Burns Night 25
January
An annual knees-up that generally involves copious amounts of food, drink and rousing verse, Burns Night is celebrated to mark the date of birth of national poet Robert Burns. Suppers traditionally serve haggis as the main course.
Edinburgh International Festival
August
An expertly curated programme of opera, dance, theatre and classical music, this formal performing arts festival enjoys considerable prestige. Along with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it is one of a number of festivals that collectively forms the Edinburgh Festival each summer.
Edinburgh Festival Fringe
August
Originally created as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, the Fringe has evolved into the world’s largest arts festival, placing particular prominence on theatre, comedy and street performance. It generally involves hundreds of performances on any given day.
Royal Military Tattoo
August
A spectacular showcase of traditional pageantry and military pomp, the city’s iconic Military Tattoo brings some 200,000 spectators to watch massed drum and pipe bands in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Fireworks and dancing add to the sense of occasion.
Hogmanay
31 December
Possibly the world’s most famous New Year’s Eve bash, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay sees thousands spill onto the streets to enjoy live bands, fireworks, ceilidh dancing and carnival antics, not to mention a mass midnight rendition of Auld Lang Syne.