SOME of the most exciting voices from Scotland and around the world can be heard at this year’s Edinburgh’s International Poetry Festival.
Push the Boat Out (PTBO) will bring together more than 120 artists for a weekend of poetry, performance, music and art in a total of 63 events.
Scots poet Len Pennie will discuss her fiercely honest new collection of poems that confront ideas of patriarchy, gender-based violence and societal injustice while two of Scotland’s standout spoken word poets, RJ Hunter and Gray Crosbie will share new work in a Scratch Night supported by Harry Josephine Giles and the Edinburgh Trans Choir.
In addition, Ian Hamilton Finlay (above), one of Scotland’s most distinctive and internationally recognised poets, is celebrated in an exhibition that will run for the duration of the festival.
“From high-energy poetry slams and late-night scratch performances to thought-provoking panel discussions, immersive workshops, development days and genre-blurring collaborations, PTBO continues to push poetry far beyond the page,” said director Emma Collins.
“We’re really looking forward to delivering this year’s programme at the Pleasance, one of Edinburgh’s most beloved festival venues and once again the billing offers variety through its cross-art form experiences.”
She added: “The 2025 festival reaffirms its commitment to showcasing iconic poets, fresh voices, radical perspectives and unexpected intersections between poetry and other art forms, including spoken word, music, and theatre.
“Whether you’re a lifelong poetry lover or a curious newcomer, there are multiple ways to engage with the poetic form via a true celebration of words on and off the page across the weekend.”
For those unable to attend in person, the programme includes a line-up of online workshops, discussions, five free live-streamed events and a full broadcast schedule in collaboration with EHFM radio.
“This is a creative programme that pushes the boundaries of poetry as an artform, working in the spaces where it meets music, visual art and performance,” said Alan Bett at Creative Scotland.
“At its core is a diverse range of voices from across Scotland and beyond, showcasing poets at every stage of their creative journey including the likes of Gaelic language poet and National Makar Peter MacKay, and the current Scots Language Scriever Taylor Dyson.
Push the Boat Out brings this all into the heart of Edinburgh, inviting everyone – from curious newcomers to seasoned poetry lovers – to experience something unforgettable.”
For 2025, PTBO continues its community engagement work with partners across the city, including SCOREScotland, Tinderbox Collective, Amnesty International UK and Simon Community Scotland.
