Glasgow’s festival and events calendar
January–March
Celtic Connections (15 January–1 February 2026)
Glasgow's annual folk, roots, and world music festival returns to celebrate Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the globe. The 2026 line-up is now on sale, visit Celtic Connections to book tickets.
Scottish National Whisky Festival (24 January 2026)
The Scottish National Whisky Festival brings together exhibitors from across the whisky industry, with hundreds of whiskies and spirits available to sample. Guests also enjoy live music and entertainment from celebrated Scottish artists. Go to Scottish National Whisky Festival for more information.
The Halal Food Festival (24 January 2026)
Explore the cultural diversity of halal food at the Halal Food Festival. Enjoy some of your favourite traditional dishes, and some modern twists, as well as live cooking demonstrations. There are also a variety of stalls selling modest wear fashion, fragrances, jewellery and more. Visit Halal Food Festival for tickets.
Glasgow Film Festival (25 February–8 March 2026)
Glasgow Film Festival prides itself on being one of the friendliest on the planet. The diverse programme celebrates cinema from around the world and showcases new talent and the best of Scottish film. More information on listings will be available at a later date. In the meantime, visit the Glasgow Film Festival for upcoming events.
Glasgow International Comedy Festival (11–29 March 2026)
For 20 years, GCIF has been bringing world-class comedy to Glasgow. Featuring both emerging and well-known comedians from across the globe, the festival offers everything from stand-up and improv to sketch. The line-up includes Daniel Sloss, Bridget Christie, Judi Love, and Craig Hill. For updates, visit Glasgow Comedy Festival.
C2C Country 2 Country (13–15 March 2026)
The biggest country acts to emerge from Nashville will perform at the OVO Hydro for C2C Country 2 Country. Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley, and Cody Johnson are just some of the artists lined up. Find out more at Country 2 Country.
Glasgow Short Film Festival (18–22 March 2026)
Glasgow Short Film Festival champions new film talent with a programme of cinema covering documentary, animation, fiction and more. It provides a brilliant platform for emerging Scottish filmmakers with a varied programme. Visit Glasgow Short for details.
Pigeon Shrine FrightFest (March, 2026 dates tbc)
If you love horror, then you'll love FrightFest. Taking place at the Glasgow Film Theatre, 2026's line-up and tickets are announced in January. Visit Frightfest's Instagram to keep up to date.
April–June
Counterflows (9–12 April 2026)
Counterflows is an internationally acclaimed contemporary music festival. The programme includes challenging and thought-provoking work, with experimental music artists from Scotland, UK and around the world. Visit Counterflows for details.
PRTY FSTVL (30–31 May 2026)
PRTY FSTVL is an exciting 2-day festival featuring the best in electronic music on the River Clyde with the Riverside Museum as the backdrop. Visit PRTY FSTVL for more information.
Stag & Dagger Festival (May, 2026 date tbc)
Scotland's biggest multiple venue festival brings a line-up of new bands performing across 2 cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Previous artists include Hamish Hawk and Benefits. Visit Stag and Dagger's Instagram to keep up to date.
Glasgow International (GI) Festival of Contemporary Art (5–21 June 2026)
GI takes place every 2 years, presenting artists' projects across Glasgow. The 11th edition of the festival will see 18 days of exhibitions, performances, publications, gatherings, and interventions featuring both Scotland-based and international artists. Visit Glasgow International for more.
The Reeling (June, 2026 dates tbc)
The Reeling is a music festival has a strong link to traditional Scottish music, taking place in Rouken Glen Park. Previous line-ups have included Tide Lines, Blazin' Fiddles, and Ciaran Ryan Band. Find out more at The Reeling.
Barbie®: The Exhibition (13 June–18 October 2026)
This major new exhibition looks at the history and design of the world’s most famous and iconic dolls. Taking place at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, celebrate how Barbie has inspired generations across the world for almost seventy years. Find out more at Glasgow Life.
Glasgow Jazz Festival (June, 2026 dates tbc)
The annual Glasgow Jazz Festival sees over 100 musicians performing across 25 events. Expect everything from soul and fusion, to funk and classic jazz. Visit Jazz Fest for more details.
Glasgow Mela (22 June 2026)
Scotland’s largest multi-cultural music and dance festival takes over Kelvingrove park every summer. Expect incredible music, dance, food from around the world and creative crafts and sporting activities for children. There’s something for everyone at this free event. To see what’s on, visit Glasgow Life.
Bard in the Botanics (June–August, 2026 dates tbc)
For brilliant outdoor theatre in a parkland setting, check out Bard in the Botanics. The troupe have previously performed A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Doctor Faustus, Romeo & Juliet, and Sherlock Holmes: A Scandal in Bohemia. Keep up to date at Bard in the Botanics.
Summer Nights on the Southside (June, 2026 dates tbc)
Taking place in Queen’s Park in the south of the city, music festival Summer Nights on the Southside is not to be missed. Previous headline acts include del Amitri, the Saw Doctors, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Ocean Colour Scene. Visit Ticketmaster for tickets.
July–September
TRNSMT (19–21 July 2026)
TRNSMT festival takes over Glasgow Green each July attracting tens of thousands of fans. So far the 2026 line-up includes big names such as Lewis Capaldi, CMAT, Wolf Alice, Richard Ashcroft, and Kasabian. Visit TRNSMT for tickets.
Merchant City Festival (July, 2026 dates tbc)
The Merchant City Festival is a lively 3-day celebration within the Merchant City area. Discover a range of market stalls, offering everything from crafts and gifts to fresh produce at the farmers’ market, alongside an array of street food options. Enjoy family-friendly activities all day long, and live music in the evenings. Find out more at Glasgow Life.
Pride March (July, 2026 date tbc)
With over 50,000 people taking part in 2024 and 2025, Glasgow's Pride March is an opportunity to come together and continue the fight for equality and inclusion. Find out more at Glasgow Pride.
Commonwealth Games (23 July–2 August 2026)
Glasgow is set to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games with an exciting 10-sport programme across 4 venues. For tickets, visit Glasgow 2026.
Summer Nights at The Bandstand (July–August, 2026 dates tbc)
Summer Nights at Kelvingrove Bandstand is one of Glasgow’s most scenic music festivals. Last year's acts included Natasha Bedingfield, elbow, and Billy Ocean. Follow Summer Nights on Instagram for announcements.
Piping Live! (10–18 August 2026)
The week-long celebration of piping, Piping Live has a line-up of gigs, workshops, tours, talks and more. Visit Piping Live for more information.
World Pipe Band Championships (16–17 August 2026)
The World Pipe Band Championships sees bands from around the globe battle it out to be crowned champions over one weekend in Glasgow Green. Visit The Worlds for more details.
Glasgow Cathedral Festival (17–20 September 2026)
Returning for its 9th season, Glasgow Cathedral Festival is a celebration of art, education and music in Glasgow’s historic quarter. Visit Glasgow Cathedral Festival to be the first to hear updates.
Sonica (24 September–4 October 2026)
Discover international musicians and visual artists alongside homegrown talent in some of Glasgow’s most vibrant venues. Discover more at Sonica.
Glasgow Youth Film Festival (September, 2026 dates tbc)
This year's festival includes new releases, iconic classics, and documentaries to be screened at the Glasgow Film Theatre. The festival is co-programmed by Glasgow Film and a group of youth programmers aged 15-19. Visit Glasgow Film for the full programme.
October–December
AJ Bell Great Scottish Run (4 October 2026)
Lace up your running shoes and get ready to take on a new challenge. Whether you’re looking to take on the 10k or half-marathon, this is a great way to see the sights while aiming for that PB. Visit Great Run to sign up.
Tenement Trail (10 October 2026)
The multi-venue one-day festival, Tenement Trail happend every October. In 2025 Pale Waves, Chloe Slater, Do Nothing, and Gallus, performed across a number of venues, such as Barrowlands, St Luke's and Van Winkle. Book early bird tickets at Tenement Trail.
Take Me Somewhere (October, 2026 dates tbc)
Take Me Somewhere brings international and national experimental performance to the city. Expect the most radical of live performances across a variety of venues, including Tramway. Keep up to date at Take Me Somewhere.
GlasGlow (October–November, 2026 dates tbc)
The UK's biggest Halloween event takes over Glasgow's Botanic Gardens with an epic outdoor experience. Visit GlasGLOW to be first in the know.
Scottish Queer International Film Festival (October–November, 2026 dates tbc)
SQIFF is an annual festival showcasing the best in independent film made for and by LGBTQIA+ people. The festival is Scotland-wide, with many events held in Glasgow. Visit SQIFF to find out more.
Hoolie in the Hydro: The Big Yin (13 December 2025)
This year, Hoolie in the Hydro celebrates Glasgow comedy and folk music legend Sir Billy Connolly. Expect a stellar line-up from across Scotland’s vibrant folk and traditional music scene, including Elephant Sessions, Trail West, Mànran, and Beluga Lagooa. Visit Ovo Hydro for more information.
Irn Bru Carnival (19 December 2025–11 January 2026)
Taking over the SEC every year, the Irn Bru Carnival is known as one of Scotland's best family days out. There are rides, stalls, inflatable play, candy floss, and much more. Book now at Irn Bru Carnival.
Article last updated: November 2025
