August in Edinburgh

August in Edinburgh! It’s the best time of year, in the best city. Every August, a whole range of festivals take over the town – including the Fringe, the Edinburgh Art Festival, the Edinburgh International Book Festival, and more.

I am very excited to hosting two events at this year’s Book Festival. Come join!

• Fri 28th Aug, 6:45pm: I’ll be in conversation with Octavia Bright about all things How to Live an Artful Life: Tickets here.

• Sat 29th Aug, 10:30am: I’m hosting an interactive family-friendly event for my book for younger readers (ages 7+) learning all about brilliant women artists: Tickets here.

For those headed there – or thinking about it (there’s still time!) – I’ve put together my top picks for this year’s Fringe and the Book Festival, plus the best art to see in the city. If you can’t make it, I've got book + film recommendations to bring a little of it to you instead. Enjoy! Katy xx

• Grace Campbell: The Lady is a Tramp, Gilded Balloon Teviot, 8:30pm

• Patti Harrison: Just Ironing Some Things Out!, The Pleasance, 10pm

• Sarah Roberts: Scary Movie 7, Monkey Barrel, 10pm

• Joseph Morpurgo: Highlander 70, The Pleasance, 7pm

• Emmeline Downie: Gail, The Pleasance, 4:35pm

• Roleplay by Hannah Reilly, Summerhall, 5:50pm

• The Palestinian Circus: Step and a Half, The Lafayette at Underbelly’s Circus Hub, 2:05pm

• Jem Calder & Derek Owusu: New Masculinities, Fri 21 Aug, 5pm

• David Olusoga: The Frederick Hood Memorial Lecture, Mon 24 Aug, 1pm

• Marina Warner: Sanctuary, Mon 24 Aug, 1:45pm

• Jennifer Higgie: Bedlam, Wed 26 Aug, 2pm

• Impossible Creatures Made Real with Katherine Rundell, Fri 28 Aug, 1:30pm

• Seasonal Quartet: New European Ensemble & Ali Smith, Fri 28 Aug, 7pm

Begin with the National, whose collection spans Old Masters and modern Scottish art. On view now – a retrospective of the extraordinary American photographer Catherine Opie, until 1 Nov.

Set in verdant grounds, the National’s two modern-art outposts hold excellent collections, including Dorothea Tanning, Edith Rimmington, Tracey Emin and Joan Eardley. Don’t miss Gwen John: Strange Beauties, on view at Modern Two until 4 Jan 2027!

On now: Songs of Innocence and Experience, Part II, celebrating the centenary of the Caribbean artist Frank Walter, bringing his work into conversation with artists including Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, Rose Wylie, Peter Doig and others.