Edinburgh Hogmanay 2026/27: Dates, Tickets, Street Party and Where to Stay
Edinburgh's Hogmanay runs 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, with the Torchlight Procession, the Night Afore Party, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens. Dates, tickets and getting there.
What's on in Edinburgh: December 2026 · January 2027
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay runs for four days, from Tuesday 29 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. It opens with the Torchlight Procession through the Old Town, builds through the Night Afore Party on 30 December, and peaks on 31 December with the Street Party on Princes Street and the midnight fireworks from the castle. New Year’s Day closes it with a free music trail. Nearly everything is ticketed and all of it is run by the organiser, Unique Assembly, so book through its official sellers early. Last year’s Street Party and Concert in the Gardens sold out, according to VisitScotland, and tickets for this year’s went on sale on 9 October.
Every date, time and price below comes from the organiser’s own pages at edwinterfest.com, read on 12 November 2026. Where the pages don’t say something, this guide says so.
Hogmanay 2026/27 at a glance
| What | Date | Time | Where | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torchlight Procession | Tuesday 29 December | 18:30 | The Meadows, then the Old Town | £22 |
| Night Afore Party with The Fratellis | Wednesday 30 December | 18:00 | West Princes Street Gardens | £42 |
| Julie Fowlis with Pippa Blundell | Wednesday 30 December | 18:00 | McEwan Hall | £27.50 |
| Street Party | Thursday 31 December | 20:00, last entry 23:00 | Princes Street | £10 |
| Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld | Thursday 31 December | 20:00, last entry 23:00 | West Princes Street Gardens | £79 |
| First Footin | Friday 1 January | Various times | Venues across the city centre | Free |
The Julie Fowlis price is the organiser’s “from” figure for its Festival Club shows at McEwan Hall, not one listed for that night alone. The Hogmanay pages don’t list a Loony Dook, so there’s nothing to report on it here. Ticket prices are the lowest tier, and the organiser’s pages show the rest.
The programme, day by day
29 December, Torchlight Procession
The organiser describes it as a river of fire made by 15,000 torch bearers. The Massed Pipes and Drums and the Up Helly Aa’ Vikings from Shetland lead it from The Meadows through the Old Town. The organiser’s page gives The Meadows, Melville Drive, as the start and doesn’t print the full route.
Tickets are from £22 and include a torch. You need at least one torch for every two people, and each extra person needs an entry wristband or another torch. The age rule is 12 and over, with an adult 18 or over supervising anyone under 18. A premium ticket adds a souvenir lanyard, pre-event entertainment at McEwan Hall and a separate entry lane. Each torch ticket includes a £2 charity donation.
The organiser’s accessibility page says the route is about 1.5 km on roads, cobbles and public paths, all standing, with exit points along the way and accessible toilets at The Meadows.
McEwan Hall also hosts a Torchlight Procession opening event with Blazin’ Fiddles, pipe bands and the Shetland Vikings, then an Opening Night Concert with Blazin’ Fiddles and Karen Matheson. The organiser’s news page doesn’t print times for either.
30 December, Night Afore Party
The Fratellis headline in West Princes Street Gardens beneath the castle at 18:00, marking 20 years since their debut album, with Fright Years as special guests. Tickets are from £42 in three tiers. The enclosure and the gardens are standing, and the premium area is a raised platform. The age rule is 12 and over, and under-16s need an adult. Alcohol isn’t allowed in, but food and drink are on sale.
The same evening at 18:00, Julie Fowlis plays McEwan Hall with her band and special guest Pippa Blundell.
31 December, Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens
The Street Party fills Princes Street against the castle. Tickets are from £10 plus a 50p charity donation, and the organiser expects about 45,000 people. Gates open at 20:00, hourly firework teasers start at 21:00, and the countdown begins at 23:59. The Midnight Moment fireworks and Auld Lang Syne are at 00:00, and the event ends at about 00:50.
The organiser lists these stages and areas:
- Waverley Stage, Waverley Bridge: Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Richard Jones, with Pretty Ugly DJs
- Scottish Stage, Castle Street: RURA, Astro Bloc and Bella McNab’s Ceilidh Band
- Mega Silent Disco, Market Street: Silent Adventures, with a DJ battle. It needs an upgraded ticket
- Scottish Welcome and Ceilidh Hour, Princes Street and The Mound: massed pipes and drums, Highland dancers and Bella McNab’s Dance Band
Your ticket names a gate and you can’t change it after buying. The South Gate is Bank Street at the top of The Mound, the East Gate is the east end of Princes Street at North Bridge, and the West Gate is the west end of Princes Street off Lothian Road. Last entry is 23:00 and re-entry isn’t allowed. The organiser publishes a gate map and says set times will follow closer to the night.
Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld is the other 31 December ticket, in West Princes Street Gardens. Underworld headline, with corto.alto and LF System. Doors are at 20:00, the stage is live from 20:50 and last entry is 23:00. Tickets are from £79 across Enclosure, Gardens and Premium tiers, and you pick a West or South gate at purchase. A ticket for one of these two events doesn’t get you into the other.
Rules for both events are the same. Under-12s aren’t allowed and under-16s need an adult 18 or over. Bags can’t be larger than A3 (297 by 420 mm). Glass, umbrellas, drones, flares, fireworks and chairs stay at home, and stewards search bags. At the Street Party you can bring alcohol in plastic or metal containers under 500 ml, to a maximum of four per person. The Gardens and the Night Afore Party don’t allow it.
1 January, First Footin
First Footin is a free, unticketed live music trail across city-centre venues. The organiser’s detail page still describes the 2025/26 edition, with St Giles’ Cathedral and Greyfriars Kirk as venues, so look there for this year’s list. The programme also names Muckle Be The Light at McEwan Hall, hosted by Michael Pedersen with Charlotte Church, Hollie McNish and Gordon Buchanan, from £27.50. The organiser’s news page doesn’t print a time for it.
Where to watch and take part
- Walk the Torchlight Procession. Buy a torch ticket. The Meadows is where it gathers.
- The Street Party and the Gardens concert. You need a ticket for either one. The map shows Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens, and Edinburgh Castle is the backdrop for the fireworks.
- Free viewing. The organiser’s pages don’t list free viewing spots for the midnight fireworks. Other guides name hills and parks such as Calton Hill, but the organiser doesn’t promote any of them and they fill quickly.
- First Footin. St Giles’ Cathedral and Greyfriars Kirk hosted last year’s trail.
The Edinburgh events page lists these dates, and the map lets you set your dates and see the venues next to your hotel.
Getting there and around
The organiser’s getting-here page says ScotRail runs as normal until about 19:00 on 31 December, when services start to wind down, and that 29 December has a normal service on all but a few routes. It says Lothian Buses offers unlimited travel on day buses after 18:00 and on ‘H’ services after midnight with a zone ticket, at £5 for one fare zone or £10 for two. Trams run every 10 minutes overnight, from the West End to the airport and from Picardy Place to Newhaven. The page says trams are free from midnight to 05:00 on 1 January, but it prints the year as 2026, so confirm the tram offer with Edinburgh Trams before you rely on it.
Several roads close and parking restrictions apply for the Torchlight Procession and the Street Party, and the organiser links a closure notice for each. Check them before you arrange a taxi, and agree a meeting point because phone signal is limited in the crowd.
For Blue Badge parking, the organiser’s access page names West Register Street and Waterloo Place near the Street Party’s east entrance, and Charlotte Square near the west entrance. The accessible viewing areas at the Street Party and in the Gardens have limited spaces, and the box office on 0131 623 3033 arranges them. A free personal assistant place is available.
Where to stay
The Street Party, the Gardens and the castle sit between the Old Town and the New Town, so a hotel near Princes Street means a short walk home after midnight when the roads are closed. Where to stay in Edinburgh compares the areas, and Old Town vs New Town helps you choose between the two. The hotel map on this page is set to 28 December to 2 January. Book early, since the centre is busy all four days.
What else is on that week
Edinburgh’s Christmas runs to 3 January with the market, the big wheel, the Polar Ice Bar and La Clique Noël. The market closes at 17:00 on 31 December and reopens on 1 January from 12:00. See the events page for what else is listed across the dates, and the month pages linked from it for the rest of December and January. Edinburgh weather by month covers what to wear. The Hogmanay pages say to dress for winter and wear sturdy footwear.
What to book ahead
- Tickets. The organiser says only edinburghshogmanay.com, Ticketmaster and Tickets Scotland sell valid tickets. Eventbrite and resale sites don’t, and resold tickets can be cancelled without refund.
- E-tickets only. All 2026/27 tickets are emailed to the address you give when booking.
- Gifting. A ticket can be passed on with a signed Letter of Authority and photo ID.
- Refunds. If an event is cancelled you get the face value back, and booking fees aren’t refunded.
- Accommodation. Sort it when you pick your dates, since the centre is busy all four days.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2026/27?
It runs from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. The Torchlight Procession is on 29 December, the Night Afore Party on 30 December, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens on 31 December and First Footin on 1 January.
How much are tickets for the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party?
They start at £10, plus a 50p charity donation, according to the organiser. Gates open at 20:00 on 31 December and last entry is 23:00.
Can you watch the Hogmanay fireworks for free?
The organiser’s pages don’t list a free viewing spot for the midnight fireworks. The Street Party and the Gardens concert are ticketed, and First Footin on 1 January is the free event.
Is the Torchlight Procession free?
No, it needs a ticket from £22, which includes a torch. You need at least one torch for every two people.
Where do I buy Edinburgh Hogmanay tickets?
From edinburghshogmanay.com, Ticketmaster or Tickets Scotland, which the organiser lists as the only valid sellers. Tickets on Eventbrite or resale sites aren’t valid.
Is there a Loony Dook?
The organiser’s Hogmanay pages don’t list one, so this guide doesn’t cover it.
What time does the Street Party end?
The organiser’s page says about 00:50 on 1 January, after the midnight fireworks and Auld Lang Syne at 00:00.
Sources: 4 guides in English, and 14 official pages
Guides in English
- Edinburgh Hogmanay guidethebettervacation.com
- Edinburgh Hogmanay guide, Time Outtimeout.com
- The ultimate guide to Edinburgh's Hogmanaystaycity.com
- A quick guide to Hogmanay in Edinburghwatchmesee.com
Official pages
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026/27edwinterfest.com
- Torchlight Processionedwinterfest.com
- Street Partyedwinterfest.com
- Street Party Informationedwinterfest.com
- Night Afore Party with The Fratellisedwinterfest.com
- Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworldedwinterfest.com
- First Footin informationedwinterfest.com
- Visit Hogmanayedwinterfest.com
- Torchlight Procession returns and McEwan Hall programmeedwinterfest.com
- FAQs, Edinburgh's Hogmanayedwinterfest.com
- Getting here and homeedwinterfest.com
- Safety tipsedwinterfest.com
- Access informationedwinterfest.com
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, VisitScotlandvisitscotland.org
Places in this guide
Photos show the actual places, licensed under Creative Commons and credited to their photographers.
Find hotels in Edinburgh
Browse live availability and compare prices for your dates.
See hotels near Edinburgh on Booking.comPrices are for the night of Saturday 14 November. You can change the dates on Booking.com. If you book, Roam Edinburgh earns a small commission from Stay22 at no extra cost to you.