The Edinburgh International Festival presents a rich programme of classical music, theatre, opera and dance in six major theatres and concert halls and a number of smaller venues, over a three-week period in late summer each year. The 2006 Festival ran from the 13 August-3 September and the 2007 Festival from 10 August-2 September.

In addition to the annual three week programme of events, the Festival also incorporates a year-round programme of education and outreach work, aimed at all ages from primary school pupils to adults.

The Festival began in 1947, with the aim of providing 'a platform for the flowering of the human spirit'. Right from the start it inspired people to put on shows of their own outwith the official Festival, and soon these grew into the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Since then half a dozen or so more festivals have grown up around it in August and early September, and collectively these are often known as 'the Edinburgh Festival'.

All artists and companies in the Festival appear at the invitation of the Festival Director. The Festival's budget covers all of the costs associated with delivering the programme, including artists' fees and travel, venue hire and promotion of the event. The Festival, a not-for-profit organisation, is solely responsible for raising income from ticket sales, fundraising and sponsorship which, along with public sector grants, cover these costs. The Edinburgh International Festival Society is a registered charity, no SC004694.

The key venues used are the Usher Hall (capacity 2,300), the Edinburgh Festival Theatre (1,800), the Edinburgh Playhouse (2,900), the King's Theatre, Edinburgh (1,300), the Royal Lyceum Theatre (650), the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh (920) and The Hub (420).

The Edinburgh International Festival Society is a company limited by guarantee, funded by the City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Arts Council.