Edinburgh International Children's Festival

The Edinburgh International Children's Festival returns from 29 May to 6 June 2027, with performances spread across theatres, community venues and outdoor spaces throughout the city. It kicks off with a Family Day of free pop-up performances at the National Museum of Scotland, so that's a good place to start if you're bringing the whole lot along.

It's a nine-day run, and the programme usually leans into theatre and dance for young audiences. It's built a reputation for taking on the heavy stuff — mental health, war, identity and gender — and working through it in ways that are joyful, visual and easy for kids to get their heads around. Because of that, it's become a bit of a destination for programmers from all over the world who come here to find new artists. Joyce McMillan of The Scotsman once called it 'the country's finest theatre festival'.

Accessibility is a big part of how it works. The venues are family-friendly and wheelchair accessible, a number of performances are BSL-interpreted, and there are relaxed performances available. Schools from economically and socially disadvantaged areas are particularly welcomed, too.

It's been around since 1990, when it started as the Scottish International Children's Festival in Inverleith Park. That first edition drew around 20,476 children and adults to 75 performances. By 2017 the nine-day format was established and the festival took its current name; since then it's grown to attract more than 10,000 individuals, schools and families each year. The whole thing runs from 29 May to 6 June 2027, starting with that free Family Day at the National Museum of Scotland.