Without doubt, most visitors to Edinburgh are primarily here for the Fringe. This nominally runs for three weeks from 3 to 25 August - although the emergence of a "preview" week means it's been bursting at those particular seams for years. Following a schism some time back, the International Festival starts and ends a week later; the other festivals generally overlap with the Fringe period, with the notable exception of the Jazz and Blues, which is all over in the first week of August.

See below the table for a key to the abbreviations.

Art Festival: runs throughout the period shown. Most galleries are exhibiting for a much longer period containing these dates.

Festival of Spirituality and Peace: runs to same dates as the Fringe.

Key

(P) = Before the official start of the Fringe, but many venues are open for previews. (C) = Part of the official Fringe dates, but many venues are closed. (L) = Limited programme on these dates (most Mela events are at the weekend).

Key to festivals: J&B = Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival; Fringe = Edinburgh Festival Fringe; Tattoo = Edinburgh Military Tattoo; EIF = Edinburgh International Festival; Book = Edinburgh International Book Festival; Politics = Festival of Politics; Mela = Edinburgh Mela.

Key to events: Mardi = Mardi Gras; Jazz = Jazz on a Summer's Day; Cavalcade = Edinburgh Festivals Cavalcade; Hol (Scot) = Edinburgh local bank holiday; Fr Sun = Fringe Sunday; Hol (Eng) = English bank holiday; Fireworks = Festival Fireworks Concert.