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, see the sites for Visit Scotland and Visit Britain.
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

June 2: Spring Bank Holiday

June 18–19: Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy (east of Inverness)

June 23–26: Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh (Scottish-flavored county fair)

July 22–24: Rewind Festival, Perth (themed venues and musical performances)

August 1: Summer Bank Holiday

August 5–27: Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh (massing of military bands)

August 5–29: Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows)

August 5–29: Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)

August 12–20: Edinburgh International Film Festival

August 13–29: Edinburgh International Book Festival

August 25–27: Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon

August 27–September 4: Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)

September 3: Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry

October 14–22: Royal National Mòd, Perth (Gaelic cultural festival)

October 14–31: Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh

November 5: Bonfire Night (a.k.a. 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 31–January 2: Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival)

January 1–2: New Year's Day and New Year's Holiday (continued Hogmanay celebrations; closures)

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

January 31: Up Helly Aa, Shetland Islands (Viking-inspired festival with torch processions and a burning galley)

April 7–April 9: Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)

April 8–23 (likely): Edinburgh Science Festival

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

May 1: Early May Bank Holiday

May 29: Spring Bank Holiday