Get Ready for Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2024
An expanded four-day programme of world-class events will mark this year's Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Running from 29 December 2024 to 01 January 2025, celebrations will kick-off with the much-loved Torchlight Procession, blazing a trail through the capital’s Old Town. Let's take a look at the festival programme.
Sunday 29 December
[6.30pm to c8.30pm]: Torchlight Procession
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay partnered with EventScotland, is proud to present the spectacular Torchlight Procession, once again lighting-up the city with a river of fire created by 20,000 torch bearers and friends from around the world. Launching the Edinburgh Hogmanay festival and signalling the start of global New Year celebrations, the Torchlight presents a carnival atmosphere, with live Street Theatre, Fire Performers, and Drummers getting everyone warmed-up, before the Massed Pipes & Drums and Vikings from Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad (SMUHA) lead the procession through the capital’s historic Old Town. Further details HERE.
[various times]: Swamplesque
After taking Australia by storm and smashing box office records at Edinburgh Fringe 2024, everyone’s favourite ogre inspired burlesque and drag parody is coming to Edinburgh to celebrate Christmas. Swamplesque is the award-winning, critically acclaimed, burlesque parody show from Far Far Away! This ‘outrageously fun’ (The Advertiser, Adelaide) show offers its audience a smorgasbord of performance styles. Prepare for a night filled with belly laughs, festive surprises, and a touch of the risqué that’s sure to put you on the nice list.. Further details HERE.
Monday 30 December
[5.30pm to c10.30pm]: Night Afore Disco Party
Step back in time, as global smash-hit and time-travelling DJ sensation Hot Dub Time Machine returns to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for the first time in a decade to headline this year’s Night Afore Disco Party, beneath the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, and marking the Australian DJ’s only UK appearance in 2024. The Edinburgh Fringe sensation will bring his famous ‘dance through the decades’ audio-visual party to West Princes Street Gardens on Monday 30 December, joined by very special guests The Cuban Brothers and Edinburgh funk trio High Fade. Further details HERE.
[8pm to 10pm]: Night Afore Concert
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are proud to present a special Night Afore Concert of ferocious live music from indie-rock legends Idlewild. Formed in Edinburgh in 1995, Idlewild have endured four-decades, producing nine acclaimed albums with their ambitious and painstakingly crafted alt-rock, that was always faster and more dissonant than their indie-rock contemporaries. Don’t miss this chance to see them in an intimate venue setting. Further details HERE.
Tuesday 31 December
[2pm to 3.30pm]: Bairns New Year Revels
A special Bairn’s New Year Revels allows young party-goers a chance to join the celebrations with a huge family ceilidh, live music, dancing and Hogmanay fun for all. Don’t worry if you don’t know the moves, it’s a relaxed ‘have-a-go’ environment, where everyone can join in the fun. Further details HERE.
[6pm to 7.30pm]: Candlelit Concert
A festive and tranquil celebration seeing in the New Year in the candlelit atmosphere of St. Giles' Cathedral at the end of its 900th year anniversary. This year’s concert marks the festive season with the first three cantatas from J.S.Bach’s Christmas Oratorio: Bach at his most exuberant. St Giles’ Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Harris, with the St Giles’ Camerata, leader Angus Ramsay, are joined by a stunning array of talented young soloists. Further details HERE
[9pm to 12.50pm]: Street Party
The world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party returns to the historic city centre, to once again light-up the Edinburgh skies, at one of the world’s greatest New Year celebrations. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Edinburgh Castle, this year 45,000 revellers from around the globe, will party their way into 2025 with a feast of entertainment throughout the city centre, including live music, DJ’s, Giant Screens, International Street Theatre, Pipers, Drummers, funfair attractions, delicious street food & drink throughout the arena, creating a carnival of light and sound to bring in the New Year. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay also welcomes the return of pyrotechnic wizards Titanium to once again design one of the world’s best New Year firework displays, launched from the stunning setting of Edinburgh Castle for an unforgettable firework and light spectacular. Further details HERE
[9pm to 12.50pm]: Concert in the Gardens
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay are thrilled to announce that Scottish music icons TEXAS will headline the Concert in the Gardens on Tuesday 31 December, welcoming party-people from around the globe to dance their way into 2025 beneath the spectacular back-drop of Edinburgh Castle. Following a recent run of sell-out arena shows and rave reviews across the UK, Texas’ appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2024, makes them the first band to ever headline the festival three times, and marks their first appearance at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay for almost 20 years, having last performed back in 2005. Joining Texas at the Concert in the Gardens is very special guest Callum Beattie. A special guest slot at the country’s biggest Hogmanay party, closes a triumphant year for the singer-songwriter, who’s punchy, rousing, emotive and gloriously catchy debut album scored a No.1 in The Official Scottish Albums Chart. Further details HERE
[9pm to 1am]: New Year Revels
The New Year’s Revels returns to the famous Assembly Rooms, with a MAXIMUM CEILIDH EDITION! With more live ceilidh bands than ever before across two dancefloors, the New Year Revels will send you birlin’ through the bells into 2025, with a delicious feast of live ceilidh music featuring the incredible Jimi Shandrix Experience, Bella McNab’s Dance Band, Hugh MacDiarmid’s Haircut and Bodhran Bodhran! Premium Ticket Holders can enjoy exclusive access to the Grand Drawing Rooms for a welcome glass of fizz and a Midnight Moment Dram to toast the bells. Along with comfortable seating areas to catch-your-breath between dances and engage in select Whisky Tasting Sessions. New Year Revels hosts will ensure a memorable evening. Further details HERE
Wednesday 1 January
[2pm to 8pm]: First Footin’
Returning for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24, First Footin’presents an afternoon of FREE live music and performance taking place in various city centre attractions, pubs and venues across both Old & New Town areas. Audiences can explore the city, discovering (and rediscovering) some of Edinburgh’s incredible venues, landmark attractions and independent pubs, enjoying Hogmanay traditions of friendship, food and drink, along with live music performances from a feast of artists from across Scotland. Details of acts and times available closer to the day.
[2pm to 5pm]: Sprogmanay
Sprogmanay is back for another packed day of free family fun on New Year’s Day! Presented in partnership with our friends at National Museum of Scotland, kids can kick-start 2025 with a bumper afternoon of music, arts, and crafts for all ages, plus the traditional Family Ceilidh event is only a short walk at Assembly Roxy. Featuring the return of the incredible Unicorn Dance Party, and a special street theatre performance from international artists Close Act, plus much more to be announced.
[2pm to 5pm]: Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh
This year Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh’s will be taking place at Assembly Roxy (2 Roxburgh Pl.) and at a new event in Portobello Town Hall, presenting fun, relaxed ‘have-a-go’ sessions suitable for all levels of experience, and a great
way to introduce kids to the joys of ceilidh dancing and music Fruin Ceilidh Band (Assembly Roxy) and Bella McNab’s Dance Band (Portobello Town Hall) will provide the foot stompin’ sets to get you dancin’, and an expert caller will be on-hand to ensure that everyone can learn some moves and join in.
[7.30pm to 1am]: Vitamin C Club
Expect non-stop dancin’ at a night of rock’n’roll, psych, cosmic disco, soul, funk and rarities, all the good stuff basically and everyone is invited to Portobelo Town Hall! Keep the party going on New Year’s Day with a much-needed boost of VITAMIN C, as Vic Galloway (BBC Radio Scotland) & Andy Wake (The Phantom Band) bring their spectacular club night to Porty Town Hall for a night of incredible live music, featuring altrock legends The Vaselines, joyous support from Sacred Paws, and a party DJ set from Dave Maclean (Django Django). Further detail HERE.
[9pm to 1am]: NYD Club Night
End your New Year’s Day at Leith Arches, where the celebrations continue for House and Old Skool music lovers! Join us for an unforgettable club night featuring the best of Scotland’s underground music scene, with an all-female DJ lineup guaranteed to keep you dancing into 2025. Further detail HERE.