Spotlight Canada returns to the Edinburgh festivals

From opera to theatre, comedy, literature and film, Spotlight Canada returns to the Edinburgh festivals this summer with a programme highlighting the breadth of Canadian talent

Presented by the High Commission of Canada in partnership with the Beaverbrook Canadian Foundation, the initiative showcases artists from across the country at the Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF) and Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF), giving audiences the chance to experience contemporary Canadian culture in all its diversity.

At the EIF, Canadian artists are involved in several major productions. The world premiere of The Galloping Cure reunites Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Royce Vavrek with composer Missy Mazzoli for a new opera exploring the opioid crisis. Canadian choreographer Aszure Barton presents Mere Mortals, performed by the San Francisco Ballet, while the internationally renowned Orchestre symphonique de Montréal performs in Usher Hall for two concerts, bringing to Coleridge-Taylor’s The Song Of Hiawatha, to the Festival for the first time ever, and a tribute to indigenous Canadians with Voices Of Canada.

The Fringe features an eclectic mix of Canadian work. Among the productions selected for Spotlight Canada are Big Stuff, A Public Display Of Affection, Homecumming, JOSIAH, Glob (pictured above / credit: Alex Guillaume). Venue 13 also joins the programme with a dedicated season of Canadian work throughout August, including AI Campfire, Define Queerness, Luscinia, Otuz Bir, She/They, Sister Sophia Kicks The Habit, The Gas Station At The Edge Of The Universe and Wiener Beacon.

Canadian writers also feature prominently at the EIBF. Visitors can hear from acclaimed science-fiction author Cory Doctorow, poet Alycia Pirmohamed, bestselling novelist Zoulfa Katouh and a host of other Canadian authors appearing in conversations, readings and panel events exploring themes including technology, identity, migration, language and belonging.

Meanwhile, the EIFF presents a selection of Canadian cinema, including Abdolreza Kahani's thriller Empty Heaven, documentary The Mad World Of Harvey Kurtzman, William Scoular's road movie Northbound, Frieda Luk's debut thriller, Sacred Creatures, and Matea Radic's short film Paradaïz.

Whether you're looking for a new Fringe voice, catching a world-premiere opera, exploring new fiction or looking for a film screening, Spotlight Canada offers festival-goers countless opportunities to experience the diversity of Canadian culture throughout Edinburgh's festival season.

For more information on Canadian shows taking place at this year's Edinburgh festivals, visit our dedicated page, Canada@Edinburgh 2026.

Edinburgh Fringe

Big Stuff, Assembly Roxy, 5–30 August.
A Public Display of Affection, Gilded Balloon Patter House, 5–30 August.
Homecumming, Summerhall, 6–16 August.
JOSIAH, theSpaceTriplex, 17–29 August.
Glob, Underbelly, Bristo Square, 5–30 August.

Edinburgh International Festival

The Galloping Cure, Festival Theatre, 9–12 August.
Mere Mortals, Playhouse, 28-30 August.
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Usher Hall, 19 August.

Edinburgh International Book Festival

Our Many-Voiced Country, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August.
Zoulfa Katouh: The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August.
Cory Doctorow: Enshittification, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 16 August.
The Front List: Cory Doctorow and Jimmy Wales, McEwan Hall, 17 August.
Hoda Barakat, Alycia Pirmohamed & Ece Temelkuran: Hope when Home is Lost, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 27 August.
First Editions: International Reporting, Edinburgh Futures Institute, 27 August.
The Front List: Lyse Doucet, McEwan Hall, 27 August.

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Empty Heaven, Cameo, 15 August & 16 August.; Filmhouse & Cineworld, 14 August.
The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman, Filmhouse, 16 August; Cineworld and Cameo, 17 & 18 August.
Northbound, Cineworld, 17 August; Filmhouse, 18 August.
Paradaïz, Cineworld, 15 August; Cameo, 16 August.
Sacred Creatures, Filmhouse, 16 August; Cineworld, 17 & 18 August; Cameo, 18 August.

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Spotlight Canada.