Extreme weather may have shut down the main Hogmanay events last year - for the third time in the thirty year festival - but plans are going ahead for Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2025-2026.
Traditionally, Hogmanay is marked in Scotland with friends and first footing at the strike of midnight in the New Year. The origins of Hogmanay are somewhat obscure although elements of it have been traced to Celtic, Pictish and Norse Winter Solstice traditions.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay programme is put together by organisers Unique Assembly (a partnership between Unique Events and Assembly Festival) on behalf of the City of Edinburgh.
The full 2025-2026 programme has yet to be announced but it is expected to follow previous years format. The 3-day Hogmanay festival opens with the Torchlight Procession on the 29th December 2025, continues with the Night Afore Concert the following evening, and climaxes with the Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party on the 31st (read review, watch videos from previous years) where thousands of revellers jam into the city centre to see in the New Year.
New Year's Day typically has a culture crawl type event with music and performance in venues dotted around the city.
There are also a number of other annual Hogmanay events that take place outside the official Hogmanay Festival programme.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Programme (Full 2025-2026 programme TBA)
29 December
30 December
31 December
- Bairns New Year Revels
- Candlelit Concert
- Hogmanay Street Party
- Silent Adventures Mega Silent Disco
- Concert In the Gardens
- New Year Revels- Maximum Ceilidh Edition
- Midnight Moment: Hogmanay Fireworks at 12
1 January
Traditional 1st January events:
Video clips
- Auld Lang Syne at Hogmanay 2008/2009
- The Torchlight Procession - Hogmanay Kiss
- Fireworks on Calton Hill
- "The Longest Strip in the Willow in the World"
- Ceilidh Dancing at Edinburgh's Hogmanay
- On George Street at Edinburgh's Hogmanay
- Millennium Hogmanay Edinburgh's Hogmanay compilation
- 1,000 Bagpipers at Millennium Hogmanay Mass pipes and drums march down the Royal Mile on 30 December 1999.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay night buses and trams
Lothian Buses and City Link run at Hogmanay, and there is usually a free tram service from midnight to 5am from St Andrew Square to Edinburgh Airport.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Cancellations
Events at Edinburgh's Hogmanay have been cancelled over the years for weather reasons and due to Covid-19.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay was cancelled in 2020/2021 due to the pandemic, and was due to return in 2021/2022 as a scaled back, four-day winter festival. However, on 21st December 2021 organisers announced the full Hogmanay programme was cancelled due to new Covid-19 restrictions.
The Edinburgh's Hogmanay Street Party was cancelled in 2003-2004 and in 2006-2007 due to bad weather conditions, in particular strong winds.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Accommodation
Accommodation in Edinburgh fills up quickly so it pays to plan ahead.
For Hogmanay celebrations information for the rest of Scotland check out the Home of Hogmanay site at www.hogmanay.net