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

July 11–20: Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

August 1–23: Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Edinburgh (massing of military bands)

August 1–24: Edinburgh International Festival (music, dance, shows)

August 1–25: Edinburgh Fringe Festival (offbeat theater and comedy)

August 4: Summer Bank Holiday

August 9–24: Edinburgh International Book Festival

August 14–20: Edinburgh International Film Festival

August 28–30: Cowal Highland Gathering, west of Glasgow in Dunoon

August 30–September 7: Largs Viking Festival (west of Glasgow)

September 6: Braemar Gathering, north of Pitlochry

October 10–18: Royal National Mòd, Lochaber (Gaelic cultural festival)

October 22–November 1: 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 9: 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 25: Christmas Day (closures)

December 31–January 2, 2026: Hogmanay (Scottish New Year's, with music, street theater, carnival — most notably in Edinburgh)

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

April 3–5: Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Sunday; closures)

April 4–19 (likely): Edinburgh Science Festival

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

May 4: Early May Bank Holiday

May 25: Spring Bank Holiday

June 18–21: Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh (Scottish-flavored county fair)

June 26–28 (likely): Scottish Traditional Boat Festival, Portsoy (east of Inverness)