In Glasgow, get some Hot Club Swing with Rose Room, celebrating their 15th anniversary and new album It’s Been A Long, Long Time. Led by virtuoso violinist, vocalist and broadcaster Seonaid Aitken, they kick off June (Sunday 1) at Lok’s Bar And Kitchen. Then The Reeling (Tuesday 6–Thursday 8) hosts over 30 of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians at Rouken Glen Park. Gaelic artists featuring include Sian, Dàimh, Rura, Valtos, Shooglenifty and Dàna (pictured above).

In Stirling, explore the founding of Nova Scotia, celebrating links with the city during the 400th anniversary year of the Baronets Of Nova Scotia. The conference at the University’s Cottrell Building (Monday 30) includes lunch and is part of a two-day celebration including a service at the Church Of The Holy Rude on Tuesday 1 July, and an opportunity to visit The Baronet’s Room at Menstrie Castle. Those wishing to hear talks from Glasgow University’s Dr Aonghas MacCoinnich and Aberdeen University’s Dr Marjorie Harper, alongside indigenous Canadian scholars, can also attend online.

To mark the 900th anniversary of the capital, Ionad Gàidhlig Dhùn Èideann is contributing Edinburgh 900, aiming to weave in the Gaelic story of Edinburgh's centuries-long life. Glasgow University’s Dr Michel Byrne’s talk at the National Library Of Scotland (Saturday 14) will plot this literary trajectory from 17th century Duncan Bàn, including the writing of one woman (Mary Mackellar) as well as George Campbell Hay, and culminate with contemporary writers Martin MacIntyre and Peter Mackay. The event will also include Gaelic song connected to Edinburgh, performed by Edinburgh Gaelic singer, Tawana Maramba.

Also in Edinburgh, try out a traditional Scottish cooking class, hosted by East With Ailsa. Taking place at Cyrenians Flavour And Haver Cook School (Saturday 28), try your hand at shortbread, Cullen skink, and haggis bon-bons with whisky cream sauce. Then, join author-cum-activist Scott Richardson-Read and storyteller-folklorist Eileen Budd for an evening of stories and sharing (Friday 27). At St Columba’s By The Castle, they launch the new book Mill Dust And Dreaming Bread with conversation and reflections on land and lore, plus a few folkloric surprises.

Further afield, an unforgettable evening of music awaits with Breabach at the McKillop Institute in Lochwinnoch (Friday 6). Arran Geopark’s Gaelic Landscape Walk features a waterfall, a woodland, a spot of history and plenty of craic, setting off from Ashdale Bridge (Friday 6). Also in Arran, the folk festival features an introduction to the history and place of Gaelic singing in Highland life. Hosted by Rena Gertz, have a go at Òrain Luaidh (Saturday 7). In Cupar, Abdie Church (Sunday 22) welcomes string duo Sequoia, mezzo-soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and composer Stuart MacRae for an intimate performance melding medieval lyrics, Scottish folk, and contemporary instrumentals. 

In Dundee, explore the music of Burns and Hamish Henderson, with Prof Fred Freeman. The event foregrounds both writers’ perspectives on a fragmented nation lacking social and cultural wholeness, with a multimedia presentation of recordings and graphic illustrations, at the Central Library (Saturday 21). You can, like Henderson, raise your voice in Dundee and bring your ideas for Gaelic futures to Dundee Council’s Language Plan 2026-31 Community Focus Group (Friday 6) at Hilltown Community Centre.