Audience numbers on the up for Edinburgh Tradfest

Edinburgh Tradfest has revealed that this year’s instalment saw audience numbers increase, despite “tough economic times”.

The festival ran from 1-11 May and included live music, talks, workshops, folk film screenings and storytelling, with support from Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.

This year’s programme of over 60 events proved a success, with organisers enjoying a 9% increase in ticket sales to music events at the Traverse Theatre, multiple sell-outs and an increase in audiences aged under 26 thanks to the festival’s £9 ticket offer for younger audiences. Indeed, audience numbers in under-35s increased from 21% to 25%

Tradfest also enjoyed a more international audience than ever before with 21% of the audience from outside the UK, whilst still being popular in the local area – 73% from Scotland and 55% from Edinburgh.

This year’s music commission, A’Chiad Litir (The First Letter), also received five-star reviews.

The piece, inspired by the life of sixteenth-century lesbian love poet Marie Maitland, touched on questions of language, identity and the notion of queerness and was created and performed by singer songwriter and composer Josie Duncan. 

Joining Josie was a stellar line-up of musicians including; Charlotte Printer (bass and vocals), Chloë Bryce (fiddle), Eilidh Rogers (percussion), Jenny Clifford (guitar) and Ashley Douglas (spoken word) who read one of Marie Maitland’s poems addressed to another woman she loved.

Other stand-out highlights from this year included trad powerhouse RURA and newcomers Astro Bloc who played to a lively crowd on opening night at Potterrow; Isla Ratcliff’s Scottish trad reinterpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons; and award-winning folk singer Fiona Hunter taming toddlers with her interactive music session for under-5s and above.

Further afield, the hugely successful Folk Film Gathering supported by Screen Scotland, drew in the crowds with its popular programme of Scottish and international films, many accompanied by live scores or introductory talks.

Over at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, crowds gathered on Living Heritage Discovery Day to hear Ireland’s folklore aficionado Michael Fortune talk about Intangible Cultural Heritage and tradition-bearing.

Plus, throughout the festival, the Centre’s popular “What is…” series of talks explaining what makes traditional dance, music, crafts, Gaelic, and Scots, truly traditional, drew audiences from all over, keen to hear from the experts about what makes each artform unique.

Lauren Paterson, Head of Programming at the Scottish Storytelling Centre said: “During the year of the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s 20th birthday, it’s been a joy to welcome audiences, performers and tradition-bearers alike to celebrate the richness, liveliness and variety of Scotland’s living heritage as part of Edinburgh Tradfest.

“From hands-on Come and Try sessions and workshops to explorations of traditional culture and identity through conversation and performance, it’s been inspiring to see so many people engaging with traditions and making connections with their own experience.”

Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “We are delighted and encouraged with how Edinburgh Tradfest went this year.

“To have audiences up by 9% is a real achievement especially in tough economic times. We are also extremely happy to see the numbers rising amongst the younger age groups.

“One of the many highlights for 2026 was the move into other areas of the city with some entertaining (and free) pop up performances.

“We hit Broxburn, Turnhouse and Leith this year, and are already planning to pop up in some other unusual locations for 2027.”