcade of dancing, music and theatre.
Experience Beltane Fire Festival on 30 April 2025.
Edinburgh Tradfest
Celebrating traditional music from Scotland and across the world, Edinburgh Tradfest features an exciting programme of live music, workshops, film and traditional storytelling.
Running for 11 days, performances will take place at various city venues, including the Queen’s Hall and the Traverse.
Edinburgh Tradfest runs from 02 to 12 May 2025.
Edinburgh Seafood Festival
Taking place within St James Quarter, Edinburgh Seafood Festival brings the best of Scotland’s seafood to the capital.
A real treat for seafood lovers, the 3 day event will feature cooking demonstrations, pop-up markets, exclusive dishes and menus.
Catch Edinburgh Seafood Festival between 03 and 05 May 2025.
Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
A festival for the young, and the young at heart, Edinburgh International Children’s Festival celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world.
Presenting a mix of circus, dance, storytelling and theatre and with an emphasis on striking visual productions, the programme aims to inspire and engage children, from toddlers to teenagers.
Experience Edinburgh International Children’s Festival between 24 May and 01 June 2025.
Edinburgh Marathon Festival
Established in 2003, Edinburgh Marathon Festival is the biggest running festival in Scotland.
Taking place over 2 days, there are 9 different events and distances to choose from, including junior events. Participants can enjoy backdrops of some of Edinburgh’s most iconic landmarks and scenic routes, all while raising vital funds for their chosen charity.
Join Edinburgh Marathon Festival on 24 and 25 May 2025.
Cymera Festival
If you’ve got a passion for science fiction, fantasy and horror writing, don’t miss Cymera Festival.
Each year it welcomes around 80 authors from around the world, with guests able to enjoy a variety of panels, plays, writing workshops, quizzes and more. As in past years, the 2025 programme will include both in-person and online events.
Cymera Festival takes place from 06 to 08 June 2025.
Square Cinema
Fancy relaxing in one Edinburgh’s pretty public gardens while taking-in a cinematic classic, all for free? If so, Square Cinema should be on your to-do list.
The popular event returns with 3 days of family favourites and big-screen blockbusters. All you need to do is pack your picnic blanket. Keep an eye on their website for the full film line-up.
Join Square Cinema between 13 and 15 June 2025.
Edinburgh Canal Festival
Enjoy a day of fun on the water at the Edinburgh Canal Festival.
A celebration of Edinburgh’s canal and its community, the festival will have a variety of free activities and entertainment between the Lochrin Basin and Harrison Park, as well as the return of the popular Raft Race.
Take part in the Edinburgh Canal Festival on 21 June 2025.
And that’s not all! Looking ahead to the summer months, there’s a huge selection of festivals to enjoy. Hidden Door will be back with a bumper programme of music, art, theatre, dance and spoken word. The Royal Highland Show celebrates the best of Scotland’s food, farming and rural life, and Foodies Festival will be turning Inverleith Park into foodie heaven with a selection of mouth-watering street food stalls. Not to mention, the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Art Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival and Edinburgh International Film Festival to look forward to.
Keep up to date with all the top events and festivals coming to Scotland’s capital city.
