News Post - Scottish International Storytelling Festival

Multiple sell-outs and packed houses were enjoyed by audiences and participants at this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival (22 October to 1 November), which is supported by Multi-Year funding from Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.

The festival’s programme, themed under ‘Lights of the North’, included live storytelling, music, art, and song. Across the core festival programme, which included 39 live performances and workshops at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, over 93% of all available tickets were sold, and an incredible 77% of all events were completely sold out (30 total). Ticket income increased by 70%, and the number of festival passes bought doubled from 2024.

Highlights included international guest storytellers from the world’s northern arc, sharing tales of Huldufólk (or the hidden people from Iceland), trolls, and the dark northern winters. Plus, there were tales from Scotland’s Travellers; stories about Vikings and selkies; and as the festival nudged closer to Halloween, there were plenty of dark tales inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s original collection of fairytales, tales of Corpse Roads, spooky stories, and mystic legends to be enjoyed.

Even though the main festival has ended, throughout November the festival’s Go Local programme continues in village halls, churches, castles, and venues across Scotland.

Plus, at the University of Edinburgh, on Saturday 8 November, Festival Director Donald Smith and playwright Linda McLean, will join Randall Stevenson and Greg Walker the editors of the Oxford Handbook of Scottish theatre, for Religion and Scottish Drama, at the New College Festival of Books and Belief. And, also on Saturday 8 and 22 November, Stephen McCabe, who is a storytelling therapist, will be running Folktales for New Scots: Connected with Nature, which are nature-connection walks aimed at migrants and the local community. These walks, starting from outside the Scottish Parliament also include a printing from nature art workshop with Beetroots Collective’s artists Marta Adamowicz and Robert Motyka.

Online audiences can still continue to enjoy more stories by listening to the festival’s podcast series Another Story, hosted by Daniel Abercrombie, Associate Director, Scottish International Storytelling Festival, available on all podcast platforms via: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/another-story

Plus, there are Recorded Performances of some of this year’s events available to watch on Youtube:

The Alan Bruford Lecture ‘A Curious Episode at Balquhidder: Placenames in the North and the Nackens’ with Dr Robert Fell and special guest Shamus McPhee.
Storyteller: Martyn Bennett and the Travellers’ Stories with James MacDonald Reid, Gauri Raja, Jess Smith and Gary West.
Open Hearth storytelling session with storytellers Grace Banks, Johan Sandberg McGuinne, Jackie Ross and musician Tom Oakes.

Donald Smith, Director, Scottish International Storytelling Festival said:

“The storytellers and musicians excelled; packed audiences loved it; workshops were full of fresh talent. We all made new friends. I’ve worked in a lot of festivals over fifty years, but this one will resonate for years to come – it was the pure drop.”

Catriona Hawksworth, Traditional Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said: “The Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s resounding success is a testament to the richness and diversity of storytelling it brings to audiences – from the heart of Scotland to voices around the globe.

“With vital support from the Scottish Government’s EXPO funding, the festival has flourished as a beacon of international collaboration and socially engaged storytelling. By celebrating intangible cultural heritage, it’s inspiring communities and setting a vibrant example of how traditions can be shared, honoured, and reimagined across Scotland.”

The dates of next year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival are 21 to 31 October 2026.

As Halloween approaches the tales being told at this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival begin to take a darker turn…

On Halloween night (Friday 31 October), storyteller Anna Lehr will present her new storytelling show Dazwischen (Inbetween) which is inspired by the original tales of the Brothers Grimm, especially the story of Godfather Death.

Anna Lehr with the ‘Death Puppet’. Dazwischen premieres at 8pm on Friday 31 October at the Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. Photo credit Jim Dunn

Events on the 31 October:

Anna Lehr’s new tale Dazwischen, about death, birth and what lies in between, is loosely based on the Brother’s Grimm fairytale Godfather Death. It will be performed with German songs, poems, traditions and Anna dancing with Death itself, in the form of a puppet created by artist and wood carver Justina Kasponyte. Anna Lehr worked as an actress for over ten years in her native Germany and is an expert in performance-based interactive and educational storytelling. Her new tale Dazwischen was originally commissioned for the 2024 festival and is supported by the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund.

Also, taking place on 31 October, is The Bewitching Season with guest storyteller Suse Weisse, who is one of Germany’s leading storytellers with a special interest in telling and adapting the tales of the Brothers Grimm, that she grew up with as a child. This storytelling discussion at the National Library of Scotland is presented in association with the Goethe-Institut and takes audiences on a journey through the intersections of folklore and the natural world, at a time when the mystical and natural come close, and the northern winter begins.

Guid Crack Storytelling Session at The Waverley Bar in Edinburgh. This will be a Samhuinn hosted by storyteller Fiona Herbert who will lead a session of spooky stories, and invite audiences to share their own.

Over the rest of the weekend there will also be:

A workshop on Mortality and Making (Saturday 1 November) with storyteller Beverley Bryant who is also a celebrant and death educator. Beverley will be sharing some traditional death stories and ask participants to discuss death, which is often seen as taboo for storytellers. All whilst participants get hands-on and decorate a cardboard coffin and learn the craft of weaving a willow coffin.

To the Ends of the Earth with Monica Madas and Erin Farley which tells the story of Triduana who is part of a small group of missionaries determined to share the Christian faith by taking Saint Andrew’s bones ‘to the ends of the earth’. Triduana’s voyage into unseen waters and mythologies is told through story, song and puppetry.

The Corpse Road with storyteller Daniel Serridge and musician Heather Cartwright which follows the rise and fall, and the twists and turns of those whose final journey was made along the ancient corpse roads. This session will be a mix of stories and songs written about the characters who travelled along these roads on their final journey to the grave.

Finally, as we head into November, there is a Family Samhuinn celebration with the Beltane Fire Society on Sunday 2 November, where families can drop-in at the Storytelling Centre during the day for facepainting, storytelling and songs.

Then, on Wednesday 5 November Moonspinners, with storytellers Bea Ferguson, Selina Graham and Heather Yule, returns, for another full-moon celebration, alongside host storytellers Claire McNicol and Linda Williamson. Together they will be sharing moon myths, lunar legends and cross-cultural stories about creation, fertility, cosmic joy, transformation, death and rebirth. Moonspinners takes place under the energy and influence of November’s Beaver Moon and the session will begin with a community meal in the café at 6pm of haggis neeps and tatties on a pay-what-you-can basis with all donations going to support the Edinburgh Food Project. This will be followed by storytelling in the theatre, and then an informal social and more conversational session in the Storytelling Court.

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival runs until 1 November thanks to support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland. The Festival’s Go Local programme runs throughout October and November and includes over 60 of events taking place in village halls, pubs, cafes and gardens across Scotland, from the Borders to Shetland and the Western Isles.

To purchase tickets and browse the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk

TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) is looking to appoint a new Festival Director to lead the delivery of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) from 2026.

Founded in 1989, SISF is the world’s largest celebration of storytelling, anchored in Scotland, a nation of storytellers. SISF takes place in October each year, offering a vibrant programme of live performances, workshops, gatherings, talks and family events in Edinburgh and nationwide.

As part of the Festivals Edinburgh network, SISF has a strong local, national, and international profile. It is recognised as a leading platform for storytelling and traditional arts, and as a key showcase for Scotland’s year-round storytelling activity led by the Scottish Storytelling Forum, one of the members of TRACS.

The core programme of SISF is delivered in Edinburgh at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, with SISF’s national programme encompassing Story Ripple, developed with the Scottish Storytelling Forum, and Go Local, delivered with partners, regional festivals, and venues across Scotland.

Reporting to the TRACS CEO, the SISF Festival Director plays a crucial leadership role, steering and supporting the planning, programming, delivery, evaluation and reporting of the Festival. The new Director will also be responsible for ensuring the Festival’s vigorous and viable future through the formulation of a robust strategic plan, the development of a strong core operational team, and assisting with securing additional streams of funding.

SISF is organised by TRACS, a co-operative network which champions our shared traditions of music, song, storytelling, dance, crafts, customs and Scotland’s languages. TRACS is supported by Creative Scotland through Multi-Year Funding, and the City of Edinburgh Council’s revenue grant scheme. SISF is supported by Scottish Government Expo Funding.

Hours: 1.0 FTE (35 hours per week) with the option of 0.8 FTE (28 hours per week) by negotiation
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months, with the option to extend for a further year subject to funding
Salary: £42,000 per annum (1.0 FTE) (£33,600 at 0.8 FTE)
Location: TRACS office at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh. Some hybrid/remote working by negotiation.
Application Deadline: 9am on Monday 1st December 2025
Interviews: Week beginning Monday 8th December 2025, with potential second interviews the week beginning Monday 15th December.

Could this be me?
The SISF Festival Director will be a strong advocate for oral storytelling in Scotland as a key component of Scotland’s thriving traditional arts sector. You will have significant experience within Scotland’s arts and culture sector, with a clear commitment to fostering creative excellence, encouraging participation, and promoting cultural collaboration.

You will provide strategic and artistic leadership to build on SISF’s established reputation as a meeting place for tradition bearers, emerging voices, and international artists, ensuring it continues to celebrate Scotland’s storytelling traditions and support the key aims of the Scottish Storytelling Forum while creating opportunities for innovation, artistic exploration, and reaching new audiences.

A confident and engaging communicator, you will represent the Festival and TRACS across a range of settings, engaging positively with a range of stakeholders, including the media, board members, staff, Festivals Edinburgh colleagues, funders, local and national government and the general public.

You will have demonstrable experience of successfully curating and delivering diverse arts or cultural programmes within a recognised festival or venue. You will also have a strong track record in project management, business planning, and partnership development.

As an effective leader, you will be able to inspire and motivate a team, fostering collaboration and shared purpose to deliver your creative vision for SISF and contribute to the wider success of Scotland’s traditional arts sector.

How to apply

Download the full recruitment pack here
Send your CV with a covering letter to recruitment@tracscotland.org

If you require an application form in another format, please email recruitment@tracscotland.org

All applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.

TRACS commits itself to meeting the aims and commitments set out in its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy. This includes not discriminating under the Equality Act 2010 and building an accurate picture of the make-up of the workforce in encouraging equality and diversity.

TRACS is an accredited Living Wage Employer, committed to paying a wage based on the cost of living to our staff.

Application Deadline: 9am on Monday 1st December 2025

There’s just one week to go before the world’s largest celebration of storytelling begins…

The 36^th Scottish International Storytelling Festival’s packed programme of over 120 events, taking place in Edinburgh and across Scotland, kicks off next Wednesday 22 October, thanks to support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland.

Over the 11 days of the festival, some of the North’s most celebrated storytellers will join leading voices from Scotland, to bring a feast of traditional storytelling to Edinburgh and to venues all across the country.

‘Lights of the North’ is this year’s chosen theme, and one of the main highlights will be hearing guest storytellers from Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Germany, sharing their nation’s favourite folk tales.

storyteller Suse Weisse holding hands up whilst storytelling — Storyteller Suse Weisse

These folk tale events will kick off on Friday 24 October at 4pm with Norwegian storytellers Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen and Georgiana Keable Jerstad sharing tales of trolls, hens, and strange husbands; followed by Jerker Fahlström sharing tales from the forests of Sweden (Tue 28 Oct) and Hjörleifur Stefánsson sharing stories of the ‘Huldufolk’ who are said to live in harmony, hidden in the highlands in Iceland …most of the time (Wed 29 Oct).

Other international guest performers include Anna Maria Toivonen from Finland who will join Claire Hewitt to share the tale of The Swan Woman, and Suse Weisse who will share gruesome German fairy tales by the Brothers Grimm.

Storyteller Jerker Fahlström

Some of these international performers will also take part in this year’s workshop programme, including Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen who will delve into the rich tradition of the Norse ‘skalds’ (bards) and their storytelling techniques; and Jerker Fahlström who will look at characterisation and how to tease out a story from written text. In addition, there will be practical workshops on using BSL in storytelling and how facial expression and movement can help bring a story to life; tech and storytelling discussing how best to present storytellers on the stage; what music can add to stories; and the ethical considerations behind using recordings and archive material.

Plus, Boglárka Klitsie-Szabad of the Hungarian Heritage House explores the rich repertoire of one of Hungary’s last traditional Roma storytellers Vilmos Csipkés; and Anna Lehr discusses classic fairy tales particularly those of the Brothers Grimm.

storyteller Anna Lehr in an open pose — Storyteller Anna Lehr

Other unmissable highlights include:

Land of Many Waters inspired by Scotland’s rivers and waters and the stories they carry in their fragile eco-system performed by storyteller Eileen Budd and singer songwriter David McAlmont, who came to prominence in the 1990s with his hit single YES. Sound provided by Debbie Armour.
Storyteller and musician Mark Borthwick’s retelling of The War of the Birds, a Russian story, collected by Arthur Ransome. This event looks at how our stories-of-self are world-making, with Ransome’s forced migration from Russia used as a touchstone to explore other migration stories from the 20th Century.
Against the Current, the forgotten tale of St Enoch told through the journeys of four women making their lives in Glasgow with Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy, Isobel O’Donovan, Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Trinidad Cabezón Droguett.
A retelling of He Sits on the Rock of Joy with storyteller Linda Perttula and singer songwriter Aino Elina, who combine their own teenage memories, with ancient poetry and ethereal vocals in the search for a connection to this Finnish epic.
The Selkie story, told through exploring its parallels with Deaf history in Lost to the Sea, Lost to the World with Tania Allan and Craig McCulloch. Performed in British Sign Language and spoken English.
A retelling of The King and The Lamp, a tale by the late Duncan Williamson passed onto, and performed by, storyteller and musician Marion Kenny.

In addition, there will be a programme of free storytelling events taking place at the National Museum of Scotland, and children’s events and workshops that will run throughout the October school break. These include sensory stories with Ailie Finlay in Tales of Cold Forests and Cosy Bears; percussive dancing from Tokyo-born stepdancer Kae Sakurai in BLOOM; a family ceilidh with the Minnow Ceilidh Band; songs and stories about dragons with Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Gaynor Barradell; and plenty of events outdoors including the return of the Botanics Storytelling Day.

Percussive Step Dancer Kae Sakurai in front of a hill horizon — Percussive Step Dancer Kae Sakurai

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said:
“The fantastic programme for this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival features something for everyone and brings together stars of Scotland’s storytelling scene with our north Atlantic neighbours to give light to dark winter nights through mystical stories and songs.

“The festival received £200,000 this year from our EXPO fund as part of a record increase in culture funding from the Scottish Government. We are proud to support this celebration of Scotland’s storytelling heritage and its important place on the world stage.”

Donald Smith, Scottish International Storytelling Festival Director said:
“I’m very inspired by the chemistry of this year’s programme. Northern stories come from the forests, mountains and oceans, while drawing on an eerie imagination, surreal humour and hidden connections between human and natural spirits. Inner and outer journeys collide with unexpected magic. And Scotland is a hub and a crucible of this unique northern brew!”

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival takes place from Wednesday 22 October to Saturday 1 November. For those planning on attending multiple events, the Festival Supporter Pass (£24) offers discounted tickets to many festival events, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, as well as a discount at the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s bookshop, and Haggis Box Café.

There will also be BSL interpretation available for Deaf audiences at selected events.

To purchase tickets and browse the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk

Why?

Join us in Perth on 14 November for the third Intangible Cultural Heritage Scotland conference. With the UK Government ratifying the 2003 UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in 2024, and the national ICH inventorying process starting soon, this year’s conference will focus on how we move forward with ICH across Scotland.

What to expect

The conference will feature inspiring talks from practitioners sharing their journeys, alongside organisations highlighting how they support and promote ICH in Scotland.

Not sure what Intangible Cultural Heritage is all about? Look at our website and learn about Living Heritage and TRACS’s work here.

Who should join?

This event is for anyone interested in ICH, also known as Living Heritage, including practitioners, artists, makers, researchers, and crafts people, and people working for local authorities, public bodies, museums, and culture or heritage groups and organisations.

The conference is organised by the ICH Scotland Partnership – Museums Galleries Scotland, Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, and TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland). For the full programme, information on access, bursary support and registration follow the link below.

Register Now!

Today (10th September) with support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

Lights of the North – L/R Associate Director Daniel Abercrombie, Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival Donald Smith, storyteller Jan Bee Brown and storyteller and musician Marion Kenny at Newhaven Lighthouse in Edinburgh. Photo credit Neil Hanna

The Scottish International Storytelling Festival (22 October to 1 November 2025) organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), is the world’s largest annual celebration of storytelling.

This year’s theme ‘Lights of the North’ explores Scotland’s northern identity through sharing tales from the world’s northern arc, which bridges Finland to Iceland and connects Germany to Norway, with Scotland in between.

Over the 11 days of the festival, some of the North’s most celebrated storytellers will join leading voices from Scotland to bring a feast of traditional storytelling to Edinburgh and to venues across Scotland.

International guest storytellers including Anna-Maria Toivonen from Finland; Georgiana Keable Jerstad and Mimesis Heidi Dahlsveen from Norway; Hjörleifur Stefánsson from Iceland; Jerker Fahlström from Sweden; and Suse Weisse from Germany; will share tales of Vikings, Huldufólk (or the hidden people from Iceland), trolls, the dark northern winters and some of their favourite traditional folktales.

Joining them, will be some of Scotland’s most celebrated storytellers, who will present new work themed on the ‘Lights of the North’, and their own twist on some classic tales including:

Of Stars, Bears and the Beginning of Time (Wed 22 Oct) presented by storyteller Riikka Palonen and accompanied by folk musician Richard Clarke. Riikka will take audiences on a mythical journey through the celestial origin stories of the Fenno-Baltic tradition.
The People of the Sea (Thu 23 Oct) inspired by David Thomson’s remarkable work about selkie myths and coastal voices told by Ruth Kirkpatrick and Colin Urwin.
Selkie: Past, Present, Future (Fri 24 Oct) with Niall Moorjani and Ailsa Dixon who explore what it is to be human through three queered and reimagined selkies set in the past, present and future.
Land of Many Waters (Sat 25 Oct) with Eileen Budd, David McAlmont and Debbie Armour who present stories inspired by Scottish rivers and waters, the stories they carry and their fragile eco-system.
He Sits on the Rock of Joy (Sun 26 Oct) with storyteller Linda Perttula and singer-songwriter Aino Elina who combine their own teenage memories, with ancient poetry and ethereal vocals in the search for a connection to this Finnish epic.
Da Winters O Shetland (Sun 26 Oct) with storyteller and comedian Marjolein Robertson, who takes us on a story arc across the dark night of a Shetland winter.
Gullrun’s Saga: A Viking Story (Thu 30 Oct) with storyteller Svend-Erik Engh and Scottish musician Neil Sutcliffe who present an original story inspired by the Icelandic sagas.

Classic tales with a twist include:

Claire Hewitt presenting the magical tale of The Swan Woman with Anna-Maria Toivonen.
Mark Borthwick retelling the tale of The War of the Birds.
Sarah Wedderburn-Ogilvy, Isobel O’Donovan, Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Trinidad Cabezón Droguett reimagining the forgotten tale of St Enoch through the journey of four women making their lives in Glasgow
Monica Madas and Erin Farley using puppetry and song to tell the epic tale of Triduana and her journey to take Saint Andrew’s bones to Scotland.
Tania Allan and Craig McCulloch’s take on traditional Selkie myths and the parallels between the silence and captivity found in deafness.

The festival is also packed with rich tales and songs from Scotland’s Travelling Community that have been passed down through generations. With Jess Smith and Jimmy Williamson sharing well known tales, and Marion Kenny paying homage to Duncan Williamson with a retelling of The King and The Lamp. This year’s Alan Bruford lecture will also discuss ‘Nackens’ (Scottish Gypsy Travellers) and how their folklore gives us unique insights into Scotland’s history and placenames. This will be led by author Dr Robert Fell who will be joined by Shamus McPhee to recount a tale about Balquhidder and how it got its name. Plus, piper Gary West, author of the Martyn Bennett biography Brave New Music, hosts a live event celebrating the Traveller ballads and stories which influenced the late musician’s work.

As we edge closer to Halloween, and the Samhuinn Fire Festival in Holyrood Park, the festival embraces the dark side of storytelling with Daniel Serridge and Heather Cartwright sharing stories and songs about the unnerving and haunted corpse roads in Cumbria, where the dead passed through on the way to their graves; Anna Lehr presents Dazwischen – a tale about death, birth and what lies between; Chair of the Scottish Storytelling Forum, and celebrant, Beverley Bryant leads a workshop on Mortality and Making and how we craft conversations about death whilst participants weave willow and make decorations for coffins; and Suse Weisse in association with Goethe-Institut, shares some of the Brother Grimm’s fairy tales and tales fit for The Bewitching Season on Hallow’s Eve.

For younger audiences and families there’s a packed programme of events over the October school holidays kicking off on Saturday 11 October, ahead of the festival’s main programme (22 Oct to 1 Nov). Family highlights include sensory storytelling fun with Fibi Cowley in A Dispute with a Butterfly told through puppetry; and sensory stories with Ailie Finlay in Tales of Cold Forests and Cosy Bears. There’s also percussive dancing from Tokyo-born stepdancer Kae Sakurai in BLOOM; a family ceilidh with the Minnow Ceilidh Band; songs and stories about dragons with Daiva Ivanauskaitė-Brown and Gaynor Barradell; and plenty of events outdoors including the return of the Botanics Storytelling Day and Macastory’s School for Skalds.

Plus, Allison Galbraith delights audiences with folk tales about our Scottish waters and will announce the winners of this year’s Words of the Wild nature writing competition run in partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Also, new for 2025, three emerging storytellers present their own work themed around shame, consent and survival, in association with FEST (Federation of European Storytelling).

This year’s workshop programme is packed with tips on telling stories including a look at using BSL in storytelling and how facial expression and movement can help bring a story to life; tech and storytelling with the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s very own inhouse expert Roddy Simpson discussing how best to present storytellers on the stage; what music can add to stories; and the ethical considerations behind using recordings and archive material. Plus, Boglárka Klitsie-Szabad of the Hungarian Heritage House explores the rich repertoire of one of Hungary’s last traditional Roma storytellers Vilmos Csipkés; and Anna Lehr discusses classic fairy tales particularly those of the Brothers Grimm.

Throughout the festival, audiences can also enjoy relaxed Open Hearth gatherings of storytellers and musicians across four evenings in the Storytelling Centre’s Netherbow Theatre.

Go Local returns this year, with new voices from East Lothian and Shetland joining storytellers from all over Scotland throughout October and November to celebrate Scottish storytelling. From the Western Isles, to Dumfries and Galloway there will be over 60 Go Local events in this year’s programme, plus the international storytellers invited to participate in this year’s festival, will also perform in Glasgow, Kenmore, Aberfeldy and Dundee; and as guests at storytelling festivals in Orkney, Aberdeen and Dumfries and Galloway.

Finally, this year’s festival exhibition Stories Drawn from the Land, hosted at the Scottish Storytelling Centre will feature ink illustrations and ceramics by Hester Aspland, whose work is rooted in the realms of folklore, wild places, landscape and history. Hester is also the illustrator of this year’s festival programme.

Culture Secretary Angus Robertson said:

“The fantastic programme for this year’s Scottish International Storytelling Festival features something for everyone and brings together stars of Scotland’s storytelling scene with our north Atlantic neighbours to give light to dark winter nights through mystical stories and songs.

“The festival received £200,000 this year from our EXPO fund as part of a record increase in culture funding from the Scottish Government. We are proud to support this celebration of Scotland’s storytelling heritage and its important place on the world stage.”

Donald Smith, Scottish International Storytelling Festival Director said:

“I’m very inspired by the chemistry of this year’s programme. Northern stories come from the forests, mountains and oceans, while drawing on an eerie imagination, surreal humour and hidden connections between human and natural spirits. Inner and outer journeys collide with unexpected magic. And Scotland is a hub and a crucible of this unique northern brew!”

Performing at today’s launch, with musician Richard Clarke, storyteller Riikka Palonen said:

“This festival is a very special and exciting time for me – as a relatively recent arrival on these shores, I feel honoured to be able to present the stories from my home land, here in the land of my new home.

The stories I will be telling are rooted in the celestial origins of our northern mythology – tales born of the stars – and just as the starlight brings its glow to the darkening nights, I hope my tales can also cast a little light and wonder, if even for a short while.”

There will also be BSL interpretation available for D/deaf audiences at selected events.

To purchase tickets and browse the full programme, visit sisf.org.uk

Book Tickets View the Programme Get your Festival Pass

Sat 8 Nov | 10.30am-4.15pm
Inverness Creative Academy (WASPS)

Trad Talk is the Traditional Music Forum of Scotland‘s (TMFS) flagship annual gathering, bringing together performers, educators, promoters, and enthusiasts from across the traditional music community.

This event creates space for meaningful dialogue on issues facing our sector. This year’s theme is Innovation. We will explore the balance between respecting traditions while embracing new approaches that ensure traditional music and song remain relevant and vibrant for future generations.

Join us to connect with peers, share insights, and celebrate Scotland’s traditional music scene. The day will include the AGM of the TMFS. Complimentary lunch is provided as well as a short performance from the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail.

This event is free but ticketed.
(Tickets available to book here)

Information on Inverness Creative Academy can be found here. If you have specific access needs or dietary requirements, please contact office@traditionalmusicforum.org.

———-

Schedule

10.30am – Registration and tea/coffee

11.00am – Keynote Talk
Speaker Kresanna Aigner of Findhorn Bay Arts
With Q&A

11.35am – Equalities, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access in Traditional Music
Short presentation by Creative Scotland and Culture Services

11.55am – Comfort Break

12.00pm – Panel: Community and Tradition Bearers
Calum Alex Macmillan, Amy Lord, Frances Wilkins
Moderator: Laura Harrington

12.45pm – Lunch

1.15pm – Performance
Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail

1.45pm – Traditional Music Forum of Scotland AGM

2.15pm – Panel: Learning & Teaching
Sharon Hassan, Linda Campbell, Rachael Duff
Moderator: Jo Miller

3.00pm – Comfort Break

3.05pm – Panel: Industry and Profession
Emma Wright, Rachel Walker, Simon Thoumire
Moderator: Brian Ó hEadhra

3.40pm – Reflections and Closing Remarks

4.15pm – End

Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail

Trad Talk is supported by TRACS (Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland) through Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding.

Tha Fòram Sgeulachdan na h-Alba air dàrna sreath den phod-craoladh Gàidhlig, Sgeul is Seanchas, a chur air bhog

The Scottish Storytelling Fourm release a second series of the Gaelic storytelling podcast, Sgeul is Seanchas

Tha Fòram Sgeulachdan na h-Alba, ann an co-bhonn le TRACS, toilichte cur air bhog an dàrna sreath den phod-craoladh le sgeulachdan aithris ann an Gàidhlig, Sgeul is Seanchas.

The Scottish Storytelling Forum, in collaboration with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), is pleased to announce the release of the second series of the Gaelic storytelling podcast, Sgeul is Seanchas.

San dàrna sreath den phod-craoladh, cluinnidh sibh sgeulachdan traidiseanta, eachdraidheil is èibhinn anns a’ Ghàidhlig air an innse le seachdnar sgeulaichean à Alba agus thall thairis.

The second series of the podcast features seven different storytellers from Scotland and further afield who share some of their favourite traditional, historical and funny stories in Gaelic.

Nam measg, cluinnidh sibh sgeulachdan os-nàdarrach à Uibhist a Tuath air an innse le Linda NicLeòid, sgeulachdan nan gaisgeach air an innse le Dùghall Mac a’ Phì à Barraigh agus Ceap Breatainn is cuideachd còmhradh mu dheidhinn sgeulachdan sa Ghàidhlig còmhla ri Essie Stiùbhart à Cataibh.

The episodes include supernatural stories from North Uist told by Linda MacLeod, heroic tales of Finn MacCool and the Fianna told by Dugald MacPhee of Barra and Cape Breton and a discussion about the Gaelic storytelling tradition with Essie Stewart of Sutherland.

Taing mhòr do Mhaoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig airson an taic gus an dàrna sreath den phod-craoladh seo a chur air dòigh.

With thanks to Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig for the funding for the second series of the Sgeul is Seanchas podcast.

Cluinnear na h-eapasodan tro làrach-lìn Fòram Sgeulachdan na h-Alba is cuideachd tro Libsyn is làraichean eile aig na ceanglaichean a leanas:

The episodes are available to listen to now on the Scottish Storytelling Forum’s website and through your favourite podcast platforms via the following links:

https://www.storytellingforum.co.uk/podcast-pod-craoladh/

https://sgeulisseanchas.libsyn.com/

Linda MacLeod/Linda NicLeòid

Dugald MacPhee/Dùghall Mac a’ Phì

Essie Stewart/Essie Stiùbhart

With thanks to Maoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig / le taing do Mhaoin nan Ealan Gàidhlig

The Scottish Storytelling Forum are looking to appoint an individual with passion and enthusiasm for Storytelling in Scotland who has excellent administrative and co ordination skills.

Freelance contract

3 days per month

£540 per month

Duties to include but not limited to:

Answering enquiries and meeting with new and prospective apprentices
Co-ordination of Apprentice Days and events
Maintenance of Apprentice Database
Admin and Moderation of ‘Stories on the Way’ Facebook group
Attendance at SSF Board Meetings when presenting apprentices for addition to Directory
Development of Apprentice Programme – in collaboration with Development Officer and SSF Board
Reporting

Person Spec and Job Description

To apply, please submit your CV along with a covering letter (max. one page) detailing your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role. Applications should be sent to joanne@tracscotland.org

Deadline: Midnight, 31 August 2025

My Kind of Book, in partnership with the Scottish Storytelling Forum and supported by the Scottish International Storytelling Festival, are offering a paid training and mentorship opportunity in Sensory Storytelling with leading practitioner in the field, Ailie Finlay.

Sensory storytelling is the art of combining props, sensory stimuli and words to create a beautiful story ‘package’. Sensory stories are used with people with additional needs for fun and relaxation, to encourage communication and to promote understanding. This project is for you if you would like to understand why sensory storytelling is so important, learn some sensory story skills and make your storytelling practice more inclusive – particularly of people with severe or profound additional needs.

As part of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival: Lights of the North, an inclusive sensory storytelling event will take place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 25th October. In the lead-up to the event, you’ll have the opportunity to work with Ailie, receiving training and mentorship, before taking part in delivering the sensory storytelling experience on the day.

What’s included in this opportunity:

3 x training and mentoring sessions with Ailie Finlay
1 x co-delivery of a sensory storytelling session at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
Fee and expenses (to be paid to mentee): £270

To apply, please submit your Storytelling CV along with a brief statement (max. 500 words) confirming that you are available on the 25^th October and explaining how this opportunity would support your creative practice and how you envision incorporating it into your future work to, storytelling@tracscotland.org

Deadline: Wednesday 20^th August 12 noon

Applicants will be notified as soon as possible after Monday 25^th August

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