Scotland isn’t just castles, lochs, and whisky—it’s a country alive with festivals and events.
From Viking fire processions in January to bouncing summer music festivals to epic Hogmanay street parties in December, Scotland’s cultural calendar is full all year round.
Looking for whats on in Scotland? Here’s your month-by-month guide to the top Scottish festivals and events worth planning for.
IMPORTANT – All dates correct as of August 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 festival or event you would like added to the calendar.
Scotland festivals in January
- Loony Dook (Nationwide, 1 January): On of the most unique festivals in Scotland, brave locals (and visitors) take a plunge into icy waters wearing fancy dress. The most famous dip is at South Queensferry near Edinburgh.
- Celtic Connections (Glasgow, 15 Jan – 1 Feb 2026): A world-class folk and roots music festival in Scotland with concerts, ceilidhs, and late-night sessions. Find out more – Celtic Connections
- Scottish Snowdrop Festival (11 February until Sunday 15 February 2026) discover carpets of Snowdrops at Branklyn Gardens, Perth and across the country. Find out more – Scottish Snowdrop Festival
- Up Helly Aa (Lerwick, Shetland, last Tuesday of January): A Viking-themed extravaganza featuring torchlit processions and the burning of a galley ship. Find out more – Up Helly Aa
- Burns Night (Nationwide, late January, Big Burns Supper – 15-25 Jan 2026): Celebrating poet Robert Burns with theatre, cabaret, and concerts with one of the biggest events being the Dumfries’ Big Burns Supper.
Whats on in Scotland in February
- SPECTRA: Festival of Light (Aberdeen, early Feb): Dazzling light installations transform the city. Find out more – SPECTRA: Festival of Light
- Glasgow Film Festival (late Feb–Mar): International and indie cinema with screenings across the city. Find out more – Glasgow Film Festival
- Six Nations Rugby (Edinburgh, Feb–Mar): Murrayfield Stadium roars to life with Scotland’s biggest sporting fixtures. Fid out more – Six Nations Rugby
- Fort William Mountain Festival: Films, lectures, and outdoor pursuits celebrating mountain culture. Find out more – Fort William Mountain Festival
Scotland events and festivals in March
- StAnza Poetry Festival (St Andrews): Scotland’s premier poetry gathering. Find out more – StAnza Poetry Festival
- Glasgow International Comedy Festival: A city-wide celebration of stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy. Find out more Glasgow International Comedy Festival
- Caithness International Science Festival: Family-friendly events inspiring curiosity in science. Find out more – Caithness International Science Festival
- Whuppity Scoorie (Lanark, 1 March): Children welcome spring by racing around the church with paper balls. Find out more – Whuppity Scoorie
- Aberdeen Jazz Festival: Ten days of gigs, workshops, and jam sessions. Find out more – Aberdeen Jazz Festival
Scotland festivals in April
- Edinburgh Science Festival (early April): Exhibits, talks, and workshops for all ages. Find out more – Edinburgh Science Festival
- Beltane Fire Festival (Edinburgh, 30 April): A fiery reinterpretation of ancient Celtic rites—drums, dancing, and sparks flying. Find out more – Beltane Fire Festival
- The Pomegranates Festival (Edinburgh, late April): Traditional dance meets music, film, and heritage crafts. Find out more – The Pomegranates Festival
- Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival (Wednesday 29th April – Monday 4th May 2026): Tours, tastings, and storytelling across Speyside’s distilleries. Find out more – Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
- Mull Music Festival (Isle of Mull, late April): Free live music filling Tobermory’s pubs and halls. Find out more – Mull Music Festival
- Glasgow Coffee Festival (April): celebrating everything about coffee including demos, sampling and awards. Find out more – Glasgow Coffee Festival
Whats on in Scotland in May
- Highland Games Season Begins: Watch caber-tossing, dancing, and pipe bands at village gatherings.
- Shetland Folk Festival (start of May) World-renowned music sessions on Shetland. Find out more – Shetland Folk Festival
- The Arran Rock ‘N’ Blues Festival (Brodick, 1st to 3rd May 2026) a music festival in Brodick on the lovely Isle of Arran. Find out more here – The Arran Rock ‘N’ Blues Festival
- Muck n Mac Fest (Tweed Valley 1 -3 May 2026) Celebrate the popular sport of gravel bike riding with this cycling event. Find out more – Muck n Mac Fest.
- The Gralloch (15-17 May 2026) A gravel festival and Britain’s first UCI Gravel World Series event. Find out more – The Gralloch
- Islay Festival of Music & Malt (Fèis Ìle, Friday the 22nd of May to Sunday the 31st May): A whisky lover’s dream with ceilidhs and tastings. Find out more – Islay Festival of Music & Malt
- Orkney Nature Festival – celebrate Orkney’s wildlife with watching experiences and events. Orkney Nature Festival
- Edinburgh Tartan Parade (May). The inaugural Tartan Parade took place in May 2025, hopefully it will be back for 2026. Find out more here – Edinburgh Tartan Parade
- Orkney Folk Festival (21 to 24 May 2026): A world-class showcase of folk music. Find out more – Orkney Folk Festival:
- Knockengorroch Festival (Dumfries & Galloway, 21-24 May 2026): Eclectic world music in a scenic glen. Find out more – Knockengorroch Festival
- Arran Mountain Festival: Guided hikes and mountain culture on the Isle of Arran. Find out more – Arran Mountain Festival
- Melrose Sevens Rugby Tournament: The birthplace of rugby sevens. Find out more – Melrose Sevens Rugby Tournament
- Edinburgh International Children’s Festival: (30 May-7 June 2026) Theatre, dance, and storytelling for younger audiences. Find out more – Edinburgh International Children’s Festival
- Spring Fling (May) art studios open their doors to visitors across Dumfries and Galloway. Find out more here – Spring Fling
- Perth Arts Festival (May) – music, comedy, drama and dance in venues across Perth. Find out more here – Perth Arts Festival
- Scottish Wild Food Festival (Loch Lomond, May) a gathering and celebration of wild food and foraging in Scotland. Find out more here – Scottish Wild Food Festival
- Girvan Traditional Folk Festival (Ayrshire) a celebration of folk music in South West Scotland. Find out more here – Girvan Traditional Folk Festival
- Jim Clark Rally (Duns) – a loud and exciting motorcar rally in the Scottish Borders. Find out more here – Jim Clark Rally
Festivals in June in Scotland
- Borders Book Festival (Melrose, 11-14 June 2026): Literature meets comedy and family fun. Find out more – Borders Book Festival
- St Magnus Festival (Orkney, late June): Music and drama in a wild island setting. Find out more – St Magnus Festival
- The East Neuk Festival (June) classical music festival in the beautiful East Neuk. Find out more – The East Neuk Festival
- The Leith Festival (June) celebrating the community of Leith, Edinburgh. Find out more here – The Leith Festival
- Royal Highland Show (Edinburgh, Thursday 18 – Sunday 21 June, 2026): Scotland’s biggest agricultural event. Find out more – Royal Highland Show
- Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (Portsoy, 12th — 14th June 2026): Heritage vessels and maritime culture in the beautiful Aberdeenshire village of Portsoy. Find out more – Scottish Traditional Boat Festival
- Arran Folk Festival (5th – 7th June 2026) live folk music on the Isle of Arran. Find out more – Arran Folk Festival
- Killin Music Festival (12-14th June 2026) Community-driven folk celebrations. Find out more – Killin Music Festival
- West End Festival (Glasgow, June): Parades, music, and street arts in the city’s cultural hub. Find out more – West End Festival
- Nuart Aberdeen (June) Street Art Festival taking place across the city. Find out more – Nuart Aberdeen
- Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival (Inveness, 30th July – 1st August 2026): brilliant Scottish music festival. Find out more here – Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival
- Solas Festival (Perth) a music and arts festival in Scotland. Find out more – Solas Festival
Events in Scotland in July
- TRNSMT (Glasgow): Scotland’s biggest rock and pop festival. Find out more – TRNSMT
- Hebridean Celtic Festival (Stornaway, Isle of Lewis, 15-18 July 2026): A Gaelic music and culture highlight in the Outer Hebrides. Find out more – Hebridean Celtic Festival
- Tiree Music Festival (Isle of Tiree): A beachside, family-friendly gem. Find out more – Tiree Music Festival
- Kelburn Garden Party (2-6 July 2026, Ayrshire): An eccentric music festival at a painted castle. Find out more – Kelburn Garden Party
- Stonehaven Folk Festival (10-12 July 2026) – Traditional and contemporary folk festival. Find out more – Stonehaven Folk Festival
- Newton Stewart & Minnigaff Traditional Music & Dance Festival: Folk at its finest. Find out more – Newton Stewart Festival
- Inverness Highland Games (11 July 2026): Traditional athletics with global flair. Find out more – Inverness Highland Games
- Glasgow Pride March: Scotland’s largest LGBTQ+ celebration. Find out more Glasgow Pride March
- Speyfest (24-26 July 2026) Traditional Scottish Music Festival in Speyside. Find out more – Speyfest
August festivals in Scotland
- Edinburgh International Festival (all month) World famous opera, theatre, dance, and classical music. Find out more – Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe (all month) The world’s largest arts festival—hundreds of shows daily. Find out more – Edinburgh Festival Fringe
- Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (all month): Bagpipes, marching bands, and fireworks at the castle. Find out more – Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Fringe by the Sea (31st July – 9 August 2026) – don’t call this festival an offshoot of the Edinburgh Festival, it is a special little festival in Scotland all of its own! Find out more – Fringe by the Sea
- Edinburgh Art, Book & Film Festivals (all month): Visual arts, literature, and cinema for every taste.
- Pittenweem Arts Festival (1st – 8th August 2026): Artists in the East Neuk open their studios. Pittenweem Arts Festival
- World Pipe Band Championships (Glasgow. mid August): The pinnacle of piping. Find out more – World Pipe Band Championships
- Cowal Highland Gathering (28-30 August 2025, Dunoon): One of the world’s largest Highland Games. Find out more – Cowal Highland Gathering
- Thunder in the Glens (22-25 August 2025, Aviemore): Europe’s biggest Harley-Davidson rally. Find out more – Thunder in the Glens
- Largs Viking Festival (29 August – 7th September 2025) Marking the 1263 Battle of Largs, the last mainland battle between the Scots and the Norse. Find out more – Largs Viking Festival
September festivals and events
- Mendelssohn on Mull Festival (31 August – 4 September 2025) Classical chamber music in breathtaking island venues. Find out more – Mendelssohn on Mull Festival
- Braemar Gathering (6 Sept 2025): Highland Games attended by the Royal Family. Find out more Braemar Gathering
- Loch Lomond Food Festival (6 & 7 September 2025) – celebrating food and drink. Find out more – Loch Lomond Food Festival
- World Stone Skimming Championships (Easdale, 6th September 2025) – the island of Easdale is the perfect home for this unique event. Find out more – World Stone Skimming Championships
- Smokie Fest (Arbroath, Sunday 7th September 2025): Celebrating all things smoked fish in the seaside town of Arbroath. Find out more – Smokie Fest
- Tour of the Borders (Sunday 7 Sept 2025) – cycling sportive event in Scotland around the beautiful Scottish Borders. Find out more – Tour of the Borders
- Bloody Scotland (Stirling, 12–14 Sept 2025): A leading crime-writing festival. Find out more – Bloody Scotland
- Stranrear Oyster Festival (12-14 September 2025) with demos, live music and the Scottish Oyster Shucking Championships. Find out more – Stranrear Oyster Festival
- Vogrie Pogrie (Vogrie Country Park, Midlothian, 12-15 Sept 2025) music festival in a lovely country park. Find out more – Vogrie Pogrie
- Salomon Skyline Scotland (Nevis Range, Fort William,Saturday 20th September 2025) world-class mountain and trail running event, attracting 2,000+ participants. Find out more – Salomon Skyline Scotland.
- Orkney Food Festival (20-21 September 2025) Celebrating Scotland’s finest produce. Find out more – Orkney Food Festival
- Wigtown Book Festival (26 Sept–5 Oct 2025): A ten-day literary celebration in Scotland’s book town. Find out more – Wigtown Book Festival
Festivals and events in October
- The Enchanted Forest (Pitlochry, Oct–Nov 2025): A magical woodland light show. Find out more – The Enchanted Forest.
- Royal National Mòd (Lochaber, 10-18th October 2025): Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural festival. Find out more – Royal National Mòd
- Scottish International Storytelling Festival (Edinburgh, 22 Oct – 1 Nov 2025): The world’s largest celebration of storytelling. Find out more – Scottish International Storytelling Festival
- Comic Con Scotland (Edinburgh, Oct 11th-12th 2025) – one of Europe’s largest pop culture conventions, attracting tens of thousands of fans annually to the Royal Highland Centre. Find out more – Comic Con Scotland
- Scotland Loves Anime (Glasgow Film Theatre: 31st October – 2nd November and Edinburgh Cameo Picturehouse: 10th – 16th November) : Pop culture meets fandom film festival. Find out more – Scotland Loves Anime
- Paisley Halloween Festival (Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October 2025): celebrate Halloween with this parade through Paisley and other spooky events. Find out more: Paisley Halloween Festival
- GlasGLOW (24th Oct 2025 to 2nd Nov 2025): Immersive, spooky light spectacul at the Glasgow Botanic Garden. Find out more – GlasGLOW.
Festivals in November
- Aye Write! (Glasgow, 6 – 16 November 2025): A lively literary festival with author talks, launches, and workshops. Find out more – Aye Write!
- Castle of Light (Edinburgh Castle, November and December). A spectacular light festival at Edinburgh Castle. Find out more – Castle of Light
- Oban Winter Festival (14th Nov – 21st Dec 2025): A community-driven Highland celebration. Find out more – Oban Winter Festival
- Edinburgh’s Christmas: Light trails, skating, and markets from mid-Nov to early Jan.
- Edinburgh & Glasgow Christmas Markets: Festive lights, christmas shopping, mulled wine, and skating.
- Book Week Scotland (17–23 Nov): Literary events across the country. Find out more – Book Week Scotland
- St Andrew’s Day (30 Nov): National celebrations with ceilidhs, fireworks, and torchlit processions. Find out more – St Andrew’s Day
Festivals in Scotland in December
- Castle of Light & Torchlight Procession (Edinburgh): Illuminations and a fiery march into Hogmanay.
- Hogmanay (Nationwide): One of the world’s greatest New Year parties—street concerts, fireworks, and first-footing traditions.
- Stonehaven Fireballs (31 Dec): Flaming fireballs swung through the streets to welcome the New Year. Find out more – Stonehaven Fireballs
- Winterlight Music Festival (Stirling, 27th to 31st December): A rousing end-of-year music celebration. Find out more – Winterlight Music Festival
From fire festivals to ceilidhs, whisky tastings to world-class theatre, Scotland’s festivals have something for everyone. Plan around one (or more!) and you’ll experience the country at its most spirited.
Love from Scotland x