Plan your foodie trip: Scotland’s food festivals

From single-malt whisky to foraged wild mushrooms, from bustling artisan markets to seafood feasts, every year there is a packed calendar of Scottish food festivals.

Whether you’re planning a foodie trip to Scotland or looking for food festivals in Scotland, this guide highlights more than 50 events across the Highlands, Islands, and cities—all arranged month by month.

> My tip: Bookmark this page and check festival websites for final dates and ticket links. Many festivals release early-bird tickets months ahead.

50+ food and drink festivals in Scotland

Scotland’s food festival calendar has something for everyone – from seafood feasts to wild foraging adventures and Christmas markets, each month brings different flavours!

IMPORTANT – All dates correct as of September 2025. Where the next date for the festival in Scotland or event is confirmed they are noted below. Please get in touch if you have a food festival or event you would like added to the calendar.

January

“A Taste of Shetland at Up Helly Aa” – pair Viking fire celebrations with Shetland seafood, smoked fish and bannocks at this unique one-day food & drink showcase held at the Shetland Museum and Archives.
Edinburgh Famers Markets– perfect for winter foodie travel in Scotland, these markets showcase local meat, dairy, and artisan bread and are held every weekend throught the year – visit Edinburgh Farmer’s Market, Stockbridge, Grassmarket and Leith.

February

Scottish Festival of Real Bread, Fife – celebrating local grain and slow fermentation, this food festival is held in the middle of February at Bowhouse in the East Neuk of Fife, find out more at Bowhouse. The Scottish Bread Championship is also held at Bowhouse as part of Real Bread Week.
Fife Whisky Festival – a small yet mighty Scottish whisky festival perfect for whisky aficionados seeking intimate tastings (Cupar, end of February)

March

Bowhouse Market Weekend, Fife – a monthly producers’ market with street-food in the East Neuk of Fife. Held monthly Mar–Dec, but the venue runs year-round activity. You can view all the Bowhouse Market Weekends on their website.
St Andrews Cocktail Week, Fife – a city-wide ‘wristband’ cocktail festival with deals on cocktails and mixology masterclasses.

April

Paisley Food & Drink Festival – a two-day street-food + producers, great for foodie families, all held around Paisley Abbey. Find out more – Paisley Food & Drink Festival
Glasgow Coffee Festival – specialty coffee takeover at The Briggait. Find out more – Glasgow Coffee Festival
Scottish Vegan Festival, Edinburgh – for plant-based diners, this vegan festival is held at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, discover more at scottishveganfestival.com

May

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (Wednesday 29th April – Monday 4th May 2026) – hundreds of events across Speyside; tours, tastings, and food pairings. Find out more at Spirit of Speyside.
Fèis Ìle – Islay Festival of Malt & Music (Friday 22nd May – Sunday 31st May 2026) – world famous island-wide distillery days & events. Visit Islay and Fèis Ìle.
Taste of Nairn, Moray – a town-wide food weekend including the world Tattie Scone Championships. Visit Nairn Scotland.
Scottish Wild Food Festival, Stirlingshire – foraging walks, open-fire feasts and botanical drinks, keep an eye on their website for 2026 dates.

June

Royal Highland Show, near Edinburgh (Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 June, 2026 – buy tickets) Scotland’s largest agricultural showcase, with a legendary food hall.
Meatopia Glasgow – a live-fire barbecue festival at SWG3, keep an eye on their website for a return in 2026.
Glasgow Real Ale Festival (G-RAF) — featured over 130 different real ales, ciders and foreign beers, including a selection of gluten free and vegan friendly beers at The Briggait. Find out more g-raf.camra.org.uk.

July

Taste Scotland Food Festival, Dunfermline, street food and live music in the lovely Pittencrieff Park in Dunfermline.
Falkirk Food & Drink Weekend – local food and drink festival held at The Helix, by The Kelpies.
Edinburgh Food Festival – chef demos and artisan stalls in George Square Gardens.

August

Foodies Festival Edinburgh – brings celebrity chefs, live bands and gourmet street food. Keep an eye on their website for 2026 dates – Foodies Festival Edinburgh
Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh – a celebration of whisky during the Edinburgh Festival held at Mansfield Traquair.
Glasgow Cocktail Festival – a new, city-wide wristband event held at the end of August to September.

September

Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival — food festivals held at lochlomondshores.com throughout the year – April,July, September and Christmas.
Scottish Rum Festival, Glasgow (6 September 2025)
SeaFest, Peterhead (13 September 2025) – a family friendly food festival with seafood demos, trawlers, marketplace held in the harbour at Peterhead. More info.
Stranrear Oyster Festival (12-14 September 2025) – with demos, live music and the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships. Find out more – Stranrear Oyster Festival.
Orkney Food & Drink Festival (20 and 21 September 2025, Kirkwall) Orkney.com) held at Kirkwall Grammar School, with Celebrity chef, James Martin, will headline the festival, alongside Brin Pirathapan, who won BBC MasterChef 2024, and Great British Bake Off 2023 winner, Matty Edgell.
Tarland Food & Music Festival, Royal Deeside (18 to 21 September 2025 buy tickets) – farm-to-table music celebrations.
Forest to Fork Scottish Fungi Festival, Perthshire (20–21 September 2025) – mushroom foraging and retreat in Kirkmicheal. Find out more.
Hebridean Food & Drink Festival, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis (Saturday 27 September 2025) with Producers Market, food & drink Demonstrations and Masterclasses with special guest The Hebridean Baker. Find out more.
Gravity Beer Festival, Summerhall, Edinburgh (26–27 September 2025) Craft beer festival where all your beer is included in the ticket price – visit Gravity Festival.
Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight (25 Sept – 8 Oct 2025) 60+ top venues, exclusive drinks, parties and cocktail experiences city-wide. Find out more – Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight.

October

Edinburgh Cocktail Week (Friday 3rd – Sunday 12th October 2025) – city-wide £5 cocktails at Edinburgh Cocktail Week
Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship, Carrbridge – a cook-off drawing competitors from across the globe. Find out more – goldenspurtle.com
Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival, Murrayfield (Saturday 11th October 2025 – slanjevents.co.uk) hundred of whiskies from around Scotland and beyond, plus demonstrations.
Glasgow Vegan Festival, Paisley (18 October 2025 – veganeventsuk.shop) over 60 stalls selling food catering, meat and dairy alternatives, cruelty-free beauty products, clothes and more.
Dornoch Whisky Festival (24–26 October 2025, the 10-year edition). Celebrating all things whisky at the Dornoch Whisky Festival
Wild Mushroom & Bushcraft Camp, Perthshire – an immersive long weekend of mycology, mushroom hunting, wild camping, fire cookery and wild gastronomy in Perthsire forests, with two of Scotland’s leading wilderness educators. Tickets – Wilderness Folk School.
Grassmarket Craft Beer Festival, Edinburgh — (Saturday 4th October 2025, Edinburgh Old Town) An Ocktoberfest event with beers from top local and independent breweries – visit Grassmarket Craft Beer Festival.
Arran Festival of Food & Drink (24 Oct–2 November 2025) inlcluding the Harvest Fest Farmers Market and Family Fun Day. Visit Arran’s Food Journey for more information.

November

Stirling Gin & SpiritsFEST (15 November 2025) – part of Stirling SpiritFEST featuring gin/rum/vodka/whisky at Stirling Distillery
Glasgow’s Whisky Festival (8 November 2025) Huge whisky festival held at Hampden Park – tickets-scotland.com.
Bowhouse Market Weekend: Festive editions (Fife; Nov & Dec dates) — monthly schedule. (Bowhouse)

December

Loch Lomond Christmas Festival (7–8 December 2025) – market stalls, festive street food and drink, rides and entertainment. More info
Christmas Shopping Fair at Stirling Castle (2 December 2025) – local Scottish crafts and fine foods, mince pies and mulled wine. More info
Edinburgh Christmas Market & Winter Festivals (late Nov–December 2025) – traditional festive markets with hot drinks, seasonal treats and family-friendly food stalls.
Perth Mela Market (TBC early Dec) –multicultural street food, local market vendors and festive music and craft stalls.
Winter Market & Open Studios – Perth Creative Exchange (TBC early Dec) – local artisan makers, festive crafts and seasonal food and drink.
Cawdor Castle Christmas Market (TBC early Dec) – Christmas characters, local food stalls, mulled drinks and live entertainment.

What’s your foodie vibe?

Into Seafood? Check out the Tarbert Seafood; SeaFest Peterhead; Stranraer Oyster; Orkney Food & Drink; Loch Lomond Food & Drink.
Love wild food and foraging? Scottish Festival of Real Bread (local grain/bread systems); Scottish Wild Food / Forest to Fork; Bushcraft & Wild Mushroom camp.
Are you Vegan? Scottish Vegan Festival (Edinburgh); Glasgow Vegan Festival.
Whisky/spirit festivals (many with food pairings): Spirit of Speyside; Fèis Ìle; Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival; Dornoch Whisky Festival; Glasgow’s Whisky Festival; Stirling SpiritFEST; Scottish Rum Festival; Whisky Fringe.
Love local? Head to Paisley Food & Drink; Taste of Nairn; Falkirk Food & Drink Weekend; Arran Festival of Food & Drink; Orkney Food & Drink.

Planning Your Food Festival Visits – Tips

Scotland’s food and drink festivals are a highlight of any foodie trip to Scotland, but a little planning makes the experience smoother and more rewarding. Keep these points in mind:

Book early for big names
Fèis Ìle (Islay), Spirit of Speyside, and other whisky festivals regularly sell out months in advance. Pre-booking accommodation is just as important—distillery towns can fill up quickly.
Be weather-wise for outdoor events
Scotland’s climate can be unpredictable. Outdoor festivals occasionally shift dates or cancel at short notice. If you’re travelling for an open-air seafood or foraging event, consider travel insurance or flexible booking options.
Understand city-wide wristband models
Some beer, gin, or cocktail festivals are city-wide events where you buy a wristband and enjoy exclusive deals across participating venues. St Andrews Cocktail Week, Edinburgh Cocktail Week, and Glasgow Cocktail Fortnight all operate this way. Plan your route in advance to make the most of tastings and discounts.

With world-class whisky, artisan seafood, award-winning vegan producers and vibrant markets, Scotland’s food festival have something for everyone. From seafood feasts to wild foraging adventures and Christmas markets, each month brings flavours worth travelling for.

Love from Scotland x