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Nicola Benedetti performance delayed by pro-Palestine protest

A performance by Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti was held up by heckling from a pro-Palestine protester. The violinist was forced to delay an appearance at the end of an event at the King’s Theatre due to a disturbance in the audience. A section of the sell-out crowd at The Global Ideas Stage event […]

By deepak · August 12, 2026 · 2 min read

A performance by Edinburgh International Festival director Nicola Benedetti was held up by heckling from a pro-Palestine protester.

The violinist was forced to delay an appearance at the end of an event at the King’s Theatre due to a disturbance in the audience.

A section of the sell-out crowd at The Global Ideas Stage event turned on the man after he shouted “free Palestine” as Ms Benedetti was about to perform.

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The protester appeared to suggest discussion about the “genocide in Gaza” had been deliberately excluded from the event, which was inspired by the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and featured former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

American speakers at the event, which Ms Benedetti co-hosted with Harvard professor and author Sarah Lewis, included filmmaker Ken Burns, lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson and journalist Amy Goodman.

The festival has come under prolonged criticism from pro-Palestine campaigners over its long-term partnership with Edinburgh-based investment giant Baillie Gifford over its links with companies in Israel.

The Art Workers for Palestine group announced a boycott of the festival by artists and performers when its launched its 2026 programme, which features the biggest ever showcase of American artists, culture and stories in the 79-year history of the event.

Campaigners said they had "repeatedly raised concerns" with EIF about its relationship with Baillie Gifford, one of the biggest corporate supporters of Scottish culture, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society.

Source: Read the original article on www.heraldscotland.com