Edinburgh Festival line-up and new Festival home announced by the BBC

The BBC will be back at the Edinburgh Festivals in a new home this August. An exciting line-up of comedy, arts and literature will broadcast from the Spiegeltent within the grounds of the Edinburgh Futures Institute, home of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

From 17 to 21 August, the BBC will host a week of radio broadcasts – from culture and comedy to current affairs and politics. Popular programmes from BBC Radio Scotland and Radio 4 are lined up, including Breaking the News, Afternoons, Loose Ends, Front Row, and Scotcast.

Cameras will also be at the iconic Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo while the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra returns to the Usher Hall for three special performances. Audiences can get to the heart of the action again this year with Edinburgh Unlocked, featuring the very best comedy, theatre, music and entertainment from the world-famous festival featuring the biggest names and freshest new talent. There will also be daily news reports from BBC Scotland’s arts correspondent Pauline McLean, capturing all that’s going on in the capital during August.

Victoria Easton-Riley, Head of Audio and Events, BBC Scotland, says: “We’re delighted to be returning once again to the Edinburgh Festival this summer. There’s always a special buzz in the city during August and we can’t wait to bring all that energy and atmosphere to our audiences wherever they may be. Our teams are busy planning and looking forward to opening the doors to our new festival home in the Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh International Book Festival site.”

Jenny Niven Director of the Edinburgh International Book Festival says: “We’re thrilled that the BBC have chosen to make our site their Festival broadcast hub for 2026, sharing the unique atmosphere of the world's greatest festival city with listeners around the world. We look forward to welcoming BBC audiences to our fabulous site at the Book Festival, in the heart of the Festival city - a place where audiences of all ages come together to explore new ideas, share their views, and revel in the magic of storytelling.”

Free tickets for the BBC programmes at the Spiegeltent are available now via the BBC Shows and Tours site.

BBC Radio Scotland

Afternoons

Across the week Grant Stott and Arlene Stuart will be joined by a selection of guests from across the festivals, showcasing homegrown and emerging talent and visiting stars with a riot of comedy, theatre, books and music.

Breaking the News

BBC Radio Scotland's multi-award-winning topical comedy panel show Breaking the News is returning to the Edinburgh Festivals to break up the biggest stories of the week. Join host Des Clarke as he and 4 of the funniest comics at the Fringe take a satirical swipe at the headlines from Scotland and the rest of the world!

Scotcast

After a successful festival debut in 2025, the Scotcast team of Martin Geissler, Laura Miller and Natalie Higgins return and welcome guests with a bumper live edition of the news podcast.

BBC Radio 4

Take Four Books

Radio 4’s flagship literary programme, Take Four Books, speaks to an author about their latest novel and explores its connections to three other works. It’s a show about influences, inspiration and more broadly the joy of reading. Presented by the writer James Crawford, the programme, which launched in November 2024, has spoken to some of the world’s biggest authors, as well as interesting debuts. Join us for what promises to be a fascinating conversation with the Pulitzer prize-winning American writer Colson Whitehead on his new novel, Cool Machine.

Loose Ends

Clive Anderson hosts two Loose Ends parties with some of the many musicians, comedians, writers and stars of the stage who are shining at the Edinburgh Festivals. You can expect lots of laughter, an eclectic mix of chat, and some cracking live music lighting up the Spiegeltent.

Bookclub

Bookclub, presented by journalist and writer James Naughtie, is one of BBC Radio 4’s longest running and much-loved literary programmes. It looks into the past for significant books that have bitten into the culture in some way. Authors are invited to discuss their work and take questions from a group dedicated readers.

Front Row

Kirsty Wark hosts interviews and live performance on Radio 4’s popular magazine programme on the world of arts, literature, film, media and music, from the Edinburgh Festivals.

BBC SSO at Edinburgh International Festival 2026

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will present three concerts at the Usher Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2026.

On 13 August, brass players from the BBC SSO, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra will join forces for a special tribute to the inspirational trumpeter, composer and educator John Wallace. On 24 August, Greek tragedy meets modern psychology in Strauss’s audacious opera 'Elektra', conducted by Karina Canellakis with soloists including Nina Stemme, Iréne Theorin, Günther Groissböck and Vida Miknevičiūtė.

On 27 August, there's a rare chance to hear Mahler’s cantata 'Das klagende Lied' (The Song of Lamentation) with the BBC SSO's Conductor Emeritus Sir Donald Runnicles and the Edinburgh Festival Chorus. Both the 'Elektra' and 'Das klagende Lied' concerts will be recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in the week commencing 14 September. The SSO will join brass players from across Scotland’s orchestras for a tribute to John Wallace, which will be recorded on 13 August and broadcast on Radio 3 later in the month.

AB

Follow for more