Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Scotland
- 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, contact the Visit Britain office.
- 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
2019
October 11–19: Royal National Mòd, Western Isles (Gaelic cultural festival)
October 18–31: Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh
November 5: Guy Fawkes Night (fireworks, bonfires, effigy-burning of 1605 traitor Guy Fawkes)
November 11: 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 24–26: Christmas holidays (closures)
December 31–January 2: Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival)
2020
January 1: New Year's Day (closures)
January 2: New Year's Holiday (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 4–19: Edinburgh Science Festival
April 10–April 13: Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)
Late April (1 day): Beltane Fire Festival, Edinburgh (dancing, bonfire)
May 4: Early May Bank Holiday
Mid-to-late May (3 days): Festival of Museums, across Scotland
May 25: Spring Bank Holiday
June 18–21: Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh (Scottish-flavored county fair)
June 20–21: Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy (east of Inverness)
Late June: Edinburgh International Film Festival
July 17–19: Rewind Festival, Perth (themed venues and musical performances)
July 31–August 24 (likely): Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)
August 3: Summer Bank Holiday
August 7–29: Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh (massing of military bands)
August 7–31: Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows)
August 15–31: Edinburgh International Book Festival
August 27–29: Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon
August 29–September 6 (likely): Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)
September 5: Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry
November 5: Guy Fawkes Night (fireworks, bonfires, effigy-burning of 1605 traitor Guy Fawkes)
November 11: 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 24–26: Christmas holidays (closures)