BBC at the Edinburgh Festivals - Everything you need to know
We're back at the Edinburgh Festivals this August, with an exciting line-up of comedy, arts and literature
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.
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. Guests are set to include MC Hammersmith, Richard Marsh, Show Stoppers, Susie McCabe and Colin Cloud
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 four of the funniest comics at the Fringe, Susie McCabe, Catherine Bohart, Ian Smith and Pierre Nouvelli as they 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. Irvine Welsh will appear to discuss his work and take questions from a group of 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. Guests are set to include Jimmy Wales, Elaine C. Smith, Rosie Holt and Senny Camara.
The People Have Spoken
The People Have Spoken, but what will they say? A new topical comedy series has landed on Radio 4, hosted by Ian Smith (The News Quiz, Live at the Apollo), and we're taking the temperature of the nation in silly season. Join us for this Edinburgh fringe recording, for a chance to be part of our audience/focus group. Ian and a coterie of comedian friends will be talking the big questions of the week and posing some to the audience. Have you ever tried to nick your boss' job? Written a resignation letter that slags off your whole team? Or worn shorts that are a bit too short when on a run? Then we want to hear from you. Expect laughs, insight, and bewilderment at the state of the world.
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra will present three concerts at the Usher Hall as part of the Edinburgh International Festival 2026.
Thursday 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.
Monday 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.
Thursday 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.
