The 78th edition of the Edinburgh International Festival – one of the UK’s most prestigious and longest-running festivals – will start on August 1, 2025. This year’s programme, under the theme “The Truth We Seek”, for the first time in the festival’s history will feature Focus on Poland – a unique section dedicated to Polish music. The programme, which will run from August 9 to August 18, will showcase outstanding Polish artists, including Piotr Anderszewski, the VOŁOSI group, the NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum, and the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble. It will also feature interpretations of iconic works by Polish composers, performed by award-winning violinist Bomsori Kim and the exceptionally talented young pianist Ryan Wang.

The event forms part of the ongoing UK/Poland Season 2025, which showcases the most valuable elements of both cultures to audiences across the UK and Poland through a diverse series of concerts, exhibitions, performances, and other artistic events. The Season, scheduled to run until November 2025, is an excellent example of long-term cooperation between Poland and the UK, strengthening mutual cultural ties.

Poland’s presence at this legendary festival has been made possible thanks to a partnership between the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute in London, the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music, and PWM Edition. Focus on Poland at the Edinburgh International Festival is organised with the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

Edinburgh International Festival: The Truth We Seek

Since 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival has been one of the world’s most significant cultural events, showcasing outstanding achievements in music, opera, theatre, and dance. This year’s edition (1–24 August) is themed “The Truth We Seek”, inviting reflection on the concept of truth – both in art and in society.

In this context, Focus on Poland takes on particular significance, highlighting how Polish artists interpret universal values through music, fostering cultural exchange and dialogue. From the perspective of Polish-British relations, the presence of Polish artists at this year’s festival is especially important. The festival is part of the UK/Poland Season 2025 – a cultural programme of unprecedented scale, featuring nearly 100 events in dozens of cities across Poland and the UK, organized by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute with the support of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the British Council, and the Polish Cultural Institute in London, alongside partners on both sides of the English Channel.

Focus on Poland acts like a lens, concentrating attention on Polish culture and amplifying its impact on the global stage. This programme is the result of a deep dialogue and a strong partnership with the Edinburgh International Festival, built on mutual understanding. We worked together, listening carefully to each other’s perspectives and needs. The festival brings invaluable knowledge of its audience, while we bring insight into our artists and their unique creative visions. Bringing these two perspectives together allows us to uncover new opportunities for cultural exchange and artistic discovery. The Polish programme at this extraordinary festival is part of UK/Poland Season 2025, and I could not imagine a more timely collaboration between Poland and the UK. Although our countries are no longer part of the same political community within the EU, our cultural ties remain exceptionally strong – they are the foundation of good relations and a constant source of mutual inspiration – says Olga Brzezińska, Deputy Director of the Adam Mickiewicz Institute.

The presentation of Polish music at such a prestigious festival is further evidence of the growing international interest in the work of our composers. I am delighted that audiences in Scotland will be able to hear works of early, romantic, and contemporary music interpreted by both Polish and international artists. I am particularly looking forward to the performance by Bomsori Kim, the outstanding Korean violinist and ambassador of Grażyna Bacewicz’s music. Her recital will include works by Wieniawski, Szymanowski, and Paderewski, in addition to the composer’s works, and will be preceded by a screening of the film “Bomsori x Bacewicz”, directed by Jakub Piątek – notes Dr Daniel Cichy, director and editor-in-chief of PWM Edition.

I am delighted that the ensembles of the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music in Wrocław – the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra and the Wrocław Baroque Ensemble – will promote Polish music and share its beauty and profound emotions at the Edinburgh International Festival. From the very inception of our institution, we have been guided by the vision of building community through art, a principle articulated by Maestro Andrzej Kosendiak, the founder and long-serving director of the NFM. We remain committed to this mission. I trust that the selected works will resonate deeply with all audiences – says Olga Humeńczuk, Director of the Witold Lutosławski National Forum of Music.

The UK/Poland Season 2025 is a good time to show appreciation for the artists, curators and institutions that have been building networks of connections between our countries for decades. One of the fruits of this collaboration, which the Polish Cultural Institute in London and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute have been involved in from the outset, is the extensive musical presentation "Focus on Poland" during the prestigious Edinburgh International Festival. It is a unique opportunity for international audiences gathered in Scotland's cultural capital to hear concerts by distinguished artists such as Piotr Anderszewski and the NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra from Wrocław, whose artistic director is British violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, and which will perform on August 10th at Usher Hall. Whilst on the August 14th, the distinguished violinist Bomsori Kim will perform works by Chopin, Szymanowski, Paderewski, and Grażyna Bacewicz. These are just some of the musical encounters which will also provide an opportunity to reflect on how culture can inspire understanding, sensitivity, and solidarity in a world full of tensions. I would like to thank all artists and partners in the UK for their trust, commitment and joint efforts to foster dialogue with Polish culture – outlines Anna Tryc-Bromley, Director of the Polish Cultural Institute in London.

The Focus on Poland programme:

• Vołosi – coming from Beskidy, Poland VOŁOSI was formed in the middle of Beskidy Mountains after an unexpected meeting between local root players and modern artists from Silesia. Curiosity led them to wild improvisation sessions. Diversity has forged their style which is everything from the beauty of haunting melodies to frenetic craziness. Here you can feel some rock, punk, jazz, film music, spiced by ambient parts, but the fact it’s all made on string instruments makes them truly phenomenal.
• NFM Orkiestra Leopoldinum – established in 1978, this orchestra is renowned for its remarkable expressiveness and distinctive approach to music. It regularly performs at prestigious international festivals and collaborates with world-class conductors and soloists. At the festival, it will appear twice: first with a programme featuring works by Bacewicz, Strauss, Kilar, and Bizet (in an arrangement by Shchedrin), and later in Tribute to Menuhin, performing works by Elgar, Bach, and Bartók with the participation of Edinburgh International Festival’s Director, Nicola Benedetti.
• Piotr Anderszewski – a celebrated Polish pianist with an extensive discography, numerous accolades, and collaborations with leading musicians worldwide. He will give a piano recital featuring late works by Brahms and Bartók.
• Bomsori Kim – an acclaimed South Korean violinist and a Deutsche Grammophon artist since 2021. Winner of the second place at the XV Henryk Wieniawski’s International Violin Competition in Poznań. Her versatile repertoire spans both classical masterpieces and contemporary compositions. She will perform a joint recital with Thomas Hoppe, the esteemed German chamber pianist and co-founder of the ATOS Trio. Their programme will include works by Szymanowski, Bacewicz, and Wieniawski.
• Wrocław Baroque Ensemble – under the direction of Andrzej Kosendiak the ensemble will perform the monumental work of the baroque composer Mikołaj Zieleński, Offertoria et communiones totius anni.  Founded in 2012, the group specialises in historically informed performances of early music, with a particular focus on Polish Baroque composers and lesser-known Central European works.
• Ryan Wang – a Canadian pianist renowned for his artistic maturity and exceptional technique. Winner of BBC Young Musician of the Year 2024, he has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. At the festival, he will present a programme dedicated to Chopin.

Focus on Poland programme at the Edinburgh International Festival:

• 9 August 2025 – VOŁOSI concert, The Hub
• 10 August 2025 – NFM Leopoldinum Orkiestra concert, Usher Hall
  • Bacewicz Concerto for String Orchestra
  • Strauss Metamorphosen
  • Kilar Orawa
  • Rodion Carmen Suite for Strings and Percussion
•  11 August 2025 – Piotr Anderszewski concert, The Queen’s Hall
  • Brahms selection of B from:
    • Fantasies, Op. 116
    • Three Intermezzi, Op. 117
    • Six Pieces for Piano, Op. 118
    • Four Pieces for Piano, Op. 119
  • Bartók 14 Bagatelles, Op. 6
• 11 August 2025 – NFM Leopoldinum Orkiestra concert Tribute to Menuhin, Usher Hall
  • Elgar Serenade for String Orchestra in E minor, Op. 20
  • Panufnik Violin Concerto
  • Bach Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
  • Bartók Divertimento for String orchestra, Sz. 113
• 13 August 2025 – screening of the film "Bacewicz x Bomsori," directed by Jakub Piątek. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Bomsori Kim and special guests from the Edinburgh International Festival, and a solo violin performance by the artist in Dominion Cinema. 
• 14 August 2025 – Bomsori Kim and Thomas Hoppe concert, The Queen’s Hall
  • Fauré Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13
  • Szymanowski Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28
  • Bacewicz Polish Caprice for violin solo
  • Paderewski Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 13
  • Wieniawski Fantaisie brillante sur Faust, Op. 20
• 16 August 2025 – Wrocław Baroque Ensemble concert, The Queen’s Hall
  • Zieleński Offertoria et Communions Totius Anni
  • Żebrowski Vesperae in Visitatione Beatae Mariae Virginis
• 18 August 2025 – Ryan Wang concert, The Queen’s Hall
  • Chopin
    • 24 Preludes, Op. 28
    • Mazurkas, Op. 59
    • Sonata in B flat minor, Op. 35 no. 2
    • Variations on ‘La ci darem la mano’, Op. 2

More information: https://www.eif.co.uk/profile/focus-on-poland

Partners: Adam Mickiewicz Institute, The Polish Cultural Institute in London, The National Forum of Music, Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (PWM Edition) 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2025

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe will take place in Edinburgh from 1 to 25 August 2025, running concurrently with the Edinburgh International Festival. This three-week performing arts festival, which dates back to 1947, began when eight theatre groups – unable to perform in the official Edinburgh International Festival programme – staged their own productions independently, giving rise to a spontaneous artistic movement that now attracts millions of visitors each year. Artists and performers appear on hundreds of stages across the city – not only in theatres and concert halls, but also in public spaces such as bars, parks, buses, and the streets – free of charge.

This year’s edition of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe will feature performances by two Polish theatre companies. Song of the Goat Theatre will present “Hamlet – Commentary”, a production that explores the inspirations behind “Hamlet” and, through groundbreaking polyphonic vocal techniques, transforms the play into a pagan ritual honouring the spirits of the dead. KTO Theatre, meanwhile, will present the street performance “Peregrinus”, inspired by the poetry of T.S. Eliot. The piece portrays a day in the life of a modern individual, exposing the pitfalls of consumerism and the loss of personal identity.

Presentation of performances is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland.

UK/Poland Season 2025 – a cultural programme of unprecedented scale

UK/Poland Season 2025 is a cultural programme of unprecedented scale, featuring several dozen events across multiple cities in both Poland and the UK. Running until November 2025, the season marks a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, revitalising cultural dialogue and strengthening existing ties between the two countries. For residents of both countries, it offers a unique opportunity to explore the most exciting artistic phenomena from both sides – encompassing film, theatre, visual arts, design, and music. In Poland, the events are organised by the British Council, while in the UK – by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, and the British Council. The organisation of the Season in the UK and Northern Ireland is supported by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Poland. 

As part of the season, a range of musical events will take place:

• 17-20 July – Focus on Poland at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival (St Bride’s Centre, The Jazz Bar, The Famous Spiegeltent at St Andrew Square, Edinburgh).
• 9-18 August – Focus on Poland at the Edinburgh International Festival (Usher Hall, Queen’s Hall, The Hub, Edinburgh).
• 28 September – a concert presenting the music of Zbigniew Preisner featuring Lisa Gerrard (Barbican Centre, London)
• 25 October – Scotland and Poland: A Celebration. Panufnik as interpreted by Royal Scottish National Orchestra (Glasgow Concert Hall, Glasgow).
• 29 October – Selenography or Description of the Moon. Marcin Masecki’s concert in Oxford, in collaboration with the Bodleian Libraries and the Oxford Science and Ideas Festival (University Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford).
• 23 November – London Sinfonietta at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (London).
• 15-16 November – Polish representatives at the EFG London Jazz Festival (Barbican Centre, Purcell, Vortex, London).

Media contact:

Klaudia Gniady (Adam Mickiewicz Institute)
[email protected]
phone: +48 609 092 949

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The Adam Mickiewicz Institute (IAM) brings Polish culture to people around the world. Being a state institution, we create lasting interest in Polish culture and art through strengthening the presence of Polish artists on the global stage. We initiate innovative projects, support international cooperation and cultural exchanges. We promote the work of both established and promising artists, showing the diversity and richness of our culture. The AMI also runs the portal CULTURE.pl, a comprehensive online resource dedicated to Polish culture.

The Polish Cultural Institute in London promotes Polish culture and heritage in the UK, fostering cooperation with cultural and academic institutions in both countries. Through relationship-building, resource-sharing, and financial support, it effectively showcases the best examples of Polish art, film, theatre, music, literature, science, and national heritage to British audiences.

The British Council represents the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the field of cultural and educational cooperation. It promotes peace and prosperity by fostering connections, understanding, and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. Active in culture, art, education, and English language teaching, the British Council operates in over 200 countries and territories, with a presence in more than 100 of them. In 2022-2023, it reached 600 million people.

Polskie Wydawnictwo Muzyczne (PWM Edition) has been a cultural institution since 1945, specializing in publishing sheet music and books in the fields of classical music, jazz and film music. The wide publishing offer of PWM Edition includes works of early and contemporary music, Polish and world repertoire, scores for amateurs and specialists, publications of a pedagogical, scientific and popular nature, as well as an extensive catalogue of books and lexicographic publications. PWM Edition is one of the most important music institutions in Poland, promoting works of native composers among foreign partners, and is also a representative of leading foreign publishers in Poland. Responding to the expectations of contemporary audiences, PWM Edition expanded its activities with a new phonographic brand – ANAKLASIS. As the publisher of the magazine “Ruch Muzyczny”, PWM Edition creates space for artistic dialogue and scientific reflection, exchange of ideas and shaping aesthetic awareness. PWM Edition initiates educational activities by being the main organizer of the popular Dzień Edukacji Muzycznej (Music Education Day) and Seminarium Edytorstwa Muzycznego (Musical Editing Seminar). More: www.pwm.com.pl

The National Forum of Music is a venue in the heart of Wrocław, where architecture is designed in service of music. At the core of the institution’s mission is the sharing of a passion for art, emotion, and universal values. With hundreds of diverse concerts each season, every listener can find a programme to suit their tastes. Its acoustically perfect halls host performances across a wide spectrum – from classical and jazz to alternative, electronic, and organ music. The artistic season at the NFM features concerts by world-renowned artists, including eleven in-house ensembles, outstanding soloists, acclaimed conductors, and seven festivals, among them the Andrzej Markowski International Festival Wratislavia Cantans. A broad range of educational and social initiatives is also offered, supporting children and young people, emerging artists, adults, seniors, and individuals with special developmental needs. In addition, the foyer regularly features exhibitions of sculpture, ceramics, graphic art, and painting.