August kicks off with Red Hot Chilli Pipers at Troon Concert Hall (Friday 1) ahead of Iverness’ Belladrum Festival (ends Saturday 2) with a cornucopia of Gaelic talent: Hò-rò, Lusa, RuMac, Skipinnish, and Torridon. Youngsters also feature, with Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail, hen, head into town, for Eden Court’s Under Canvas with Ainsley Hamill (Thu 14 Aug), Eabhal (Thursday 21) and Shooglenifty’s Final Hoolie (Saturday 23). 

A year-long absence, Gaelic returns to Edinburgh International Book Festival, led by Peter Mackay, delivering a translation workshop (Tuesday 12) ahead of a meet-the-Makar event that evening. Words and music coalesce as poet-novelist Angus Peter Campbell joins musician daughters, Brìghde, Ciorstaidh, and Steaphanaidh (Monday 18), while as part of the Close Read series, Màiri Kidd introduces gems of Gaelic Literature (Tuesday 19). Gaelic Daleks with Shelagh Campbell (Saturday 16), Gaelic Bookbug (Wednesday 13) and Cròileagan Dhùn Èideann (Thursday 14), beguile little ones too.

Edinburgh’s St Cecilia’s Hall (Thursday 14) hosts Dr Brianna Robertson-Kirkland, tracing Jacobites, Italians and music. In Perthshire, the Jacobite Festival (Friday 22) is part of Living History Dunkeld 2025. Ready your muskets and join the Sir Arthur Erskine Regiment for a four-times-daily tour of the Killiecrankie battle-site. The National Trust also hosts Fèis Phàislig Cèilidh Trail at Weaver’s Cottage, Kilbarchan (Saturday 2), as part of their two-week summer tour across Scotland.

The Fringe has a tasty Gaelic offer throughout at Space venues, with Alison Carlyle and Amy Geddes’ Deiseil: Dancing In Time. Experience immersive performance of fiddle, step-dancing, and Gaelic song and story. At St Mark’s, The Desperate Battle Of The Birds sees Gaelic storyteller James MacDonald Reid and Scottish-Korean musicians recount a folktale intertwined with original pieces on electric cello. With heartfelt ballads, high-energy jigs, reels and songs, Lewis’ Elsa McTaggart brings Hebridean Fire to Surgeons’ Hall, and Muto Maxo presents Waxen Figures (pictured) at Summerhall for an immersive audiovisual experience of dance, song, and cutting-edge technology.

Heebie Jeebies come to Salle Emilienne Moreau-Evrard at French Institute in Edinburgh. This visual performance, for adults and children under 6, combines storytelling in Gaelic, French, English, puppetry and original live music to inspire a deeper connection to nature. Magical Melodies at St Cecilia's Hall, sees Ailsa Dixon lead a family-friendly romp through myth and legend, with Scots and Gaelic folksongs, jigs, reels and tales of pipers and harpers. All in, it’s a welcome uptick in Gaelic inclusion during August, signalling an engaging Edinburgh Festival season for Gaeldom.

Main picture: Siyao Li