Half of all tickets discounted as Edinburgh International Festival begins

The 24-day Edinburgh International Festival has opened with its “most generous concessions policy to date”.

Half of the tickets available are sold at £30 ($38/€35) or less while more than 4,000 tickets fir £10 have already been allocated.

The festival is celebrating its 77^th edition this year with more than 160 events on show until August 25.

“As we raise the curtain to open this year’s Edinburgh International Festival, we’re reminded of the power of art to unite and inspire us all,” said Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti.

“One of the most moving things in the world, to me, is to see mass, collective effort at work.

“Each person adding their expertise and experience to make the whole greater than the sum of its parts – and this year’s International Festival programme is the epitome of such a thing.

“I can’t wait for us all to come together this month, to seek, feel and discover something new.”

The first week of the festival includes the world premiere of The Outrun. It is the stage adaptation of Amy Liprot’s best-selling memoir.

The most popular French opera in the world, Carmen, will also be produced from August 4 to 8 at the Festival Theatre.

The 2024 programme also offers an increased range of audience experiences “designed to create a closer union between artists and audiences.”

Beanbag concerts have also returned due to popular demand, state the organisers. They are designed to immerse audiences in an orchestral experience.

Inspired by the work of Budapest Festival Orchestra founder and conductor Iván Fischer, audiences can experience orchestra from a beanbag or choose standard seating.