Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026/27

Edinburgh's Hogmanay returns to the city centre from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, four days of New Year celebrations spread across the city. Hogmanay is the Scots word for the last day of the year, and it's regarded as Scotland's most important holiday. The tradition goes back centuries, shaped by Norse and Gaelic influences and tied to renewal, hospitality and community. Until the 1950s, many Scots worked through Christmas and saved their winter solstice celebration for the New Year, when family and friends gathered to party and exchange presents. The festival itself dates from 1993 and has grown into one of the world's biggest outdoor New Year celebrations; the street party is listed among the 'Top 100 things to do before you die', and it's the only festival to appear in the Discovery Channel's 'Top 25 World Travel Experiences'.

The 2026/27 edition runs over four days. It kicks off with the Torchlight Procession on 29 December, followed by The Night Afore Party with The Fratellis on 30 December. New Year's Eve is the main event: Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld and the Hogmanay Street Party, both on 31 December. At midnight, the crowd joins hands to sing Robert Burns' 'Auld Lang Syne'. The celebrations continue on 1 January with First Footin', a free live music trail across the city. The street party is the one that puts the festival on the map, and it's the same one that's earned those international rankings.

Venues are scattered across the city centre, with Commercial Street (EH6 6JA) and the gardens beneath Edinburgh Castle among the main spots. Tickets range from £25 to £50 per day. First Footin' on New Year's Day is free, so you can keep the party going into the first day of the year without spending another penny.