Outdoor stages plan for Edinburgh International Festival 2021

Organisers of the Edinburgh International Festival have announced plans to go ahead this year - with "reimagined" events for 2021.

Running between August 7 and 29, it is hoped that new outdoor venues will allow people to take in performances across the capital.

They will be situated at locations including Edinburgh Park and Edinburgh University's Old College Quad, and will feature covered concert stages and socially distanced seating.

Those behind the festival say they are working with the Scottish Government, City of Edinburgh Council and other authorities to ensure that appropriate Covid safety measures are in place.

These include shorter performances with no intervals, regular cleaning and contactless ticketing.

Some performances will be streamed online during the festival for audiences at home.

Fergus Linehan, festival director, said: "Edinburgh’s summer festivals were officially cancelled almost exactly a year ago. Today, we are delighted to announce that in August 2021 the Edinburgh International Festival will return to live performance.  

"While there are still uncertainties ahead, we are confident that this programme will give us the very best chance of delivering a season of live performance from August 7-29. All our planning will be led by the advice we continue to receive from our partners in government. 

"We appreciate that these first steps back to live performances will be for audiences closer to home but are delighted to offer a parallel programme of digital work for those further afield. 

"We are hugely grateful to the artists who have agreed to come on this journey with us, the stakeholders, donors, and sponsors who have stood by us through a tough year and our audiences who have cheered us along throughout. We look forward to sharing full details of the programme in early June."