Edinburgh's festivals

Following the publication of The Edinburgh Festival, Doing the Festival, by arts and culture writer David Pollock, is a deep dive into the history of the festivals and how they shaped modern Edinburgh, with a behind-the-scenes look at the events and their impact on the arts.

Produced through extensive research, with participation from those involved with shaping the festivals of past and present, Doing the Festival

explores the history of the city’s festival season.

Featuring the International Festival, the Festival Fringe, the Book and Film Festivals, and more, it looks at the role these have played in the careers of stars and artists, as well as the city’s venues, attractions and evolution.

Doing the Festival will appeal to anyone with an interest in Edinburgh’s festival culture. It will also be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about the modern history of Edinburgh or the world of the arts, given the central role the festivals hold in the culture of both.