Scottish Ballet has cancelled five planned performances of its festive production Cinders in Edinburgh, warning that rising accommodation costs, together with the city's new visitor levy, are making touring to the Scottish capital increasingly difficult.
The Glasgow-based national dance company has shortened the Edinburgh run of Cinders at the Festival Theatre, with performances now ending on 24 December instead of continuing until 31 December.
Scottish Ballet says the decision reflects the growing cost of accommodating its touring company of up to 150 performers and crew. According to the company, accommodation costs in Edinburgh increased by 72% between December 2019 and December 2025, with its annual accommodation bill now exceeding £200,000.
The warning comes as Edinburgh becomes the first Scottish local authority to introduce a 5% Visitor Levy on overnight accommodation, which came into force on 24 July. The levy applies to hotels, guest houses, short-term lets and other paid accommodation, with the charge capped at the first five nights of a stay.
Scottish Ballet's Executive Director, Steven Roth, said the financial pressures were becoming increasingly difficult for touring companies.
"The economics of touring to Edinburgh are fast becoming unsustainable."
Mr Roth added that while Scottish Ballet remained committed to performing in Edinburgh, rising costs risked making it harder for both artists and audiences to benefit from the city's internationally recognised cultural scene.
The company's Chief Executive and Artistic Director, Christopher Hampson, said Edinburgh's global reputation had been built by artists and performing companies over many years.
"Edinburgh is known around the world as a city where the arts are alive in a way that is genuinely rare... We remain committed to Edinburgh, but that commitment needs to be a two-way street."
Scottish Ballet is calling for Edinburgh City Council to introduce an exemption or relief scheme from the visitor levy for Scotland's national performing arts companies, arguing that the additional costs place an unnecessary burden on organisations whose performers must stay in the city while on tour.
Edinburgh City Council has disputed suggestions that the visitor levy is the primary cause of the increased costs, saying accommodation prices have been rising for some time and that the levy plays only a small part in the overall increase. The council has said the levy will generate additional funding to support the city's infrastructure, cultural attractions and visitor economy.
The debate is likely to continue as other Scottish councils consider introducing similar visitor levies under legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.