Edinburgh’s Hogmanay

Nothing is quite like New Year – or Hogmanay as it’s known in Scotland – and Edinburgh does Hogmanay better than most with a multi-day festival to celebrate the changing of the year.

Generally regarded as the most important Scottish holiday, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay dates back to 1993 and has evolved to become one of the greatest outdoor celebrations of New Year’s Eve in the world.

The four-day festival will run from 29 December 2024 to 01 January 2025.

The celebrations kick-off on 29 December with the much-loved Torchlight Procession. The procession of street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers will start at the Meadows, before weaving its way through the city’s historic Old Town.

For music to get the party started, on 30 December, there’s the Night Afore Disco Party: Hot Dub Time Machine which takes place in West Princes Street Gardens against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. It will headline DJ sensation Hot Dub Time Machine alongside special guests The Cuban Brothers and Edinburgh funk trio, High Fade. While the Assembly Rooms will host the Night Afore Concert with indie-rock legends Idlewild.

The party really get underway on 31 December. Get ready to dance into the New Year with the Concert in the Gardens, which this year will headline Scottish music icons TEXAS, joined by Edinburgh-born Callum Beattie. The world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party will welcome 45,000 revellers into Princes Street, to party their way into 2025 with friends old and new from around the world, all counting down to the spectacular Midnight Moment.

Also on Hogmanay, the Tartan Zone on Castle Street will be turned into a massive dancefloor, filled with the very best in Scottish traditional music. For lovers of club classics, there’s the Mega Silent Disco. Hosted by Silent Adventures, enjoy the biggest floor fillers from a host of DJs throughout the night. And for younger party-goers, the Bairn’s New Year Revels at Assembly Rooms will be a huge family ceilidh, live music, dancing and Hogmanay fun.

New Year’s Day will see a packed programme of free events for young and old. The return of the First Footin’ culture trail will welcome artists from across Scotland to perform in landmark buildings, pubs, cafes and venues throughout the city centre. For young revellers, Sprogmanay is back for another packed day of family fun. Enjoy a bumper afternoon of music, arts, and crafts for all ages at the National Museum of Scotland.

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Discover other things to do in Edinburgh this Hogmanay

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New Year events in Edinburgh

From traditional ceilidhs to classical music, there’s a great variety of events to enjoy while “bringing in the bells” in Edinburgh this New Year.

Traditional Hogmanay customs best enjoyed in Edinburgh

In Scotland, we have lots of time-honoured traditions relating to Hogmanay, the term used for New Year’s Eve.