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| The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (2022) at Edinburgh Castle © VisitScotland / Kenny Lam. |
Throughout the year, the calendar is filled with events of all shapes and sizes across Scotland. These events are a great way to get to know local communities, traditions and be immersed in Scottish culture. A warm and friendly welcome, combined with breath-taking backdrops, make for the perfect atmosphere on the world's perfect stage… Scotland!
Scotland becomes a world stage…
Scotland is home to the world's largest international performing arts festival and throughout the summer months, the streets of Edinburgh become a stage for the world as artists and performers come together across seven major festivals.
Beyond the capital, visitors can head to all corners of Scotland to discover events and festivals showcasing the best of local, national and international talent.
St Magnus International Festival, Friday 16th June to Friday 23rd June
Set in Orkney's incredible landscape in the light nights of midsummer, the St Magnus International Festival brings music, theatre, poetry, multi-sensory experiences and more to the Orkney Isles. In its 47th year, the festival will feature the world premiere of David McNeish's play Thora, the story of Orkney native St. Magnus' mother about whom little is known. The Festival spans venues from Pier Arts Centre to St Magnus Cathedral, stunning churches nestled scenically on the coast, Stromness Town Hall, The Writing Room at Kirkwall Hotel and the Pickaquoy Centre and is a great way to discover the cultural life of the islands.
East Neuk Festival, Thursday 29th June to Sunday 2nd July
A music festival founded in 2004, East Neuk Festival takes place in Crail, Anstruther, Kilrenny, St Monans and St Andrews in Fife. The Festival brings together performers from around the world in venues that are quirky and atmospheric from churches to caves through to an ex-nuclear bunker and the pretty streets of the picturesque East Neuk of Fife.
HebCelt 23, Wednesday 12th July to Saturday 15th July
This multi-award-winning music festival takes place on the stunning Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and is a celebration of Gaelic culture and language. Promoting the island's heritage, history and traditional music, the festival takes place at a purpose-built venue featuring three stages on the Lews Castle Green which offers free standing concerts for up to 5000 people.
Discover more music festivals in Scotland here: 20 Best Scottish Music Festivals | VisitScotland
A breath of fresh air…
Scotland's landscapes are the ideal setting for a festival and there are plenty of events throughout the year inspiring visitors and locals alike to get out in the great outdoors and take it all in.
Moray Walking & Outdoor Festival, Friday 16th June to Monday 26th June
With walks ranging from gentle strolls to challenging endurance events, alongside activities that have in the past included cycling, kayaking, wildlife watching, bushcraft and more, the Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival is a great way to discover the region's natural, historical and cultural landscape. From the foothills of The Cairngorms National Park, the largest National Park in the UK, to the glittering coastline, the region's spellbinding scenery provides the perfect backdrop for adventure and exploration on Scotland's long summer days.
Cowal Gathering, Thursday 24th August to Saturday 26th August
The Cowal Gathering held in Dunoon, Argyll, is the largest Highland Games in the world. Each year, 23,000 visitors head to the events to soak up the unique friendly atmosphere and get a taste of Scottish culture surrounded by world-class pipers, dancers and athletes competing in traditional Highland sports. A fantastic family event, every Highland Games has a unique character and tradition.
Find out more about Highland Games across Scotland: Highland Games in Scotland - The Best Events | VisitScotland
Tiree Wave Classic, Saturday 14th October to Friday 20th October
This thrilling festival is the longest-running professional windsurfing event in the world and there's plenty for spectators to do too. Visitors inspired by the professionals on the waves can try surfing, paddle boarding or windsurfing and then soak up the amazing atmosphere of the brilliant nightlife.
For a full programme of events on Scotland's islands visit: 19 Must-Do Festivals on Scotland's Islands | VisitScotland
Have a taste of Scotland…
A festival round-up in Scotland wouldn't be complete without showcasing Scotland's natural larder and mouth-watering delicacies. In the coming months, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate some of the best, most sought after natural produce along Scotland's spectacular coastlines and lush, fertile lands.
Foraging Fortnight, Saturday 2nd September to Sunday 17th September
Foraging Fortnight offers a wide range of events from coastal foraging to herbal wellness, from wild food treks focusing on plants, seaweed and fungi to topical talks, encouraging visitors to enjoy Scotland's gift of nature responsibly.
Scottish Wild Food Festival, Saturday 16th September & Sunday 17th September
Set in the spectacular surroundings of Tir na nOg on the edge of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, a celebration of wild food and foraging in Scotland awaits. The festival encourages people of all ages to step outdoors and learn about local wild food. With scrumptious feasts, wild cocktail making, forest school, talks and demos, workshops, live music, a marketplace, and foraging walks on the beautiful woodland trails packed with wild food surprises around every corner, there really is something for everyone to get their teeth into!
Stranraer Oyster Festival, Friday 15th September to Sunday 17th September
Whether an oyster connoisseur or just bivalve curious, the three-day celebration of Stranraer's unique coastal heritage, culture, people and its wealth of local produce makes for a brilliant foodie day out. Visitors can try and buy delicious food and drink from talented producers across the region in the bustling artisan market, there's free entertainment for the kids, live music, watersports activities, fireworks display, and Scotland's most skilled shuckers compete in the Scottish Oyster Shucking competition!
Find out more about Scottish food and drinks festivals here: Food and Drink Events in Scotland | VisitScotland
Scotland has tales to tell…
Scotland has a rich heritage of stories and storytelling, these include local tales, oral traditions, great stories told in books or on screen. Every community has its own tales to tell and heading to a festival is a great way to discover more.
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Friday 4th August to Saturday 26th August
Building on last year's successful return show, Voices, the 2023 performance with the show theme 'Stories' will take audiences on a spectacular journey through music, dance, poetry, spoken word, imagery, light and projection – at the unique setting of Edinburgh Castle where spectators will enjoy the legendary sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums alongside a host of international acts by a cast of over 800 UK and international performers from Norway, The United States, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Switzerland. There are few such moving festival moments, a fact to which any of the over 220,000 people who experience it live in any normal year can attest – not to mention the further 100 million who watch television broadcasts of the event.
Wigtown Book Festival 2023, Friday 22nd September to Sunday 1st October
After a short post summer break, audiences can dive back into festival fun at Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway, with the Wigtown Book Festival. 25 years since the town was designated as Scotland's National Book Town, this year marks the 25th edition of the Wigtown Book Festival, a ten-day literary celebration featuring a vast array of book events, music, theatre and more.
Shetland Wool Week, Saturday 23rd September to Sunday 1st October
Shetland Wool Week is a world-renowned celebration of Britain's most northerly native sheep, the Shetland textile industry and the rural farming community on these islands. Throughout the week, there will be an extensive range of exhibitions, classes and events, which will cover many different subjects, including weaving, spinning, dyeing, Fair Isle and lace knitting as well as many other fascinating subject areas. Events take place from the most southern tip of Shetland, right up to the most northerly island of Unst, famous for its beautiful lacework, with many locations in between.
Natural wonder…
In Scotland it's no surprise that sometimes the wonders of the natural world take centre stage… From midsummer to early autumn, Scotland's hills are draped in a cloak of purple and pink as the wiry, sprawling stems of heather bloom into tiny delicate flowers. As well as being a must-see out in the wild, gin producers like the Isle of Bute Distillery are using this iconic Scottish bloom in their gins, representing the floral beauty and offering a local and natural flavour to the spirit.
