Festival season is finally upon us and Edinburgh has an exceptional lineup with festivals of all shapes and sizes in 2024. Find great music at the Jazz & Blues Festival, a stunning spectacle at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Fringe that brings those on the edge of artistic society to the forefront. A highlight every year, and a festival that draws crowds of thousands for a two-week celebration is Edinburgh Art Festival. Celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the Edinburgh Art Festival is the UK’s largest annual celebration of visual art and a truly exciting and interesting festival if you’re visiting Edinburgh. PREMIER SUITES serviced apartments in Edinburgh offer flexible, comfortable accommodation for guests, exhibitors, organisers and attendees of the Edinburgh Art Festival. Book using our website for our best rates, guaranteed.
About Edinburgh Art Festival
From 9 – 25th August 2024, the city comes to life with the return of the largest gathering of visual artists and their work. Founded in 2004, They work with local and international partners to present a fantastic programme of exhibitions, events and projects across the city. There is a mix of international and local artists across a range of mediums. Some of these artists are established and well known, others at a pivotal point in their careers that an exhibition of this size could push along and others beginning their journey and hoping to get eyes on their work. This year, there is a programme of artworks that respond to historic sites in the city inviting attendees to explore our culture, community city and themselves.
Previous festivals have resulted in permanent works for the city, many of which are still displayed today like:
• Rabiya Choudhry: Give light and people will find the way (Ella Baker), 2023
• Bobby Niven: Palm House, 2017
• Graham Fagen: A Drama in Time, 2016
• Martin Creed: Work No.1059, 2011
• Richard Wright: The Stairwell Project, 2010
Edinburgh Art Festival 2024
This year’s programme is the biggest yet for EAF and spans the work of more than 200 artists. It takes place all across the city and asks viewers to look at Edinburgh through the eyes of the exhibiting artists. The exhibitions and displays are in lots of areas in the city, from museums and galleries to parks and public spaces. 35 of the programme exhibitions and events are free to access, and a Standard Ticket costs £15.50.
Opening weekend features choreographed performances on Leith’s iconic Shore, discussions, film, food, and a Birthday Party led by Scotland’s finest party-makers.
Week One of the Festival will be centred around a series of events examining the political conditions under which we live, work, gather and resist, through urban landscapes, archival material and sonic performances. The week ends with a spectacular art and music festival championing queer and People of Colour Jupiter Artland, to mark the halfway point of EAF24.
Week two is a sequence of intimate performances and rituals against the backdrop of the climate emergency, queer histories and stories of love in the face of repression. The final week of EAF24 will bring the Festival to a close with a sequence of exhibitions exploring ecology through a queer lens. Join PLATFORM24 artists for an evening at the City Art Centre where they bring to life their exhibition with sound, moving images, and interactive performances.
For the full lineup, check the official EAF24 website. Book tickets to anything that catches your eye early as this is a popular festival and we’re expecting big crowds.
Getting Around Edinburgh
With the festival taking place in a dozen venues across the city, it will be hard to fit everything into a short visit. The key is to book central accommodation so many of the main shows and displays are on your doorstep within walking distance. We encourage guests to explore the city by bus, tram, or foot where possible. It’s better for the environment and it may save you time, especially in peak hours when city centre traffic in Edinburgh can delay everything. Trams will run a 24-hour service on weekends in August. Most of the venues chosen for EAF are step-free and accessible but as it’s held across our historic city centre with its uneven footpaths and ancient architecture, we advise checking each venue’s accessibility options before you leave.
PREMIER SUITES Edinburgh, located in the central Fountain Court area of Edinburgh, is the ideal accommodation for EAF24. We offer space, convenience, accessibility, and comfort that a traditional hotel could not. Our one and two-bedroom suites are ideal for couples, groups of friends, colleagues or families to make themselves feel at home. Book using our website for our best available rates, guaranteed.
