Scottish festivals making their debut in 2026
Introducing some of the festivals making their mark in 2026
Kelburn Jazz Weekend
A complement to the well-established Kelburn Garden Party, taking place at the same venue with food, bars and camping. Gilles Peterson and Corto.alto headline the debut event.
Kelburn Castle And Estate, Fairlie, 2 & 3 May.
Helen Hopekirk Festival
A series of concerts, events and a competition celebrating Scottish pianist, composer and teacher Helen Hopekirk (1856–1945), with artists including Bubblyjock Collective, Dana Muller and Gary Steigerwalt performing.
Various venues, Edinburgh and Glasgow, 18–21 May.
Womad Glasgow
Peter Gabriel’s world music festival joins cities such as Adelaide, Rome and Recoleta in Chile for its first Scottish edition, produced in partnership with Celtic Connections.
Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, 3 & 4 July.
Paisley Alive Festival
Scotland's first-ever music, fitness and wellness festival, with a line-up featuring Rag’N’Bone Man, Sister Sledge, Cammy Barnes, Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 and others.
Barshaw Park, Paisley, 4 July.
Summer’s End Angus Music Festival
A festival designed to help support the local community, boasting an eye-catching and eclectic line-up including Bonnie Tyler, Skerryvore and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Brechin Castle Showground, Brechin, 14--16 August.
Heather On The Hill Festival
A family-focused festival created and headlined by Nathan Evans & The Saint Phnx Band, with plenty of music plus storytelling, arts and crafts, kids’ yoga, a funfair, a makers’ market and food and drink stalls.
Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, 22 August.
Specialist book festivals
Scotland boasts dozens of excellent book and literary festivals, but among them are a number with a very specific focus on a particular genre or theme
StAnza
Heading towards its 30th birthday, Scotland’s oldest poetry festival features international guests along with UK talent and now has a hybrid format making remote attendance possible.
Various venues, St Andrews, 13–15 March.
First Date Festival
A collaboration between radical bookshop The Lighthouse and romance-focused Book Lovers Bookshop, with a fortnight of events featuring top romance and romantic comedy novelists. Various venues, Edinburgh, 24 April–8 May.
Boswell Book Festival
The only book festival in the world to focus primarily on biographies and memoirs. Set in the stunning Dumfries House, and named after locally born James Boswell, the festival regularly attracts big-name authors.
Cumnock, Ayrshire, 8–10 May.
Cymera
Scotland’s festival of science fiction, fantasy and horror writing has built a strong community since 2019 and has a focus on developing writers as well as serving readers.
The Pleasance, Edinburgh, 5–7 June.
Bloody Scotland
The home-grown talent in crime writing (Ian Rankin, Val McDiarmid, Chris Brookmyre etc) ensures that this festival attracts high-profile local and international authors.
Various venues, Stirling, 18–20 September.
OH! Con
There are quite a few comic-cons these days, but this one stands out for taking place in the Outer Hebrides, with a strong focus on sci-fi and fantasy.
Various venues, Stornoway, Isle Of Lewis, 3 October.
This article is featured in The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals, our comprehensive guide to help you plan your cultural year. Find print editions of The Guide To Scotland’s Festivals at all good stockists across Scotland, or read it in full online.