The 34th edition of Celtic Connections, Europe's biggest winter music festival, brings traditional, folk, jazz, and roots music to venues across Glasgow.
Celtic Connections returns to Glasgow from 14 to 31 January 2027, running across 18 days. It's the 34th edition of the festival, which started back in 1994 with 66 events at a single venue and has since grown into Europe's biggest winter music festival, staging hundreds of shows across the city. This year it's delivered by Glasgow Life with funding from Glasgow City Council, Creative Scotland and the Scottish Government's Expanded Festivals Fund, and it's a good reflection of Glasgow's status as a UNESCO City of Music.
Creative Director Donald Shaw is marking 21 years at the helm, and he's seen the festival move from folk and roots into orchestral, jazz, electronica, Americana and indie. He describes tradition as something alive and constantly evolving, and he keeps ticket prices at a reasonable level. This edition follows a record-breaking 2026 that welcomed 1,600 artists and drew 114,000 attendances across 300 events at 25 venues. It premieres world works, takes over the Tall Ship Glenlee for the first time, and returns to the O2 Academy, alongside dementia-friendly shows and school concerts.
The programme opens with a concert by Scotland's GRIT Orchestra, conducted by Greg Lawson. Headliners The Saw Doctors and AR Rahman (Rangreza रंगरेज़ा) play the Glasgow International Arena, while Newton Faulkner is at the Recital Rooms in City Halls, José González at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and Sharon Shannon at the O2 Academy with Bob Geldof. Ye Vagabonds are backed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, King Creosote plays with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and Karine Polwart is at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Global acts include Sierra Hull, The Punch Brothers, Sulaf, Raghu Dixit and Noura Mint Seymali.
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Venues include The Art School (20 Scott Street), Glasgow International Arena, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Recital Rooms at City Halls, the O2 Academy, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the Tall Ship Glenlee. There's also the Festival Club, the after-gig party whose line-ups are never divulged before the night — the next one is on 15 January at 11.00pm. Tickets are £12.10, which includes a 12% booking fee.
Date
14 January – 31 January
Location
Various venues across Glasgow
Price
Paid
Recommended Age
+18 years
