Edinburgh International Festival has confirmed that every show in its Queen’s Hall series will be a “phone-free” environment this year.
The 2026 edition of the event is scheduled to take place between August 7 and 30, boasting a “hand-picked programme of the finest performers in dance, opera, music and theatre”.
Today (Tuesday June 23), organisers have shared details of the festival’s new ‘Lights Down, Phones Off’ policy, and are urging concertgoers to “lose yourself in the moment”.
“We’re acting on what audiences and artists have told us: phones are disruptive,” the announcement reads. “In 2025, phones interrupted every single concert in our Queen’s Hall chamber series, to the frustration of everyone in the room.
“It’s not only disruptive for those present but creates further issues when concerts are being recorded for radio broadcast for the benefit of thousands more people listening at home.”
EIF went on to highlight the importance of setting “clear expectations” for everyone involved in the event.
“Before the performance begins, feel free to snap a photo, send that last message, or share the moment online,” organisers added. “The same goes for the interval or curtain call. But during the performance itself, take the opportunity to be fully present.
“And if you aren’t sure how to turn your phone off or completely silence your ringtone, notifications and any scheduled alarms, one of our friendly staff will be happy to help you.”
Nicola Benedetti, festival director, explained: “Live performance is unlike anything else, and the Edinburgh International Festival is here to protect the rarity of this experience. The power of our programme is intensified by the tangible, collective presence of everyone in the room, and we want you to be with us fully.
“When the lights go down and the performance starts, we would like phones to disappear from our hands, minds and ears.”
Benedetti continued: “Views on this have been widely and boldly expressed in recent months and we are acting in communion with our beloved audiences and extraordinary artists.
“The late, great Alfred Brendel, whom we pay tribute to in our Queen’s Hall series this year, said it best: ‘The audience’s contribution is concentration and silence – it’s an electricity the musician can charge from’.”
She concluded: “That electricity is real, I’ve felt it from the stage my whole life. We encourage our audiences to switch off their phones, and let the art do the rest.”
There are some exceptions to the no-phone rule, however, such as EIF’s free drop-in outdoor performances and its dementia-friendly concerts. You can find more information about the new policy here.
Phoebe Bridgers has announced a phone-free UK, European and North American arena tour, and recently played a series of US shows where phones were banned. When performing in New York earlier this month, she thanked fans for “allowing this to be an internet-free zone”.
Elsewhere, Chrissie Hynde criticised gig-goers’ use of mobile devices at gigs, calling it a “weird compulsion that people can’t control”.
Other major artists to have banned phones at their shows in recent years include Bob Dylan, Jack White, Placebo, Ghost and Tool. Meanwhile, Iron Maiden are enforcing a phone-free standing area at their upcoming Paris date, as it will be filmed for a new concert film.
Last summer, Sabrina Carpenter said she had considered implementing a phone ban at her shows, even though it would “honestly piss off” her fans. Then, this March, Harry Styles played a one-off phone-free date in Manchester – which was shot for a Netflix special.
Speaking to NME recently, Billie Eilish defended young fans’ use of phones during live performances. “When I was young and would go to concerts or festivals, I would film every single minute of it – and then I would watch every single video that I took over and over until I even had the audio of the crowd memorised,” she said. “I think that’s not to be pooh-poohed. An important part of the culture is that we are all on our goddamn phones! It keeps us connected. It does!”
Damon Albarn said in 2024 that he was opposed to the no-phone rule at live events: “If you start banning things where does it end?”
