Plans have been drawn up for a permanent 6,330-seat amphitheatre at Edinburgh Castle which could replace the temporary stadium built for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo every summer.
The striking proposal would see stone seating constructed around the Castle Esplanade, creating a permanent outdoor arena which supporters say could be used for concerts and other events throughout the year.
Preliminary designs have been produced by Edinburgh-based Benjamin Tindall Architects for the Edinburgh Steps campaign, an initiative launched by Kal Turnbull.
Rather than building upwards around the Esplanade, the concept would involve excavating into the site and sinking much of the amphitheatre below the existing level in an attempt to protect views of Edinburgh Castle and the city skyline.
The plans envisage seating for 6,330 spectators, compared with around 8,800 seats in the temporary Tattoo arena currently constructed each year.
Spaces underneath the seating could be used for facilities including storage and hospitality, while walkways around the top of the amphitheatre would maintain public views across Edinburgh.
The proposal is not currently a formal planning application and has not been put forward by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Instead, the campaign is seeking support for discussions over whether a permanent arena could provide a long-term alternative to assembling and dismantling the huge temporary structure every year.
Work to build the existing grandstands begins in May, with dismantling continuing after the Tattoo until around October. The Edinburgh Steps campaign argues this means the structures dominate the entrance to the Castle for almost half of the year.
Campaigners also argue a permanent arena could ultimately save money.
They point to a previously reported £10 million contract covering the erection and dismantling of the temporary stands between 2018 and 2022 – equivalent to around £2 million a year – although the current cost of constructing the arena has not been published.
Any permanent development would face significant heritage questions.
The Castle Esplanade forms part of the Edinburgh Castle scheduled monument, while the Castle sits within Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The campaign says it would seek to work with Historic Environment Scotland and other organisations to develop a design which protected the historic setting.
The idea has already attracted political interest. Scottish Green MSP and former minister Lorna Slater wrote earlier this year that a permanent amphitheatre could create opportunities for concerts, theatre and other events, while warning that permanently changing such a significant historic site would require careful consideration.
The Tattoo remains one of Scotland’s biggest annual visitor attractions.
More than 225,000 people attended its 26 performances at Edinburgh Castle during August 2026. The event returns from 6 to 28 August next year with its new production, The Same Heart Beat.