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 2026-2027 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.
Extreme weather may have shut down the main Hogmanay events a couple of years ago - for the third time in the thirty year festival - but Hogmanay organisers Unique Assembly said that 2025-2026 was a big success.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Programme
29 December
30 December
31 December
1 January
Traditional 1st January events:
Video clips
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
