Edinburgh International Childrens Festival

Edinburgh International Children's Festival of performing arts for children and young people.

About Edinburgh International Childrens Festival

The Edinburgh International Children's Festival is a 9-day festival dedicated to offering family-friendly entertainment in the form of theatre and dance.

The Festival celebrates the best of children’s theatre and dance from around the world, showcasing high quality, distinctive Scottish and international performances to an audience of children, their teachers, and their families each year.

The festival has established itself as one of the best places for programmers from all over the world to see work of the very highest standard. It is also a place where artists meet, see and discuss work, and take part in professional development activities.

Numerous pop-up events take place across the city centre, showcasing performances designed for audiences ranging from toddlers to teenagers. Though it's primarily targeted towards children, the festival offers quality entertainment for older members of the family to enjoy as well.

Upcoming Events at Edinburgh International Childrens Festival

Family and Kids

Univers

27th May 2024 - 29th May 2024

Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh Old Town

Univers is a poetic sensory experience based on stunning visual imagery and live music. A space for very young children to explore how small insignificant things can have unexpected outcomes.

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Theatre

TRASHedy

27th May 2024 - 30th May 2024

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh West

Using a mix of of animated drawings, dance and sound collages, TRASHedy takes an honest, humorous look at our freedom of choice and consumerist behaviour, and invites us to reflect on our actions.

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Family and Kids

Cabinet of Miracles

27th May 2024 - 29th May 2024

The Studio Edinburgh, Edinburgh South

Inspired by the world-famous textbook Orbis Pictus, Cabinet of Miracles is a theatrical introduction to planet Earth.

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Talks and Lectures

Suppose you Had a Portable Gramophone

27th May 2024 - 29th May 2024

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Old Town

This show is a tribute to imagination and storytelling; a small story with a big impact!

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Theatre

Shō and the Demons of the Deep

27th May 2024 - 30th May 2024

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh West

Shō and the Demons of the Deep by Zoë Bullock is a visual adventure story about overcoming fear, climate crisis and how the actions of one generation can affect the next.

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Family and Kids

An-Ki

27th May 2024 - 2nd June 2024

Summerhall, Edinburgh South

An-Ki is an immersive theatrical experience about the origin and destiny of humankind, set in an intimate and magical tent.

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Family and Kids

The Unexpected Gift

28th May 2024 - 31st May 2024

Lyra Theatre, Edinburgh East

This highly interactive and inclusive dance-theatre performance is made especially for and with children with complex needs such as autism.

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Family and Kids

The Yellow Canary

28th May 2024 - 30th May 2024

Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

The Yellow Canary is based on a true story and is a leap into the imagination of a young boy as he attempts to escape the horrors of war, exploring love, loss, and what it means to flee your home.

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Family and Kids

Black

30th May 2024 - 1st June 2024

Dance Base, Edinburgh Old Town

Black is a reflection on the violence and emancipation of being Black in today’s world, through a body that narrates, challenges and disturbs – a body that is both wounded and celebrated.

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Family and Kids

So Far So Good

30th May 2024 - 2nd June 2024

Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh Old Town

So Far So Good, an adventurous new contemporary circus show for 3 - 6 year olds, comes to the Assembly Roxy as part of the Edinburgh International Children's Festival.

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Family and Kids

Be Kind

30th May 2024 - 1st June 2024

The Studio Edinburgh, Edinburgh South

Be kind is an intimate theatre experience for babies. In this sensory performance of sound, colour and movement, children experience acrobatics and juggling up close.

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Family and Kids

Kish Kush

30th May 2024 - 1st June 2024

Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh Old Town

Kish Kush traces the journey of two characters as they progress from solitude to connectedness, offering a unique and eloquent portrayal of diversity.

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Family and Kids

By Trial and Error

31st May 2024 - 2nd June 2024

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh West

By Trial and Error is a delightful show of acrobatic lifts, full of humour borrowed from burlesque and silent cinema.

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Family and Kids

An Ant Called Amy

31st May 2024 - 2nd June 2024

Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh West

This is a charming and moving story that sensitively explores sibling loss, An Ant Called Amy tells the tale of an ant who learns to slow down.

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Family and Kids

So Far So Good

5th June 2024

Reconnect Regal Theatre, Bathgate

So Far So Good, an adventurous new contemporary circus show for 3 - 6 year olds, comes to the Reconnect Regal Theatre as part of Edinburgh International Children's Festival.

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More Festivals in Edinburgh

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Edinburgh Iranian Festival

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Scottish International Storytelling Festival

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The Scottish International Storytelling Festival returns in October 2023.

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