What is the Scottish International Storytelling Festival?
The Scottish International Storytelling Festival is one of the world’s largest celebrations 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 festival celebrates guest storytellers who bring their stories from across Scotland and from the rest of the world.
This year, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs from 21 to 31 October 2026. The festival is organised by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS).
Find out more about the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (sisf.org.uk)
Find out more information about Edinburgh (visitscotland.com)