CAMPAIGNERS have called on the Edinburgh International Festival to end its partnership with investment firm Baillie Gifford, accusing the organisation of benefiting from companies linked to Israel’s military and fossil fuel industry.
The renewed calls came as the festival prepared to launch its 2026 programme, with activists from M/others Against Genocide Scotland and Art Workers for Palestine Scotland displaying the names of Palestinian children killed in Gaza outside the EIF Hub.
In a statement, the campaign group said the action was intended to highlight what it described as the “devastating human cost” of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
The group has repeatedly raised concerns with EIF for more than two years about Baillie Gifford’s investment portfolio and its alleged links to arms, weapons, fossil fuels and companies which activists say are directly involved in the occupation of Palestine and the genocide in Gaza - a claim which has been branded "hugely misleading" by Baillie Gifford.
The group said Baillie Gifford held shares in Babcock, which it said had partnered with Israel Aerospace Industries on UK military programmes. It also claimed the investment firm had holdings in French energy firm TotalEnergies and defence technology company Anduril.
Campaigners said the festival should cut ties with Baillie Gifford because of the company’s investment portfolio.
They also called on artists and audiences to boycott the festival until the sponsorship arrangement ends.
In response to the protest, a spokesperson from Baillie Gifford said: "Baillie Gifford is a long-term investor with high ethical standards and a clear focus on doing what is right for the people who entrust us with their pensions and life savings.
"The assertion that we have significant amounts of clients’ money invested in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and fossil fuels is hugely misleading."
Earlier this year, The National told how activists called on people to boycott the festival, after the Edinburgh International Book Festival (EIBF), Fruitmarket, Collective, and Stills, ended their sponsorship deals with Baillie Gifford following pressure.
The campaign group said more than 700 artists, arts workers and audience members had signed an open letter urging the Edinburgh International Festival to drop Baillie Gifford.
It also claimed that some artists who performed at last year’s festival had told campaigners they had been discouraged from speaking publicly about the festival’s relationship with the investment firm, and questioned why the festival would be concerned about discussion of its sponsor.
They also criticised the Scottish Government over the implementation of a Scottish Parliament motion passed in September 2025, which called for a package of boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel.
The campaigners urged MSPs to make implementation of the motion a priority when Holyrood returns from recess.
Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens, who attended the protest, said SNP ministers had not taken sufficient action since the vote.
She said: “Despite supporting our motion [on September 3, 2025 to impose boycotts, divestment and sanctions] SNP Ministers have still not taken any steps towards implementing it.
“They need to urgently end all contracts with companies complicit in the genocide, as well as companies involved in the illegal Israeli settlement building programme in the West Bank.”
The activists also linked their concerns to the climate crisis, pointing to Baillie Gifford’s investments in fossil fuel companies and recent wildfires affecting Arthur’s Seat.
The Edinburgh International Festival is due to open its 2026 edition this week.
Baillie Gifford and the festival have been approached for comment.
