The event will also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns.

More than 1,000 performers, featuring a Tongan cultural troupe, Swiss percussionists and Brit Award-winning pipers and drummers will attend.

The tattoo is expected to draw 217,000 people over three weeks from 7 August.

A special Burns homage will include Canada's Calgary Burns singers - alongside vocalists from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

About 200 pipers and drummers representing 10 different bands from the UK and overseas are expected to fill the Esplanade playing Scots, Wha Hae and Duncan Gray.

The pipes and drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, whose CD of military music partly recorded in Iraq won the best album award at the Classical Brits ceremony in May, will take to the arena along with The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

The musicians will together perform a special selection of tunes including the world premiere of a specially commissioned composition entitled Tour of Duty by Runrig founder member Blair Douglas.

One of China's top cultural acts, the 90-strong She Huo troupe from Edinburgh's twin city of Xi'an, will perform a colourful display of traditional song, dance and acrobatics, with "never-before-seen skills".

The Central Band of the Swiss Army will make its debut Tattoo performance.