Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Scotland

Street performers, Edinburgh, Scotland
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, 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

2018

June 20–July 1:  Edinburgh International Film Festival

June 21–24:  Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh (Scottish-flavored county fair)

June 30–July 1:  Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy (east of Inverness)

August 3–25:  Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh (massing of military bands)

August 3–27:  Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows)

August 3–27:  Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)

August 6:  Summer Bank Holiday

August 11–27:  Edinburgh International Book Festival

August 23–25:  Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon

September 1:  Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry

September 1–9:  Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)

October 12–20:  Royal National Mòd, Western Isles (Gaelic cultural festival)

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; bank-holiday closures)

December 24–26:  Christmas holidays (closures)

December 31–January 2:  Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival)

2019

January 1:  New Year's Day (closures)

January 2:  New Year's Holiday (closures)

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

January 29:  Up Helly Aa, Shetland Islands (Viking-inspired festival with torch processions and a burning galley)

April 21–April 22:  Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)

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

May 6:  Early May Bank Holiday

Mid-May (3 days):  Festival of Museums, across Scotland

May 27:  Spring Bank Holiday