Event guide

Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026/27

Edinburgh marks the New Year with four days of events, from a torchlit procession through the Old Town to the Street Party under the castle and a free music trail on New Year's Day.

Facts checked Nov 2, 2026 against the sources listed at the end. Britlens is independent: see our editorial policy.

Princes Street Gardens below Edinburgh Castle
Photo: Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tickets for these events are sold only by the organisers' official sellers. Do not buy from resale sites or social media.

The programme

From the official programme, read Nov 2, 2026
DateEventTicket?
Dec 29, 2026Torchlight Procession from The Meadows through the Old Town [2]Yes: a torch ticket, at least one torch between two people [2]
Before HogmanayNight Afore Party with The Fratellis, beneath the castle [1]Yes [1]
Dec 31, 2026Street Party on Princes Street, with fireworks from the castle at midnight [3]Yes [3]
Dec 31, 2026Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld, beneath the castle [1]Yes [1]
Jan 1, 2027First Footin': live music in venues across the city centre [4]No: free and unticketed [4]

Check exact start times and venues on the official Hogmanay site (opens in new tab) before you travel.

The Torchlight Procession

About 15,000 torch bearers walk from The Meadows through the historic Old Town, led by the Jarl Squad from Shetland's South Mainland Up Helly Aa. [2] It is not recommended for children under 12, and under-18s must be with an adult. [2]

The Royal Mile in Edinburgh's Old Town, looking up the High Street towards St Giles' Cathedral
Photo: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Street Party

The Street Party fills the city centre around Princes Street, with 45,000 people expected and the castle as the backdrop for the midnight fireworks. [3]

  • You can bring alcohol only in plastic bottles or cans of up to 500 ml, four per person; glass is banned and bags are searched. [5]
  • Umbrellas are not allowed; the events are outdoors and mostly standing, so dress for a winter night with waterproofs and sturdy shoes. [5]
  • Only the official sellers listed on the event page are valid; there is no official resale, and tickets on Eventbrite or resale sites are not valid. [3]
  • If you need a personal assistant or companion to attend, the organisers provide an extra ticket. [5]
Monuments on Calton Hill in Edinburgh
Photo: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Staying and getting around

Hotels fill early for New Year, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. Our Edinburgh guide covers areas to stay, and where to stay compares them. On New Year's Day, many shops and some attractions close or open late: see bank holidays. If you are in London instead, see London New Year's Eve fireworks.

Quick answers

Do you need a ticket for the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party?

Yes. Tickets are sold only by the official sellers listed on the event page; resale tickets are not valid. [3]

Is anything free at Edinburgh's Hogmanay?

Yes: First Footin' on New Year's Day is a free, unticketed music trail in venues across the city centre. [4]

Related guides

Sources

Read on the dates shown. Rules, dates and services change: check the source before you rely on it. Pages marked “not read” refused automated access, so we state nothing from them.

  1. Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026/27 (opens in new tab), Edinburgh's Hogmanay (Unique Assembly), read Nov 2, 2026
  2. Torchlight Procession, 29 December (opens in new tab), Edinburgh's Hogmanay, read Nov 2, 2026
  3. Street Party, 31 December (opens in new tab), Edinburgh's Hogmanay, read Nov 2, 2026
  4. First Footin' (opens in new tab), Edinburgh's Hogmanay, read Nov 2, 2026
  5. FAQs (opens in new tab), Edinburgh's Hogmanay, read Nov 2, 2026