Celebrate 20 Years of the Scottish Storytelling Centre with Us

Fringe 2026

Join us this August to celebrate 20 years of the Scottish Storytelling Centre! As the world’s first purpose-built centre for oral storytelling, the SSC is a welcoming space for locals, families and visitors to meet and enjoy the wonder of stories.

This specially-curated Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme showcases the best in storytelling, music, theatre, spoken word and family shows from home-grown and international performers. There’s food in the eating place, drink in the drinking place, and stories in the listening place – it’s all there waiting to be enjoyed!

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Scottish Storytelling Centre | Ionad Sgeulachdan na h-Alba

Welcome

The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a vibrant arts venue and the world’s first purpose-built Centre for live storytelling, programming a year-round traditional arts calendar of live storytelling, theatre, music, exhibitions, workshops, family events and festivals.

The Centre's ethos can be summed up nicely by the Scottish Traveller proverb, “The story is told eye to eye, mind to mind and heart to heart”, which suggests a welcoming spirit, inclusive nature and a place where anybody can share their creativity and humanity.

The building is owned by the Church of Scotland (Scottish Charity No SCO11353) and has a programming partnership with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) (SCIO SC043009), hosting the Scottish International Storytelling Festival each autumn and operating as a base for their national work across Scotland and beyond.

‘This joyful, noisy, energy-filled space brims with a love of live storytelling and its power to make us think and imagine. 10/10!’
(The Guardian)

More about the Centre
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Step Inside History

John Knox House

A-listed building dating back to 1470 which houses an exhibition exploring the Scottish Reformation.

A very unique and historic setting for small-scale events, like wine-tastings or intimate wedding blessings.

A guided tour of the house can also be arranged as part of your event, plus Story Tours for those wanting further insight into Old Edinburgh and its characters.

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See Bespoke Tours

“Arguably the most picturesque dwelling house in Edinburgh’s Old Town” (Frommer’s)

Need a Venue?

We'll help tell your story

We’ve had parties, conferences, ceilidhs, workshops, wine tastings, book launches, exhibitions and small weddings taking place in our venue.

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When are you open?

Opening Times

We are currently open Monday – Sunday, 10am-6pm.

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