Scottish International Storytelling Festival 2024

There are plenty of reasons to explore Edinburgh – its distinct and beautiful geography, its enlightening history and culture, its amazing food and drink – especially when the streets come alive during our festivals. And as Hallowe’en approaches, Edinburgh lights its seasonal storytelling hearth and welcomes everyone to its glow.

Great stories well told can evoke indelible images in the mind of the listener, offering locals and visitors a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the extraordinary tales, music and characters that bring both our contemporary and traditional culture to life.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is the world’s largest celebration of storytelling and 2024 marks the 35th anniversary of the Festival which coincides with the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The theme is ‘Bridges Between’ and the festival is commissioning new work which looks at how societies can ‘build bridges’ between cultures, artists and audiences all over the world through the power of storytelling.

Artists confirmed for this year include: Janis Mackay, Inés Álvarez Villa, Dougie Mackay, Ailie Finlay, and Linda Williamson, who will be joined by international storytellers from India, Ireland and the Storytelling Arena in Berlin.

The Festival brings together a large number of Scottish and international storytellers and musicians and takes place in October each year, as the seasons change with long nights drawing families and friends around the hearth, inspired by the Scottish ceilidh tradition and its sense of togetherness – a community gathering full of tales, anecdotes, music, songs and ballads.