Edinburgh Festival Theatre
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a 1,915-seat venue on Nicolson Street that serves as one of Scotland's leading stages for opera, ballet and large touring productions. The…
What it's like here
Edinburgh Festival Theatre is a 1,915-seat venue on Nicolson Street that serves as one of Scotland's leading stages for opera, ballet and large touring productions. The building itself is a study in contrasts: a glass frontage from a 1994 renovation conceals a grand art-deco auditorium built in 1892, when it opened as the Empire Palace Theatre—the first of the Moss Empires chain. The theatre occupies Edinburgh's longest continuous theatrical site, in use since 1830, so the walls have seen more than a century of performances.
The stage is one of the largest in the UK, which explains why Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet have made it their Edinburgh home. The scale means the upper-circle seats retain decent sightlines, though the stalls offer more legroom if you prefer comfort over proximity. The venue also hosts a smaller Studio Theatre adjoining the main auditorium, and it becomes a focal point each summer during the Edinburgh International Festival. Large-scale touring musicals and West End transfers regularly pass through alongside the resident companies.
You'll need to book ahead and attend a performance to experience the interior—the auditorium is accessed through shows, not open for casual visits. The café runs Monday to Saturday 10:00–16:00, with extended hours on performance days, and the box office operates 11:00–15:00 the same hours. Both close on Sundays except from two hours before curtain up.
Accessibility is substantial. All levels connect via lift with voice synthesisers, and the box office has a drop counter. The theatre runs relaxed, audio-described, captioned and BSL-interpreted performances for most shows, some including touch tours. A Sennheiser infrared system and personal loop are available free from the lower-ground cloakroom. Assistance dogs are welcome and can be looked after during the performance with water bowls provided. All seats measure 45 cm wide; Row R has no seats in front and suits those needing extra legroom.
The location sits roughly half a mile from Waverley Station, and many Lothian bus routes stop nearby. It's on the same street as Surgeons' Hall Museums, making it easy to combine with other cultural stops in the area.
Highlights
- Art-deco auditorium behind the modern glass frontage
- Home to Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet performances
- Major venue during the Edinburgh International Festival each summer
- One of the largest theatre stages in the UK
- Substantial accessibility across all levels with specialist performances available
Good to know
Box office opens Monday to Saturday 11:00–15:00, or until curtain up on performance days; closed Sundays except from two hours before curtain up. The café is open the same hours. All levels are reachable by lift with voice synthesisers. Relaxed, audio-described, captioned and BSL-interpreted performances run regularly, some with touch tours. Free infrared headsets are available from the lower-ground cloakroom. Assistance dogs are welcome and can be cared for during the performance. The theatre is about half a mile from Waverley Station.
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Questions people ask
Can I visit the theatre without seeing a show?
The café and box office are open in the daytime, but the auditorium is accessed only through attending a performance.
How accessible is the theatre?
Substantially accessible. All levels are reachable by lift with voice synthesisers, and the theatre runs a regular programme of relaxed, captioned and BSL-interpreted performances. A Sennheiser infrared system and personal loop are free from the lower-ground cloakroom. Assistance dogs are welcome.
What types of shows does the theatre host?
Opera, ballet, large touring musicals, and Edinburgh International Festival programming. Scottish Opera and Scottish Ballet use it as their Edinburgh home.
Attributes & facilities
Features
Accessibility
Time
Other
Last verified: September 7, 2026