Major Events
January (* denotes provisional date,  denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 1 January (and 25 December) THE BA', Orkney Historical street football game with around 400 players. t: +44 (0)1856 872856 w: www.visitorkney.com |
| 1-31 January1-31 January TURNER IN JANUARY, Edinburgh Annual exhibition of Turner watercolours. t: +44 (0)131 624 6200 w: www.nationalgalleries.org |
| 25 January UP HELLY AA, Shetland Viking fire festival. t: +44 (0)1595 693434 w: www.visitshetland.com |
| 25 January BURNS NIGHT, throughout Scotland Celebrating the anniversary of our national poet |
| 13 January - 30 January CELTIC CONNECTIONS, Glasgow Celebration of traditional music t: +44 (0)141 353 8000 w: www.celticconnections.com |
| February (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 17-27 February GLASGOW FILM FESTIVAL Showcase of films from around the world. t: +44 (0)141 332 6535 w: www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk |
| March (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 5-17 March INVERNESS MUSIC FESTIVAL Instrumental, Speech, Dance and Vocal Competitions. w: www.invernessmusicfestival.org |
| 14 Feb -19 March NEW TERRITORIES, GLASGOW Scotland's International Festival of Live Arts t: +44 (0)141 357 5538 w: www.newmoves.co.uk |
| 17 March - 10 April MAGNERS GLASGOW INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL* Stand-Up, Theatre, Film, Children's Shows and Workshops. t: +44 (0)141 552 2070 w: www.glasgowcomedyfestival.com |
| 17-21 March STANZA, ST ANDREWS Scotland’s Poetry Festival – a celebration of poetry. w: www.stanzapoetry.org |
| April (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 28 April - 1 May SHETLAND FOLK FESTIVAL Presenting the best folk music from around the globe. t: +44 (0)1595 694757 w: www.shetlandfolkfestival.com |
| 28 April - 2 May SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL Whisky festival with over 200 events. t: +44 (0)7768 383500 w: www.spiritofspeyside.com |
| 10-16 April ST ANDREWS GOLF WEEK A week of golf in St Andrews, "the Home of Golf". w: www.standrewsgolfweek.com |
| 30 April BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH A celebration of the arrival of summer. w: www.beltane.org |
| 15-16 April CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL, AYR Highlight of the Scottish horse racing calendar. t: +44 (0)1292 264179 w: www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk |
| 9 April MELROSE SEVENS Rugby 7s tournament t: +44 (0)1896 822993 w: www.melrose7s.com |
| 8-11 April ORKNEY CEILIDH WEEKEND A weekend of traditional dance, workshops and ceilidhs. t: +44 (0)1856 873534 w: www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/otda |
| 9-25 April EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FESTIVAL Stunning science for all ages. t: +44 (0)131 5587666 w: www.sciencefestival.co.uk |
| 29 April-1 May GIRVAN FOLK FESTIVAL Concerts, ceilidhs, competitions and sessions throughout the weekend. t: +44 (0)1560 321 102 w: www.girvanfolkfestival.co.uk |
| May (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 21-28 May ISLAY FESTIVAL OF MALT AND MUSIC t: +44 (0)1496 810254 w: www.islayfestival.org |
| 21 May SCOTTISH PIPEBAND CHAMPIONSHIPS, DUMBARTON t: +44 (0)141 221 5414 w: www.rspba.org |
| 21-29 May DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY ARTS FESTIVAL t: +44 (0)1387 260447 w: www.dgartsfestival.org.uk |
| 19-29 May PERTH FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS The 40th anniversary of this annual arts festival. t: +44 (0)1738 621031 w: www.perthfestival.co.uk |
| 28-29 May EMIRATES AIRLINES EDINBURGH RUGBY SEVENS, Murrayfield w: www.edinburgh7s.com |
| May - September HIGHLAND GAMES Around 100 Highland games and gatherings take place in Scotland each year. Each one has a mix of piping, athletic events and Highland dancing. w: www.visitscotland.com |
| 26-29 May ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL* t: +44 (0)1856 851638 w: www.orkneyfolkfestival.com |
| June (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 4 June TASTE OF GRAMPIAN, Inverurie Sample the wide range of quality produce from the north east of Scotland. w: www.tasteofgrampian.co.uk |
| 25 June-8 July JEDBURGH CALLANTS FESTIVAL t: +44 (0)1835 863687 w: www.jethartcallantsfestival.com |
| 2-5 June ANGUS GLENS WALKING FESTIVAL This award-winning 4 day festival has walks to suit all tastes and abilities. t: +44 (0)1307 473168 w: www.angusahead.com/walkingfestival |
| 3-5 June GARDENING SCOTLAND, EDINBURGH Scotland’s national celebration of gardening and outdoor living. t: +44 (0)131 333 0969 w: www.gardeningscotland.com |
| 23-26 June ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW, EDINBURGH The Highlight of the Scottish country calendar. t: +44 (0)131 335 6200 w: www.royalhighlandshow.org |
| 16-22 June ST MAGNUS FESTIVAL, ORKNEY t: +44 (0)1856 871445 w: www.stmagnusfestival.com |
| 15-26 June EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH t: +44 (0)131 228 4051 w: www.edfilmfest.org.uk |
| 4-5 June UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CUP, Fort William A stunning celebration of 2 wheeled action in the Highlands. t: +44 (0)131 555 3820 w: www.fortwilliamworldcup.co.uk |
| 12 June ARDROSSAN HIGHLAND GAMES, Memorial Playing Fields, Ardrossan* w: www.ardrossanhighlandgames.org.uk |
| July (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 1-3 July GAME CONSERVANCY SCOTTISH FAIR, Scone Palace, Perthshire Demonstrating the importance of game and other wildlife to the Scottish countryside. w: www.scottishfair.com |
| 3-8 July CEÒLAS MUSIC FESTIVAL, South Uist, Outer Hebrides Gaelic music and dance summer school. w: www.ceolas.co.uk |
| 29 - 31 July LOMOND FOLK FESTIVAL, Balloch Park w: www.lomondfolkfestival.com |
| 29 July- 7 August EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL w: www.edinburghjazzfestival.co.uk |
| 27 July-6 August ABERDEEN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FESTIVAL 11 days of music, dance and theatre. t: +44 (0)1224 213800 w: www.aiyf.org |
| 25-30 July INVERNESS TATTOO, INVERNESS t: +44 (0)1463 242915 w: www.tattooinverness.org.uk |
| 13-16 July HEBRIDEAN CELTIC FESTIVAL* Premier Celtic music festival. t: +44 (0)1851 621234 w: www.hebceltfest.com |
| 9-10 July SCOTTISH VINTAGE VEHICLE EXTRAVAGANZA, GLAMIS CASTLE* t: +44 (0)1307 840393 w: www.glamis-castle.co.uk |
| 7-10 July BARCLAYS SCOTTISH OPEN, LOCH LOMOND Major PGA Golf Championship t: +44 (0)141 887 2992 w: www.barclaysscottishopen.co.uk |
| August (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 13 August THE WORLD PIPE BAND CHAMPIONSHIPS, GLASGOW The ultimate pipe band championships. t: +44 (0)141 221 5414 w: www.trspba.org |
| 5-27 August EDINBURGH ROYAL MILITARY TATTOO Military extravaganza with breathtaking displays. t: +44 (0)8707 555118 w: www.edintattoo.co.uk |
| 6-14 August PITTENWEEM ARTS FESTIVAL, Fife t: +44 (0)1333 313903 w: www.pittenweemartsfestival.co.uk |
| 5-28 August EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE The world's largest Arts festival. t: +44 (0)131 226 0026 w: www.edfringe.com |
| 13 - 29 August EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL t: +44 (0)131 718 5666 w: www.edbookfest.co.uk |
| 25-27 August COWAL HIGHLAND GATHERING, DUNOON Traditional Highland games. t: +44 (0)1369 703206 w: www.cowalgathering.com |
| 18-21 August BLAIR CASTLE INTERNATIONAL HORSE TRIALS AND COUNTRY FAIR, BLAIR ATHOLL International 3 day event. t: +44 (0)1796 481543 w: www.blairhorsetrials.co.uk |
| 12 August - 4 September EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 3 weeks of the best opera, theatre, dance and classical music from around the world. t: +44 (0)131 473 2000 w: www.eif.co.uk |
| September (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 23-25 September THE BELHAVEN BEST DUNBAR TRADITIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL Traditional concerts, ceilidhs and sessions. t: +44 (0)1368 863301 w: www.dtmf.dunbar.org.uk |
| 3-11 September BLAS FESTIVAL - Celebrating the Highlands A unique cultural celebration of the Gaelic language and music of the Scottish Highlands. t: +44 (0)1463 225559 w: www.blas-festival.com |
| 2-4 September EDINBURGH MELA A mix of theatre, dance, music, film, visual arts and multi art form performance. t: +44 (0)131 332 2888 w: www.edinburgh-mela.co.uk |
| 23 September- 2 October THE WIGTOWN BOOK FESTIVAL A 10-day celebration of the written word. t: +44 (0)1988 403222 w: www.wigtownbookfestival.com |
| 3 September BRAEMAR GATHERING Traditional Highland Games and Gathering. t: +44 (0)1339 755377 w: www.braemargathering.org |
| 15-18 September WILLIAM HILL AYR GOLD CUP FESTIVAL, Ayr Race Course w: www.ayr-racecourse.co.uk |
| 10 September RAF LEUCHARS AIRSHOW, NR ST ANDREWS Official military air show. t: +44 (0)1334 839000 w: www.airshow.co.uk |
| October (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 28 October - 6 November PERTHSHIRE AMBER - The Dougie MacLean Festival Scottish and international acoustic music. w: www.perthshireamber.com |
| 29 October GLENFIDDICH PIPING AND FIDDLE CHAMPIONSHIPS, BLAIR ATHOLL* International competition. t: +44 (0)1698 573536 w: www.glenfiddich.com |
| November (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 30 November ST ANDREWS DAY Celebrations of Scotland's Patron Saint. |
| 24 November-25 December EDINBURGH'S CHRISTMAS A month of sparkling celebrations. w: www.edinburghschristmas.com |
| December (* denotes provisional date, denotes an event with traditional music or bagpipes) |
| 31 December STONEHAVEN FIREBALL FESTIVAL Fire festival to welcome the New Year. w: www.stonehavenfireballs.co.uk |
| 31 December HOGMANAY New Year celebrations take place in most towns and cities throughout Scotland. w: www.visitscotland.com |
| 31 December - 1 January GLASGOW'S HOGMANAY New Year celebrations with special guests in George Square. w: www.winterfestglasgow.com |
| 31 December THE FLAMBEAUX, COMRIE Ancient torchlight procession signifying the New Year. t: +44 (0)1764 652578 |
| THROUGHOUT DECEMBER CHRISTMAS MARKETS FESTIVE MARKETS ARE HELD THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND, IDEAL FOR UNIQUE CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Festive markets are held throughout Scotland, ideal for unique Christmas shopping ideas. |
| 29 December-1 January 2010 EDINBURGH'S HOGMANAY Celebrate the New Year at the home of Hogmanay. w: www.edinburghshogmanay.com |