Scottish music festivals

Wherever you’re headed in Scotland, there’s likely a festival nearby. If you’re mapping out a visit, make sure to check out these upcoming festival dates. 

Winterstorm, Troon, November 2026 

Step in from the cold and enjoy thunderous riffs, pounding drums and roaring crowds as Troon turns into a furnace of classic and emerging rock. 

Winterlight, Stirling, December 2026 

Watch Stirling light up this winter with live music, shimmering lights and crisp evening air to create a sparkling December celebration. 

Celtic Connections, Glasgow, January 2027 

Hear fiddles, pipes and voices from around the world on midwinter nights in Glasgow – expect catchy melodies, lively rhythms and unexpected musical encounters. 

Mull Music Festival, Tobermory, April 2027 

Follow the sound of folk rock, dance bands and singing throughout Tobermory’s colourful harbour, where packed venues and bustling streets turn the waterfront into one big party. 

Shetland Folk Festival, April–May 2027 

Hear fiery fiddle tunes and international voices ring through Shetland as the musicians keep the tunes flowing late into the long northern nights. 

Bonfest, Kirriemuir, April–May 2027 

Rock out as guitar riffs crackle through Kirriemuir with packed crowds all celebrating AC/DC frontman, Bon Scott. 

Girvan Traditional Folk Festival, May 2027 

Join voices in song, hear stories unfold and feel the floor pulse beneath your feet as concerts, ceilidhs and workshops take centre stage in Girvan. 

Orkney Folk Festival, May 2027 

Your toes will be tapping as traditional tunes spill into venues across Orkney, bringing together local and visiting acts. This celebration of music, culture and tradition has been a staple on Orkney since the 80s.

Fèis Ìle, Islay, May–June 2027  

Breathe in Islay’s sea air and rich whisky aromas. Gaelic song and live music acts visit distilleries across the island. 

Replay, Perth, May 2027 

Sing at the top of your voice to nostalgic '80s, '90s and '00s anthems, as bright stage lights and feel-good energy sweep across Perth’s South Inch. 

Doof in the Park, Dundee, July 2027 

Feel the bass pulse through your chest with big beats, flashing lights and high-energy DJ sets in Dundee’s Camperdown Park. 

Cantilena Festival, Islay, July 2027 

Shimmering strings and melodies echo through Islay at this resonant chamber music festival. 

Dornoch Music & Beer Festival, July 2027 

Hear live bands in Dornoch and enjoy the scent of festival food, refreshing local beer and salty seaside air on a perfect Highland summer day. 

Kelburn Garden Party, July 2027 

Wander through leafy woodland alive with music, vivid art and a few quirky surprises beneath the riotously painted walls of Kelburn Castle. 

Back Doune the Rabbit Hole, Stirling, July 2027 

Live bands, DJ beats, laughter and immersive art ripple through the woodland setting of Cardross Estate. 

Discovery Festival, Dundee, July 2027 

Feel indie and pop anthems soaring across Dundee’s waterfront as Slessor Gardens fills with bright stage lights and a sea of singing fans. 

Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Inverness, July 2027 

Follow the sound of music through sunlit fields buzzing with families, campers and festival colour at this popular festival in the Highlands. 

Summer's End, Brechin, August 2027 

Huge choruses, irresistible beats and a joyful crowd fill the summer air as global favourites take the stage in Brechin. 

Interesting Things, Stirling, August 2027 

Expect boundary pushing sounds, hypnotic rhythms and adventurous electronic textures at this all-day celebration in Stirling. 

Edge Fest, Jedburgh, September 2027 

Jedburgh comes alive with fresh music and colourful pop performers at Edge Fest. 

Black Isle Calling, September 2027 

Hear live music drift across the Black Isle as the scent of local food, the clink of craft beer glasses and the glow of campfires create a laid-back rural escape. 

Islay Jazz Festival, September 2027 

Jazz melodies mingle with salty sea air at this fun festival around Islay’s dramatic coast. 

Jura Music Festival, September 2027 

Hear fiddles race, feet stamp and voices rise as ceilidhs, concerts and informal sessions arrive on the wild shores of Jura.

Music in Scotland goes back further than you might expect.

Ancient origins

In 2012, on the Isle of Skye, a team of archaeologists uncovered a musical instrument dating from around 2300 BCE. This is the oldest known stringed instrument in Europe. Elsewhere, in Aberdeenshire and Scotland’s northeast, Pictish stone carvings show instruments that look like harps. We also know that in medieval Scotland, bards served as musicians, poets, and community historians.

Pipes, fiddles, and the trad sound

Bagpipes appear in written records from the 15th century onwards – relatively new compared with earlier strings but now central to Scottish identity. With them came fiddles, accordions, and tin whistles, and the musical styles still heard in sessions today: reels, jigs, airs, and ballads.

Traditional music today

Today’s folk artists – including acts like Mànran, Breabach, and Elephant Sessions – mix old techniques with new ideas, keeping traditional music firmly in the present.

Where to hear traditional music?

The easiest way into the trad scene is often a pub session! Places like Sandy Bell’s in Edinburgh or The Park Bar in Glasgow host informal gatherings where musicians wander in and the tunes start up, often finishing late!