Edinburgh International Festival Reveals 2021 Programme

Anna Meredith, black midi and more will mark the return of live music to Scotland this August

Edinburgh International Festival is set to return this August for a three-week in-person event that will cover contemporary, classical and opera artists.

The festival’s contemporary music programme will include live performances by Anna Meredith, black midi, Nadine Shah, Richard Dawson, Laura Mvula, The Comet Is Coming, Caribou, Floating Points, Kokoroko and Damon Albarn, who will play backed by a full band and string section.

Nicola Benedetti will take up a two-week residency across the festival as part of the classical music programme, while actor Alan Cumming is also set to present the first UK performances of his new show Alan Cumming Is Not Acting His Age.

In order to comply with possible COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland during the festival, organisers will use outdoor venues and ensure that all events comply with social distancing measures. Audience members will be seated in bubbles and, in a first for the festival, 21 performances from across the programme will be live-streamed online, in full and for free.

Edinburgh International Festival will take place from August 7 to 29, 2021. Find more information here.

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