2026 Edinburgh Children’s Festival Unveils Bold Programme Adjjima Na Patalung's debut programme for the 2026 Edinburgh Children's Festival champions disabled-led works, thrilling circus, and immersive 3D audio.

Youth arts programming is often underestimated. But the 2026 @edchildrensfest.bsky.social slate demands attention. Director Adjjima Na Patalung has programmed 15 uncompromising productions that respect the intellect of young minds.

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#EdChildrensFest #WhatsonEdinburgh #Theatre

Happening now:
#MarineFest @seabirdcentre.bsky.social and #EdChildrensFest @edchildrensfest.bsky.social
#InformedScotland

Learning & skills events: Festivals

Festivals that support learning are organised annually for audiences incl. schools, children & families, educators, academics & researchers, start-ups & business professionals. Some to look out for...
informedscotland.co.uk/2025/05/23/l...
#InformedScotland #MarineFest #EdChildrensFest #GlaSciFest

What happens to grown-ups when children are not looking? 👀💦

Find out in Grown Ups, the hilarious and absurd tragi-comedy, part of #EdChildrensFest, starting this Sunday.

🎟 www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/grown-ups
📅 25- 28 May
📍 @traversetheatre.bsky.social

We are excited to share a first look at Tongue Twister coming to #EdChildrensFest and on tour.

🎟️ www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/wha...

📍 @edchildrensfest.bsky.social 📅 27 -31 May, North Edinburgh Arts

📍Eastwood Park Theatre, Giffnock – 23rd, 24th May

📍 The Lemon Tree – 6th, 7th June, Aberdeen

👅 Watch as Greg Sinclair learns the Scottish tongue twister “It’s a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht”.
See him perform Tongue Twister, his new hightly visual, funny and colourful show at the #EdChildrensFest 👅🧡

✨ What are you doing this May? Join us at the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival from May 24 – June 1 for 13 amazing shows from 7 countries! Experience circus, dance, theatre, and more. We can't wait to see you! 🧡
Book now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/
#Imaginate #EdChildrensFest

We asked some of our staff what show they were most looking forward to at this year’s festival. These are their answers🧡🎭 #Imaginate #EdChildrensFest

Accessibility at the Festival! 🎭✨ We believe everyone should experience the magic of theatre. What we offer:
👁️‍🗨️ BSL Interpreted Performances
🌈 Relaxed Performances
📝 Captioned Performances
🎧 Audio Description
🙌 Quiet Spaces

Check the show pages for more info! 🌟❤️ #EdChildrensFest #Accessibility

Only one month to go until the 2025 Edinburgh International Children’s Festival!

With 13 incredible shows from 7 different countries, you don’t want to miss it.

Get your tickets now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/ 🎟️✨

#Imaginate #EdChildrensFest

Could you be our next Festival Director?

We are starting our search for the next Festival Director whose role is vital in the success of #EdChildrensFest and supporting the work of the Scottish arts sector for young audiences.

Find out more on our website
www.imaginate.org.uk/about/vacanc...

Edinburgh’s Children’s Festival 2025 Celebrates Difference Noel Jordan’s final programme sets a tone of joyful plurality and artistic generosity “I’m very excited to be launching the 35th edition of the Edinburgh International Children’s Festival,” says Noel Jordan, who will step down in October after a decade as Festival Director. “Thirty-five years have seen generations of children attend the Festival, with many now returning as parents to share cherishable and transformative experiences with their own children.”

🌍 “Woven through many of the performances is the joy of play.”
Noel Jordan’s final programme for #EdChildrensFest brings together global voices in children’s theatre.

#ImaginateFest #ScotlandEvents #TheatreForYoungAudiences #FamilyTheatre

Don’t miss The Pale Baron coming to #EdChildrensFest

Filled with music, this contemporary piece of gig theatre discusses issues such as migration, the climate and political oppression in a unique musical fable.

📅 29 -31 May
📍Traverse Theatre
www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/the-pale-baron

Double You by Be Flat combines circus, acro-dance, parkour, and Chinese pole to humorously explore FOMO. The show runs at Portobello Town Hall from May 30 to June 1. Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/double-you. 🎭🧡 #Imaginate #EdChildrensFest

The Unlikely Friendship of Feather Boy and Tentacle Girl by Sadiq Ali & Vee Smith will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅26 - 28 May
📍 Assembly Roxy
🗺️Production from Scotland

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/the-unlikely-friendship 🎟️ 🎭

Beneath the Snow by Les Bestioles will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅29 May - 1 June
📍 @traversetheatre.bsky.social
🗺️Production from France

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/beneath-the-snow 🎟️ 🎭

Great Big Tiny World by Oily Cart will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅31 May - 1 June
📍 Lyra
🗺️Production from England

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/great-big-tiny-world 🎟️ 🎭

Game Within a Game by Ceren Oran & Moving Borders will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅29 May - 1 June
📍 Assembly Roxy
🗺️Production from Germany

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/game-within-a-game 🎟️ 🎭

When the World Turns by Oily Cart & Polyglot Theatre will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅26- 29 May
📍 Lyra
🗺️Production from England/ Australia

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/when-the-world-turns 🎟️ 🎭

Double You by Be Flat will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅30 May- 1 June
📍 Portobello Town Hall
🗺️Production from Belgium

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/double-you 🎟️ 🎭

Grown Ups by Compagnie Barbarie & BRONKS will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅25- 28 May
📍 @traversetheatre.bsky.social
🗺️Production from Belgium

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/grown-ups 🎟️ 🎭

Not Falling by Tout Petit will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅27- 30 May
📍 @dancebase.bsky.social
🗺️Production from Belgium

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/not-falling 🎟️ 🎭

Shades of Shadows by Tangram Kollektiv will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅25- 28 May
📍The Studio, Capital Theatres
🗺️Production from Germany/ France

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/shades-of-shadows 🎟️ 🎭

The Show for Young Men by GuestHouse Projects will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅 29 May -1 June
📍 The Studio, Capital Theatres
🗺️ Production from Scotland

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/the-show-for-young-men 🎟️ 🎭

Tiébélé by Théatre de la Guimbarde will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅 27- 29 May
📍 @lyceumedinburgh.bsky.social
🗺️ Production from Belgium/ Burkina Faso

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/tibl 🎟️ 🎭

The Pale Baron by Kopergietery will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅 29 -31 May
📍 @traversetheatre.bsky.social
🗺️ Production from Belgium

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/the-pale-baron 🎟️ 🎭

Tongue Twister by Greg Sinclair will be at the #EdChildrensFest 2025.

📅 27 -31 May
📍 North Edinburgh Arts
🗺️ Production from Scotland

Tickets available now: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/tongue-twister 🎟️ 🎭

A fantastically busy and warm welcome at @scotstorycentre.bsky.social to herald in @edchildrensfest.bsky.social 2025 ❤️

So much to look forward to, so keep your eyes peeled for our coverage ahead of #EdChildrensFest.

Can't wait? The full programme can be viewed at; www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/

#EdChildrensFest 2025 Programme is here!

We are excited to present some of the world’s best theatre and dance for young people and their families. Featuring 13 productions from 7 countries, running from 24 May – 1 June.

Explore the full programme www.imaginate.org.uk/festival/whats-on/

We're so excited to announce our Launchpad 2025 artist Andrea Cabrera Luna.

She'll create a playful performance for children using chairs to explore transformation, play, and persistence. 🎭🌟

#Imaginate #EdChildrensFest