Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival

Overview

When: Friday, 24 July to Sunday, 2 August 2026.

The Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival returns to Assembly George Square Gardens for ten days of Scottish street food, craft drinks, and folk music. Entry to the gardens is free, with ticketed programmed events in the Piccolo and Palais du Variété.

Expect 30+ street food vendors, live music from Breabach, Seth Lakeman, An Dannsa Dub, and Dlù, Edinburgh Food Social workshops, circus and family shows, and chef demos in the heart of Edinburgh.

Highlights

• Free entry to Assembly George Square Gardens
• 24 July – 2 August 2026
• 30+ street food vendors and producers
• Folk music: Breabach, Seth Lakeman, An Dannsa Dub, Dlù
• Family shows: Circus The Show, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Explosive Science Show
• Edinburgh Food Social chef workshops
• Cashless event
• Dog-friendly (on lead, off site by 8pm)

What to expect

What's on this year includes programmed events such as Circus The Show, Goose's Big Music Quiz: A fundraiser for Edinburgh Food Project, Edinburgh Food Social Presents: Flatbreads, The Garden Kitchen with Sarah Rankin, Feast of Words, Annual Folk & Food Festival Opening Ceilidh, Edinburgh Food Social Present: Mussels & Oysters, Edinburgh Food Social Present: Hot & Crispy Fried Chicken, Edinburgh Food Social Presents: Tattie Scone Stacks, Dlù, The Greatest Magic Show, Explosive Science Show!, Hello Beach, Comedy Club 4 Kids, Seth Lakeman, An Dannsa Dub, and Breabach. Book ticketed shows via the official festival website.

Vendors and stalls Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival returns from 24 July to 2 August 2026 in George Square Gardens with 30+ of the very best street food vendors and producers.

Alandas Gelato — Award winning Gelato Alandas Seafood Grill — The freshest and finest fish and chips in Scotland. Amigos — Amigos isn't just street food. It's a street food experience. Bellfield Brewery — Exceptional beer, no exceptions. Cargo Grill — Burgers & Dogs, get'em while they're hawt. Cargo Spud — "Pick-a-Path" Potato Ceylon Cartel — Ceylon Cartel is where Sri Lankan street food meets a modern twist! Chick + Pea — Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean-style street food. COOP — Big flavour, no pretence, and a little bit feral. Happy Dumplings — Sharing the comfort and excitement of authentic handcrafted Chinese dumplings. Jarvis Pickle Pies — Hand-crafted award winning Scottish pies with all the trimmings. Kebabbar — NEXT-LEVEL KEBABZ Moskito Bites — Spanish Tapas with a twist alongside traditional Spanish cocktails and crunchy churros. Ting Thai — Thai food. The hopes and dreams of a nation. The Peruvian — I'm the Peruvian. We Sell Dumplings / We Sell Popcorn Chicken — Vegan. Crunchy. Addictive. (Apart from the popcorn chicken. That is just crunchy and addictive.)

Who it's for

Families, folk music fans, and anyone who loves Scottish street food. Free garden entry suits casual visits; book ahead for ticketed concerts and workshops.

Getting there

Assembly George Square Gardens is in Edinburgh city centre, well served by Lothian Buses and a short walk from Waverley station.

Planning tips

Gardens entry is free; book ticketed events early on edfoodfest.com. The festival is cashless — bring card or contactless. Dogs welcome on lead, off site by 8pm.

FAQ

What are the dates / times of this year's Folk & Food Festival?

The Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival will return to Assembly George Square Gardens from 24 July - 02 August 2026. More details, including opening times will be shared closer to the event.

How much is a ticket to enter the festival?

The Edinburgh Folk and Food Festival is a free-to-enter event, with some ticketed programmed events in the Piccolo and Palais du Variété venues. Explore the ticketed events programme on the What's On page at edfoodfest.com.

What's on this year?

Programmed events include Circus The Show, Edinburgh Food Social workshops, folk concerts, family magic and science shows, and 30+ street food vendors in the gardens.

Where can I buy tickets to the programmed events?

Explore the list on the official What's on page. You can book via edfoodfest.com, Assembly Festival's website, or at the Assembly George Square Gardens box office on the day.

Is the venue wheelchair accessible?

Assembly George Square, The Piccolo and Palais du Variété are all accessible venues, though as an outside space the ground may be uneven. Designated accessible toilets are on site and Front of House staff are ready to assist.

Is the event dog friendly?

Yes, as long as they stay on lead, and are off site by 8pm.

Can I use cash at the festival?

Edinburgh Folk & Food Festival and Assembly Festival are cashless events.

Where is the festival located?

Assembly George Square Gardens, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ.