Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Scotland

Street performer, Edinburgh
The Royal Mile is liveliest during the Edinburgh Festival.
  • Before planning a trip around a festival, verify the festival dates on the festival's website or with a local tourist information office. For more information about these and other events, see the sites for Visit Scotland and Visit Britain.
  • This list includes major festivals in Edinburgh, plus national holidays observed throughout Scotland. Many sights and banks close down on national holidays — keep it in mind when planning your itinerary. Note that this isn't a complete list; holidays can strike without warning.
  • See upcoming holidays and festivals in England, Wales, and across Europe

2024

November 10:  Remembrance Sunday (two minutes of silence at 11:00 to remember WWI dead, people wear poppies on lapels)

November 30:  St. Andrew's Day (national day; ceilidh dancing and other cultural events)

December 2:  St. Andrew's Day observance (bank-holiday closures)

December 25:  Christmas Day (closures)

December 31, 2024–January 2, 2025:  Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival — most notably in Edinburgh)

2025

January 1–2:  New Year's Day and New Year's Holiday (continued Hogmanay celebrations; closures)

January 25:  Burns' Night (poetry readings, haggis…whisky)

January 28:  Up Helly Aa, Shetland Islands (Viking-inspired festival with torch processions and a burning galley)

April 5–20:  Edinburgh Science Festival

April 18–20:  Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)

April 5–20:  Edinburgh Science Festival

April 30:  Beltane Fire Festival, Edinburgh (dancing, bonfire)

May 5:  Early May Bank Holiday

May 26:  Spring Bank Holiday

June 19–22:  Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh (Scottish-flavored county fair)

June 27–29:  Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy (east of Inverness)

July 11–20:  Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

August 1–23:  Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh (massing of military bands)

August 1–24 (likely):  Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows)

August 1–25:  Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)

August 4:  Summer Bank Holiday

August 9–24:  Edinburgh International Book Festival

August 14–20 (likely):  Edinburgh International Film Festival

August 28–30:  Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon

August 30–September 7:  Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)

September 6:  Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry

October 10–18:  Royal National Mòd, Lochaber (Gaelic cultural festival)

October 17–30 (likely):  Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh

November 5:  Bonfire Night (a.k.a. Guy Fawkes Night; fireworks, bonfires, effigy-burning of 1605 traitor Guy Fawkes)

November 9:  Remembrance Sunday (two minutes of silence at 11:00 to remember WWI dead, people wear poppies on lapels)

November 30:  St. Andrew's Day (national day; ceilidh dancing and other cultural events)

December 2:  St. Andrew's Day observance (bank-holiday closures)

December 25:  Christmas Day (closures)

December 31–January 2, 2026:  Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival — most notably in Edinburgh)