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

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 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)

April 30: 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)

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 7–31: Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)

August 15–31: Edinburgh International Book Festival

August 27–29: Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon

August 29–September 6: Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)

September 5: Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry

Mid-October (9 days): Royal National Mòd, Western Isles (Gaelic cultural festival)

Late October (2 weeks): 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; bank-holiday closures)

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