Organisers said the Olympic Games may have had an impact on sales for the arts festival, which opens tonight (10 August), but that it was too early to tell as more tickets will be sold during the event.
They said the boost was mainly a result of spectacular elements of the programme like Speed of Light, .
The festival, which celebrates international arts, is the core of Edinburgh's festival season which includes the Edinburgh Fringe, best known for its comedy shows.
EIF opens with an opening concert of Delius’s A Mass of Life, a choral work performed by the Edinburgh Festvial Chorus and Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Usher Hall. The performance is supported by Bank of Scotland which has supported the Festival since 1947.
Jonathan Mills, director of EIF said: "It's a fabulous way to begin our rich programme of concerts at Edinburgh International Festival 2012. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the festival with them and our audience at the Usher Hall and then with thousands of people across the city over the weekend."
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