Edinburgh International Festival

The flagship Edinburgh International Festival (EIF), a high-brow assembly of some of the world's best opera, theatre, and ballet companies, was launched in 1947 as a stage for peace and unity in Europe after the Second World War. It was out of the Festival that the now massive Edinburgh Fringe sprung and grew in subsequent years.

The 2010 Edinburgh International Festival theme is a New World one with artists from the Americas and Australasia joining home-grown talent in new theatre, dance, and concerts. In 2009, the theme was the Europeans.

The 2010 programme of 180 or so shows will be announced on 27 March.

The festival launches with the Opening Concert on Friday 13 August and ends with the Festival Fireworks Concert on 5 September.

• Latest EIF articles and reviews
• Photographs of EIF
• Festival Fireworks Concert The Grand Finale to Edinburgh's Festivals

Box Office: EIF Tickets 2010

Priority booking, friends and patrons tickets on sale from 17 March 2010. Public tickets go on sale through the Hub on 27 March 2010.