The Edinburgh Finance Festival is to return to Scotland’s capital city from June 8 to June 20, 2026, building on the success of its inaugural edition last year.
Organisers the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) said that held in September 2025, the first Edinburgh Finance Festival welcomed over 3,000 participants across 25 events, uniting professionals, policymakers, and academics committed to advancing the future of finance.
“The 2026 Festival will once again convene a number of partners to deliver a dynamic programme of curated events designed to celebrate progress, inspire innovation and catalyse meaningful change across the financial system,” said GEFI.
“Marking the 250th anniversary of The Wealth of Nations, the 2026 Festival will include events that revisit Adam Smith through a 21st-century, post-hegemonic lens, not to celebrate him uncritically, but to interrogate and reimagine his legacy.
“By recovering what has been lost, adding voices beyond the Western canon and engaging with emerging global perspectives, the Festival invites a fresh reflection on what markets are for, whom they serve and the moral responsibilities they must uphold today.
“More than just a conference, the Festival draws on Edinburgh’s cultural and intellectual heritage spanning over 300 years, reinforcing the city’s role as a global hub for collaboration and creative inquiry.
“Building on the momentum of its first year, which featured three major flagship events alongside roundtables and workshops, the 2026 edition will broaden its reach and ambition, offering an expanded platform for dialogue and collective action as we shape Finance for All …
“With Scotland’s rich heritage in financial services and its reputation as the natural home for green and sustainable finance and a global Fintech hub, Edinburgh provided the perfect setting for the festival.
“Its legacy of the macro and systemic thinking, paired with a contemporary culture of inquiry and world-renowned cultural assets, created a unique environment for innovation and inspiration.
“The Festival positioned Scotland not just as a host, but as a global thought broker in finance.”