Looking for the latest Scotland news?
Whether you’re planning a Scotland holiday, a weekend break or you’re simply keeping an eye on the latest openings and events, you’re in the right place.
You’ll find fresh travel, tourism and Scotland news every day – new hotels, restaurant openings, distillery experiences, exhibitions, cultural events and visitor attractions.
This is the page I wish had existed when I started travelling Scotland. I hope it helps you plan something brilliant.
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- The lastest Scotland news this week
- New restaurants in Scotland
- Whisky and distillery news
- New hotels in Scotland in 2026
- Read my complete guide to events in Scotland
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Latest Scotland news
WEST Brewery turns 20 with a price roll-back worth celebrating
Glasgow’s WEST Brewery is marking two decades of independence with a very friendly gesture: from 10 to 12 March 2026, a pint of its flagship St Mungo lager will be available for £2.90, its original 2006 launch price, at WEST on the Green and 19 participating venues across Glasgow and surrounding areas. It’s a rare chance to drink at the brewery’s Glasgow Green home for the price of a round from twenty years ago.
Find all the venues participating here.
Edinburgh International Festival full programme launches Wednesday 11 March — public tickets 26 March
The full 2026 Edinburgh International Festival programme will be revealed on Wednesday 11 March at 12 noon, with public booking opening Thursday 26 March. The festival itself runs 7–30 August. Flagship confirmed acts include the Berliner Philharmoniker in a two-concert residency under Kirill Petrenko, San Francisco Ballet, and Zurich Opera presenting Verdi’s A Masked Ball. More than 50,000 tickets will be available at £30 or under, including £10 tickets for all events in the programme.
Book your tickets Edinburgh International Festival
Dunoon announces its first-ever food and drink festival
A brand-new event is coming to the Cowal peninsula this summer. Taste Dunoon is scheduled for 25–26 July, organised by Dunoon Presents. The programme will include talks, tastings, cooking demonstrations and workshops, as well as a dedicated Taste Dunoon Trail.
Find out more about Taste Dunoon
Nuart Aberdeen 2026 – ‘Poetry in the Streets’ theme confirmed for April street art festival
The internationally recognised street art festival Nuart Aberdeen has announced its 2026 theme – ‘Poetry in the Streets’ with a programme of new large-scale public murals and artist interventions across the city.
Inverness International Blues Festival – inaugural edition takes place 28 March at Northern Meeting Park
The first-ever Inverness International Blues Festival bringing together seven American and European blues acts – including The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Southern Avenue, and Chicago performers Robbin Kapsalis, Oscar Wilson, and Giles Robson. Family-friendly, with food and bar on site.
The Biba Story: 1964–1975 — definitive fashion retrospective now open at Dovecot Studios Edinburgh
The only exhibition to date dedicated to the full history of cult British fashion label Biba, drawn from founder Barbara Hulanicki’s personal archive. Over 100 items on display including rare garments, original press books and archival materials, all personally selected by Hulanicki, aged 88. Tickets are £12.50 adults / £10.50 concessions.
Find out more and book tickets.
Fèis Ìle 2026 – 22–31 May, tickets on sale from 28 March 2026
The 40th anniversary edition of Islay’s whisky festival – Fèis Ìle runs from Friday 22 May to Sunday 31 May 2026. Ticket sales open from 28 March, with event details live on 20 March.
The festival has extended this year with a new second Sunday, with Laggan Bay Distillery and Islay Ales taking on the final day for the first time.
Find out more and join the mailing list at feisile.co.uk.
BBC Radio 2 in the Park – announced today for City Park, Stirling, 7–9 August 2026
BBC Radio 2’s flagship live music festival is coming to City Park in Stirling this August, running across three stages from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 August – with programming broadcast live on Radio 2, BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.
This will be the first major Radio 2 live music event in Scotland since BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend at Scone Castle, Perth in 2018.
Stirling’s National Wallace Monument and the Tolbooth will be lit up in orange to mark the occasion and the festival will open with a Friday night DJ party before two full days of live music.
No line-up or ticket details have been confirmed yet but find out more at bbc.co.uk/radio2.
Whisky and Waves – sailing and whisky cruises from Oban and Tobermory, Isle of Mull
A genuinely distinctive new operator has launched on Scotland’s west coast.
Whisky and Waves runs small-group sailing cruises aboard a 40ft yacht, departing from Oban’s North Pier and Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, with each trip combining coastal sailing with a curated tasting of single malts from Scotland’s Whisky Coast distilleries.
Experiences include a Sail and Sip Whisky Distillery Crawl – one of the more memorable ways to explore Argyll’s distillery landscape.
The Inverness Castle Experience – officially open after £47 million transformation
One of the most significant new visitor attractions to open in Scotland in years, the Inverness Castle Experience officially opened in February 2026 following a £47 million project spanning four years.
The castle has been transformed into an immersive Highland cultural destination expected to attract around 450,000 visitors each year.
The experience follows the voices of a seanchaidh (traditional Gaelic storyteller) through a series of rooms exploring Highland landscape, culture, heritage and community, with interactive installations.
There is also a Tapestry Room featuring work from over 600 artists, panoramic rooftop views over Inverness and the River Ness, Gaelic-inspired gardens, a bistro, bar and shop.
The castle soft-launched in December 2025 and is now fully operational. Book tickets in advance to guarantee entry, it’s already busy.
Find out more and book tickets.
Giants – prehistoric animals exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (open until 14 September 2026)
Still running and well worth visiting, the Giants exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh brings together life-sized 3D models, fossils and near-complete skeletons of some of the largest animals ever to have walked the earth, including Paraceratherium, the biggest land mammal in history.
Developed by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, it’s the exhibition’s Scottish debut and runs until 14 September 2026, giving you plenty of time to plan a visit. Family activities including LEGO builds and drop-in sessions run during school holidays.
Free with a ticket booking. Find out more and book tickets.
Retro Reels – free 1980s film exhibition at Riverside Museum, Glasgow (running until 29 March 2026)
A free exhibition celebrating iconic 1980s films and props is running at Riverside Museum in Glasgow until Sunday 29 March 2026.
Aimed at families and film fans, Retro Reels taps into the era’s most beloved movies with props, costumes and pop culture nostalgia, the kind of thing that works as well for parents as it does for kids. Free entry, and easily combined with a visit to the Tall Ship moored alongside the museum.
Calanais Visitor Centre – closed for redevelopment until Spring 2026
If you’re planning a visit to the Calanais Standing Stones on the Isle of Lewis, it’s worth knowing that the visitor centre is currently closed for redevelopment and is scheduled to reopen in Spring 2026 with upgraded facilities and improved interpretation of one of Scotland’s most extraordinary prehistoric sites.
The stones themselves remain fully accessible at all times, it’s only the visitor centre that is temporarily closed.
Worth checking the latest status before you travel. Find out more.
Read my complete guide to events in Scotland
Scotland Food and Restaurant News
Sugo Pasta Opens Second Glasgow Restaurant – West End
Glasgow’s much-loved fresh pasta restaurant opened its second city location on the 5th March 2026, taking over the former Zizzi site on Cresswell Lane near Ashton Lane.
The new venue seats 160 covers and serves Sugo’s core menu of 10 pasta dishes, inspired by regions across Italy and made fresh daily, on a walk-in only basis. As part of the launch, Sugo is introducing pasta specials exclusive to each restaurant, in addition to its regular programme of limited dishes.
8 Cresswell Lane, Glasgow G12 8AA – visit sugopasta.co.uk
Falls by Orry Shand – Royal Deeside’s Most Anticipated New Restaurant Opening This Summer
Scotland’s former National Chef of the Year, Orry Shand, has announced his debut independent restaurant at the Falls of Feugh site near Banchory — a riverside beauty spot in Royal Deeside that will reopen this summer following a £500,000 interior transformation.
The restaurant, now named Falls by Orry Shand, will serve a 12–15 course tasting menu blending Scottish ingredients with Nordic and classic French influences, open Wednesday to Saturday evenings.
Shand also makes his TV debut on BBC’s Great British Menu this week, representing Scotland and Aberdeenshire.
Find out more about Falls by Orry Shand
Nishiki – Edinburgh’s first Japanese izakaya and sake bar now open in the West End
Edinburgh’s first Japanese izakaya restaurant and one of Scotland’s first dedicated sake bars, from the team behind Yamato.
The 40-cover Japandi-designed space serves all-day dining from breakfast through dinner, with a menu of sharing plates, sushi, and noodles alongside a curated sake list, shochu cocktails, and Japanese whiskies.
Love everything Japanese? book a table
Eve’s Court opens at Papple Steading, East Lothian – farm restaurant and wine bar, now open
A new restaurant, wine bar and café has opened at Papple Steading near Haddington in East Lothian, completing the long-running restoration of this 19th-century model farm.
Eve’s Court, named in tribute to Lady Eve Balfour, founder of the Soil Association, was developed with input from chef and consultant Scott Smith of Blank Plate Creative, formerly of Fhior in Edinburgh, with kitchen operations led by Chris O’Connor, previously head chef at The Pompadour at the Caledonian.
The seasonal menu focuses on organic and locally sourced produce including greens from Phantassie and shellfish landed at Musselburgh.
Currently open Thursday to Monday, with extended seven-day opening and a Sunday roast launching from mid-February. It’s a 45-minute drive from Edinburgh and already filling up — booking is recommended.
The Boston Bar opens in Edinburgh’s Old Town – Niddry Street, February 2026
Edinburgh’s Old Town has a new late-night local. The Boston Bar has taken over the former Globe Bar on Niddry Street, retaining the building’s character, a series of low-level rooms and two large arches, while transforming it into a series of cosy snugs inspired by traditional Irish bars.
Expect live music, sports, weekly quiz nights, live Irish comedy on Tuesdays and trad sessions in the pipeline. There’s a 3am licence on Fridays and Saturdays, making it one of the Old Town’s best options for a late one.
Eleven Fifty Five opens in Glasgow – Argyle Street, 26 February 2026
One of Glasgow’s most anticipated openings in years, Eleven Fifty Five is the new restaurant from chef Peter McKenna and maître d’ Kevin Dow, the duo behind the much-loved The Gannet, which closed on Hogmanay 2025 after a decade on the same Argyle Street site.
The new 52-cover restaurant draws on Irish snugs and Parisian bistrots in its redesigned space, with a menu rooted in Scottish produce and Irish influence. Open for dinner Monday–Saturday and lunch Thursday–Saturday. If you were a Gannet regular, this is essential.
Eleanore relaunches as a neighbourhood bistro — Edinburgh, 26 February 2026
Roberta Hall-McCarron’s Michelin-listed restaurant Eleanore reopens today after a month-long refurbishment, and it’s a significant shift.
The evening tasting menu is gone, replaced by a more relaxed, accessible bistro-style format, a two- or three-course set menu with snacks including oysters with rhubarb ponzu, ox cheek croquettes and, on Sundays, a special lunch menu developed across her three Leith restaurants: Eleanore, The Little Chartroom and Ardfern.
Eat Out Edinburgh 2026 — restaurant festival returns throughout March
Edinburgh’s city-centre dining festival is back for March 2026, with curated set menus and deals across nearly 60 restaurants, cafés and bars.
Now in its established annual run, it’s one of the best times of year to try somewhere new in the capital, many participating venues offer two or three courses at a set price, making it ideal for working through your Edinburgh dining wish list.
Bookings and offers are live now.
Hendersons opens its first Glasgow restaurant
Edinburgh institution Hendersons – one of Scotland’s most celebrated vegetarian restaurants, with roots going back to 1962 – has crossed the country and opened its first Glasgow branch.
The Glasgow restaurant follows the same philosophy as the Edinburgh original: seasonal, plant-centred cooking served throughout the day, with a drinks programme to match. A significant moment for Glasgow’s vegetarian and vegan dining scene.
Uncle Tiger opens in Edinburgh’s Bristo Place — late February 2026
The Òir Group, the Edinburgh restaurant team behind Lucky Yu on Broughton Street, Bodega on Leith Walk and The Captain Darling in Stockbridge, has opened Uncle Tiger at 3 Bristo Place, housed in a converted church hall.
The format is unlike anything else in the city: a rotating concept that changes every six weeks, with each run spotlighting a different Asian food culture. The debut menu, Hong Kong Nights, is led by chef Cameron Laidlaw. There’s also a permanent bao bun station operating from the front window seven days a week from 11am.
Two new Michelin stars for Scotland in 2026
The 2026 Michelin Guide has awarded new stars to two Scottish restaurants.
Killiecrankie House, a restaurant with rooms near Pitlochry in Perthshire, earns its first star for its distinctive Scottish and Japanese cooking.
The Torridon’s 1887 restaurant in the Scottish Highlands also receives a star, alongside a coveted Green Michelin Star for its exceptional sustainability credentials, its menu is built around hyper-local produce from the hotel’s own garden, surrounding lochs and glens.
A strong year for Scottish fine dining.
Visit Killiecrankie House and The Torridon.
Whisky, distillery and drink news
Stannergill Distillery – tours and bar confirmed to open at Easter on the North Coast 500
The distillery itself opened in November 2025 inside the restored 1818 Castletown Mill – a heritage landmark on the NC500. Created by the founders of Dunnet Bay Distillers (Rock Rose Gin) visitor tours, bar, and tasting experiences are confirmed for launch at Easter 2026.
Ubhal Cider Gathering – Edinburgh’s first dedicated cider festival, 28 March 2026
A brand-new event for Edinburgh’s food and drink calendar, the Ubhal Cider Gathering takes place at Custom Lane in Leith on Saturday 28 March 2026.
Curated by musician Grant Hutchison (of Frightened Rabbit) alongside Aeble owner, the festival brings together 15 UK cider producers for two tasting sessions. It’s a genuinely unusual addition to the Scottish events calendar, there’s nothing quite like this elsewhere in the country.
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2026 – tickets on sale now
Tickets are now on general sale for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, running 29 April to 4 May 2026 across more than 50 Speyside distilleries.
Now in its 27th year, the festival features over 600 events across six days including tastings, masterclasses, distillery tours and experiences, making it one of the world’s great whisky gatherings.
A notable first for 2026: Speyburn Distillery is opening its doors to visitors for the very first time as part of the programme. Cardhu Distillery, with its long history of women in whisky-making, is also among the highlights.
Find out more and book your tickets.
Blackwoods Brand Home opened on the Clyde Coast on 12 February 2026
Blackwoods Gin & Vodka has opened its new brand home adjacent to Ardgowan Whisky Distillery on the Clyde Coast, offering a dedicated visitor experience from 12 February 2026.
The venue runs tours, cocktail masterclasses and gin-making events, giving visitors a hands-on look at the brand’s Nordic-inspired production.
A worthwhile addition to the Clyde Coast’s growing drinks tourism trail and easily combined with a visit to Ardgowan next door.
New hotels and accomodation in Scotland
Cromlix confirms reopening on 15 May 2026 after major transformation
Andy Murray’s Cromlix hotel near Dunblane has confirmed it will remain closed until 15 May 2026 following the most substantial transformation since the Murrays took ownership in 2013.
The renovations include a new glass-fronted 80-cover main restaurant with a living sedum roof and circular entrance, a separate fine dining restaurant, a new wellness cottage, and three new suites. The main restaurant will serve produce grown in the hotel’s own kitchen garden.
If Cromlix has been on your wish list, May 2026 is the time. Find out more.
Si! Spa opens at The Waterside — West Kilbride, Ayrshire
The Waterside Hotel on the Ayrshire coast has launched Si! Spa, a new seafront wellness offering with thermal experiences and spa break packages.
The spa opens as part of the hotel’s wider £3 million renovation, which also includes 17 new sea-view rooms with New England-style suites, super-king beds and views to the Firth of Clyde and the Isle of Arran.
One of the most scenic spa settings in lowland Scotland. Find out more.
Arthouse Hotel, Glasgow – opening April 2026
A design-led new hotel opening in Glasgow in April 2026, Arthouse puts art-centric interiors at its heart. The ground floor will house an outpost of restaurant Celentanos, making it a destination for non-residents as well as guests. One to watch for Glasgow city breaks later in the year.
Hootananny, Inverness – seven new rooms above the live music bar
Inverness’s beloved live music institution now has seven stylish rooms upstairs, which, if you’ve spent an evening in Hootananny, you’ll know is the most logical thing imaginable.
Ideal for anyone wanting to combine a night of trad music and local atmosphere with somewhere comfortable to sleep it off. Book now.
16-20 Edinburgh – opening late May 2026
A sister property to the excellent Bracken Hide on the Isle of Skye, 16-20 Edinburgh will open in late May as a chic new stay in a central Edinburgh location. Expect the same considered, modern aesthetic that makes Bracken Hide one of Skye’s most talked-about places to stay. Find out more.
The Birnam Hotel, Dunkeld – opening Summer 2026
A new hotel set in the village of Dunkeld in Perthshire, The Birnam is a sister property to The Taybank, which is one of my favourite places to stay in all of Scotland.
If it follows The Taybank’s lead in combining character, warmth in a beautiful old building, it’ll be well worth a visit when it opens this summer. Find out more.
Upcoming events and festivals across Scotland
Scotland hosts a wide range of events and festivals throughout the year, from major cultural celebrations to smaller local and seasonal events.
> Discover all of the events in Scotland in November 2025 in my complete guide to whats on.
How often is this page updated?
New openings, events and projects are added as they are confirmed, making it a reliable source for what’s new in Scotland.
Kate – Love from Scotland x
I’m Kate, the Scotland-based travel writer behind Love from Scotland. I share first-hand destination guides and accommodation recommendations across Scotland. Let me help you plan your best ever trip!