Festival City Goes Digital: How Edinburgh's Entertainment Landscape Is Evolving Online

Edinburgh Reporter

15-07-2025

Edinburgh has long been known for its vibrant festivals, cobbled streets full of performers, and the sheer buzz of live events that seem to pulse through the city every summer. It's the kind of place where creativity isn't just welcomed, it's expected. But lately, the way people are soaking up the city's culture has started to shift. And if you've noticed more screen time creeping into your free time, you're not alone.
Because, like everywhere else, Edinburgh's entertainment sector is going online, and it's not a phase.
Tradition Meets Technology
First of all, the festivals. The Fringe, the International Festival, Hogmanay; these are interwoven with the city. They've filled theatres, transformed parks into festivals, and filled pubs to the brim for decades. But more and more, they're finding new ways to connect, and more often than not, that means online.
In recent years, live performances, virtual reality experiences, and hybrid productions have been a standard feature of the festival circuit. And honestly? It's paying off. Not only can more people participate (even if they can't attend in person), but acts are getting to global crowds without having to leave Edinburgh.
It's not about duplicating the miracle of live performance. It's about multiplying it.
Binge-Watching the Best of Edinburgh
You know that feeling when you want something to watch, but something local? And, as luck would have it, there is a demand for on-demand culture that isn't a new Netflix series.
In Edinburgh alone, there are even smaller theatres and artistic groups streaming and recording their shows. From amateur theatrical productions to live acoustic performances being recorded in small, dingy spaces, there's plenty to watch without having to leave home. It's affordable, it's easy, and it's lovely watching a show in your pyjamas sometimes.
This shift isn't for convenience alone either. It's making the arts more accessible to those for whom going out to events in person isn't an option, due to cost, mobility, or just a hectic schedule.
Gaming, Gambling, and Digital Escapes
And of course, not all that is available on the internet is arts-related. Some of it is just about switching off and unwinding. Gaming has become extremely popular in Edinburgh, as it has elsewhere in the UK, with more and more people grabbing their phones or laptops for some relaxation time.
Online gambling has also grown. But with a twist here: people are getting smarter. They want sites that are secure, user-friendly, and allow for rapid, cashless payments. Amidst all the online action, many people also tried bookmakers that accept Skrill, liking how speedy and easy the websites are to execute secure, hassle-free payments. When people are in control of how they pay, they also feel more at ease with how they play.
And it's not high-stakes or risky behaviour. It's a bit of innocent fun, with ease and safety first.
Local Creators Go Global
This online growth isn't only succeeding for viewers, it's changing creators, too. Musicians, filmmakers, artists, and comedians from Edinburgh are no longer limited to the audience in front of them. They're connecting with people across the country, or even worldwide.
Others are employing platforms like Patreon or YouTube. Others are selling digital downloads, online classes, or pay-per-month livestreams. It's giving local artists a way of building their audience and their income, all without needing a massive venue or corporate backing.
Even bricks-and-mortar buildings, such as The Cameo, Summerhall, or the Scottish Storytelling Centre, are going digital, streaming their events to a wider, often younger, digitally-born audience.
It's Not All Smooth Sailing
Of course, this internet boom hasn't all been smooth sailing. Screen fatigue is no myth. So is attempting to cut through in a very crowded digital landscape. There's something about live performance, as well, the buzz of an audience, the shared experience, that can't quite be replicated online.
But with all that, the positives undeniably outweigh the negatives. One individual is missing the retro charm of a packed theatre, for everyone who now feels they can join in, thanks to digital accessibility. It is a case of balance.
The Future? A Little Bit of Everything
So what's next for Edinburgh entertainment? More diversity, basically. The future will be partly virtual, but not all, and nor will it be purely pre-digital. It will be both.
You'll still be able to grab a pint before a show, settle into a creaky theatre seat, and experience something live. But you'll also have the option to stream it the next day. Or catch a behind-the-scenes clip online. Or support your favourite act via their latest digital gig.
In a city as creative and adaptable as Edinburgh, the mix of old and new feels just right.
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