What is the Scottish International Storytelling Festival?
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is the world’s largest celebration of storytelling. First launched in 1989, the festival takes place in October each year and is inspired by the Scottish ceilidh tradition – a community gathering of tales, anecdotes, music and song. The main venue is the Netherbow Theatre at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, with partner venues in the city including the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the National Library of Scotland and Museums & Galleries Edinburgh.
From storytelling performances to workshops, outdoor events and an engaging family strand, there's something here for all Festival-goers to enjoy. The programme also includes the ‘Go Local’ strand, which brings invited international guest storytellers and their stories across Scotland, from the Highlands to the islands.
This year, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from 22 October - 1 November 2025, focusing on the theme ‘Lights of the North’, with the full programme to be released in September. The festival is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland).
Find out more about the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (sisf.org.uk)