Everything You Need to Know About Edinburgh Hogmanay 2026

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An in-depth guide to celebrating NYE – aka Hogmanay – in Edinburgh, courtesy of a local!

Will you be joining 150,000 other people at the world’s best New Year’s Eve party this year? If you are not in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, then you are not!

Every year on 31 December, Edinburgh plays host to the world’s biggest Hogmanay party… here’s what will go down.

This fab guide comes courtesy of Edinburgh local, Gemma from Two Scots Abroad. Read on for her awesome insider tips on how to celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh. 

What is Hogmanay?

Hogmanay is the Scottish celebration for welcoming the new year. At 10 seconds to midnight, the nation (plus guests) counts down to the bells.

When 12 am strikes, we Scots cheer, kiss, and take part in a singsong! Collectively, partygoers sing Auld Lang Syne, the famous song by our national poet, Robert Burns.

Where is the NYE Hogmanay Street Party in Edinburgh?

Each year, Edinburgh Festivals puts on an extensive lineup of bands, ceilidh dancing, street parties, and fireworks – held over several days over New Year’s Eve.

One of the main events is the Concert in the Gardens at Princes Street Gardens. Top bands and artists have headlined the midnight session in recent years, including the likes of Biffy Clyro, Chvrches, DJ Mark Ronson, Wet Leg, and Paolo Nutini.

There’s also an enormous street party, with multiple stages – each serving a different audience – and a range of events and smaller concerts. Finally, there’s also a ceilidh (a traditional Scottish dance) which anyone is welcome to join.

Hogmanay Events in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Festivals go ALL OUT around New Year’s Eve. Their street party is far from the only event which takes place in Edinburgh during this festival time. These are some of the most important events…

29 December: Torchlight Procession

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival opens with 40,000 people holding torches to light up the city as they march through the streets in a torchlight procession. The event ends with a bang, with a fireworks display as well as a sound and light show and the lighting of a bonfire.

READ MORE in my post about the Hogmanay Torchlight procession! 

30 December: Night Afore Party

Hogmanay kicks off with a concert held the night before New Year’s Eve. The concert usually features local Scottish bands – the likes of Idlewild and Peat & Diesel have headlined in the past.

31 December: Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party

The Street Party is the main event at Edinburgh Hogmanay – featuring multiple stages and different events across the city. There’s live music, DJ’s, giant screens, International Street Theatre, pipers, drummers, funfair attractions, street food & drink, and more. And, of course, it all culminates with a spectacular fireworks display at midnight, considered one of the best in the world!

31 December: Hogmanay in the Gardens

The annual concert, held in Princes Street Gardens with Edinburgh Castle as the backdrop, is one of Hogmanay’s biggest events. The headline act’s set runs across midnight, so the music will pause for the NYE countdown and the midnight fireworks.

31 December: Other Events

• Candlelit Concert at St. Giles’ Cathedral: 6pm
• Hogmanay Ceilidh Club: 9pm
• Bairns’ Hogmanay Ceilidh Club (family-friendly): 2:30pm

1 January: Loony Dook

What better way to chase that Hogmanay hangover away than by delving into the Forth River by the Forth Rail Bridge? For over three decades, dookers have made a splash at South Queensferry on 1 January, usually dressed up for the occasion. All money raised goes to charity.

RELATED POST: 25 Unusual Things to do in Edinburgh

1 January: First Footing

It is traditional for neighbours to “first foot”, bringing good luck to your pad. This is when you knock on neighbours’ doors to welcome in the New Year with a bottle of your preferred tipple! Although the ritual is less popular today, many people still do it across Scotland.

As part of the Hogmanay Celebrations, there is an event called First Footin’. This is a FREE, unticketed live music trail that takes visitors to landmark buildings and historic venues throughout the city to discover a variety of performances.

More Fun Things to Do in Edinburgh

Many tourists come to Edinburgh to get lost in the cobbled streets of the Old Town, see the Castle, and take in views of the city from Calton Hill. Nature lovers shouldn’t miss the short hike up Arthur’s Seat or a trip to the seaside (Portobello).

Edinburgh has a large variety of restaurants to meet all budgets. Backpackers should check out The Mosque Kitchen for cheap curry or Ting Thai Caravan for Thai street food. Flashpackers should try the eateries on George Street or spots around the Old Town like The Witchery. Everyone should visit The Dome for a cocktail at Christmastime; it smells so festive!

My local secret is the ‘village’ within the city, Leith in the New Town. Take a walk along the Water of Leith or grab a pint at The Carriers Quarters by the canal.

READ MORE: How to Plan a Weekend in Edinburgh

About the Authors

Gemma and Craig, aka the Two Scots Abroad, are full-time workers with a lifelong travel habit. Flirting with 30 and letting loose on the world! Check in at Two Scots Abroad for travel tips, quips, and pics.

Will you be celebrating NYE at Hogmanay in Edinburgh this year? Let us know in the comments!