Off-beat events happening in Edinburgh in 2026
Fancy a night at the opera? How about a tribute to Taylor Swift by candlelight? These events have you covered
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January is the time for bookmarking more events than any human being could hope to attend in one lifetime, let alone a single year. And yet there you are, creating a spreadsheet of every gig and live show that’s caught your eye from a trawl online. Here are a few more to add to that overbrimming list, from classical music to immersive light shows.
Candlelight: Tribute To Taylor Swift
Candlelight’s shows have become well-known for their atmospheric, orchestral takes on pop and rock chart-toppers, and this tribute evening to the current reigning champ of pop is no different. It promises renditions of some of her most well-known hits, including ‘Love Story’, ‘The Fate Of Ophelia’ and ‘Shake It Off’, as well as a medley from her most critically acclaimed album, 1989.
Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Saturday 4 April.
Enlightenment: An Immersive Light Show In Edinburgh
McEwan Hall is the venue for this immersive experience, which has welcomed more than two million visitors in various locations across the world. Set to the melodies of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, these cavernous environs will welcome audiences to a light show themed around spring, summer, autumn and winter.
McEwan Hall, Edinburgh, Saturday 31 January–Sunday 15 March.
The Jazz Room: A Journey To The Heart Of New Orleans
The lighter side of jazz is celebrated in this performance which freewheels between classics and improvisation. Included in the setlist is Louis Armstrong, Jimmy McHugh and Irving Mills, alongside standards like ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’. Perfect if you enjoy a dash of New Orleans swing in your music.
Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, Friday 23 January–Thursday 23 March.
Ballet Of Lights: Cinderella In A Sparkling Show
Offering an entry point to ballet for children, this family experience adapts the classic tale of Cinderella to dance, with the added USP of glow-in-the-dark costumes. Expect a light-touch tale filled with illuminations.
Gordon Aikman Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh, Saturday 4 April & Saturday 4 May.
A Night At The Opera by Candlelight (feat. Nessun Dorma)
Serving up opera in an intimate atmosphere, the Piccadilly Sinfonietta and a range of opera singers offer some of the most passionate and moving opera pieces ever devised, from composers like Verdi, Mozart, Donizetti, Bizet and Puccini. One for those hoping to dip their toes into some of classical music’s greatest works.
St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, Friday 24 July.
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