Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo facts for kids
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a fantastic show of music, marching, and performances held every year in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. It takes place in August on the Esplanade, a large open area right outside Edinburgh Castle. Military bands from the British Armed Forces, countries in the Commonwealth of Nations, and other nations around the world come together to perform. There are also amazing artistic groups that join in. This event is a big part of the Edinburgh Festivals.
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What Does "Tattoo" Mean?
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The word tattoo comes from a Dutch phrase from the 1600s: doe den tap toe. This meant "turn off the tap." It was a signal played by drummers each night to tell tavern owners to stop serving drinks so soldiers would go back to their homes or barracks at a good time. Later, as military bands became more common, "tattoo" started to mean the last musical call of the day. It also became the name for a special evening show put on by military musicians.
How the Tattoo Started
The very first public military show in Edinburgh was in 1949. It was called "Something About a Soldier" and happened in Princes Street Gardens. The first official Edinburgh Military Tattoo took place in 1950. It had eight different acts and about 6,000 people came to watch. They sat on simple benches and scaffolds around the Edinburgh Castle esplanade. By 2018, the stands could hold 8,800 people each night, meaning 220,000 people could see the show live over the month.
Growing Audiences
Since the 1970s, more than 220,000 people have watched the Tattoo live at Edinburgh Castle each year. The show was so popular that it sold out for 22 years in a row, from 1998 until 2019. The Tattoo was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, about 30% of the audience were from Scotland, 32% from the rest of the United Kingdom, and 38% were international visitors from 69 different countries.
New temporary stands were built in 2011. These stands cost £16 million and made it much faster to set up and take down the seating. This means the castle esplanade can now be used for other events during the rest of the year.
The Performances
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The Tattoo happens every weekday evening and twice on Saturdays throughout August. The show has only been cancelled once due to bad weather, on August 4, 2025, when Storm Floris hit the United Kingdom. However, it was also cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2010, the event was given the special title of Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo by HM Queen Elizabeth. This was to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Since 2012, every performance has ended with a fantastic fireworks display. From 2005 to 2015, a light and sound show was projected onto the castle walls. In 2016, the projection technology was updated to use modern projection mapping, making the castle look even more amazing. In 2018, laser technology was used for the first time.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has also performed in other countries. It visited New Zealand in 2000 and Australia in 2005 and 2010. In 2016, it sold 240,000 tickets when it was performed in Wellington, New Zealand, and Melbourne, Australia. The show also took place at ANZ Stadium, Sydney in October 2019. There were plans for the show to visit China in 2020, but these were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of 2021, Anne, Princess Royal is the main supporter of the event. The main company that helps fund the Tattoo is Edinburgh Airport.
Watching from Home
In 2018, the Tattoo was planned to be shown on TV in 40 countries. This meant an estimated 100 to 300 million people could watch the event worldwide. In Britain, the BBC broadcasts the event every year. In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) traditionally shows the Tattoo on New Year's Eve.
The Tattoo is run for charitable reasons. By 2017, it was estimated that the event had given over £10 million to arts, military, and civilian charities and organizations, like the Army Benevolent Fund. The Tattoo also brings in up to £100 million for Edinburgh's economy each year.
How the Show Works
Each performance starts with a special musical fanfare. Then, the Massed Pipes and Drums march through the castle gatehouse and play traditional pipe band music. After that, different groups perform their individual acts.
Who Performs?
Bands from the British Armed Forces usually perform, along with their drill and display teams. Sometimes, bands from more than one service perform together. For example, in 2002 and 2012, bands from all three services (Army, Navy, Air Force) performed to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Golden and Diamond Jubilees.
From 1950 until 1994, the show mainly featured military groups. However, starting in 1995, the show began to include civilian acts. While some fans were unsure at first, civilian acts have become a big part of the show over time. One of the most popular groups is the Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel, Switzerland. They have performed many times, including in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2022. By 2018, performers from 48 different countries had appeared in the Tattoo.
Since 2014, a special "house pipe band" was created. This allows individual pipers and drummers from Scotland and around the world to play in the Tattoo. This group, called The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums, is the first pipe band without military connections to play in the Tattoo.
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In 2019, a stage band made up of volunteer musicians from all over the world was put together. The 2022 show included Banda Monumental de Mexico, the United States Army Field Band (their first time at the Tattoo), the Highland Divas, the New Zealand Army Band, and the United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill team.
Guards of Honour
The soldiers who stand guard at the Castle Drawbridge are usually from the infantry battalion based at Redford Barracks. Other military units are also invited to provide guards for the drawbridge or form the guard of honour for the show's finale. These have included various regiments from the British Army, as well as international groups like Hans Majestet Kongens Garde from Norway and the United States Air Force Honor Guard.
Who Organizes the Tattoo?
Many people have helped produce the Edinburgh Tattoo over the years, making it the amazing show it is today. These producers are responsible for planning and putting together the entire event.
The role of Chief Executive and Producer was split into two positions in 2020. The current leaders are:
- Chief Executive: Major General Buster Howes CB OBE
- Creative Director: Michael Braithwaite
Other Tattoos
- Basel Tattoo
- Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
