Nadia and Philip look back at Edinburgh Deaf Festival 2025 

In this special video conversation, Festival Creative Director Nadia Nadarajah and Deaf Action CEO Philip Gerrard reflect on the incredible success of Edinburgh Deaf Festival 2025, and look ahead to exciting opportunities for deaf artists to get involved in 2026.

This year’s festival brought together a vibrant mix of performances, workshops, tours and community events that celebrated creativity, culture and connection in the heart of Edinburgh’s world-famous festival season. Highlights included Magic Morgan, the award-winning deaf magician from the United States, side-splitting sets from comedians John Smith and Gavin Lilley, and Echoes Across Time, an original play written by Nadia herself. Crowds also flocked to see the unforgettable Deaffy Drag Queeny, performing in Edinburgh for the very first time.

As Nadia and Philip discuss, Edinburgh Deaf Festival continues to grow as a platform for deaf talent from Scotland, across the UK, and around the world. With strong partnerships across the wider Edinburgh Festival landscape, we provide opportunities for artists to perform in fully accessible venues, reach new deaf and hearing audiences, and even register shows with the Fringe to connect with global festivalgoers.

We’re now preparing for Edinburgh Deaf Festival 2026, and we want deaf artists, performers, and creatives who’d like to be part of it. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or emerging talent, we welcome your ideas and performances that showcase the richness of deaf culture and creativity.

If you’d like to be part of our festival in 2026, head over to our Artist Sign-up page for more information and to apply.