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What’s On Guide Edinburgh January 2026
January is the coldest winter month in Edinburgh. The average temperature is 3°C. It starts with our world famous Hogmanay celebrations to see in the new year. Burn’s Night is another highlight, where we honour the life and works of Scottish poet Robert Burns, author of ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Here’s what’s on in Edinburgh in January 2026.
All details given here are subject to change or error, and no tickets are sold on this website. Please contact the event organisers directly for the most up-to-date information and ticket sales.
Music, theatre and comedy
- MAMMA MIA! Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 Dec – 4 Jan
- Panto: Jack and The Beanstalk, Festival Theatre, 13 Dec – 11 Jan
- The Rocky Horror Show, Edinburgh Playhouse, 6 – 10 Jan
- Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA Tribute, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 10 Jan
- Rob Beckett: Giraffe, Edinburgh Playhouse, 15 Jan
- Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv, Edinburgh Playhouse, 17 Jan
- Connor Burns: Gallus, Royal Lyceum, 17 Jan
- GirlyPop Live Tributes, Edinburgh Corn Exchange, 18 Jan
- The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans, Assembly Roxy, 23 Jan
- Candlelight: Coldplay v Imagine Dragons Tribute, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 24 Jan
- Sing-a-Long-a Encanto, Edinburgh Playhouse, 24 Jan
- Sing-a-Long-a The Greatest Showman, Edinburgh Playhouse, 24 Jan
- Beethoven Violin Sonatas by Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 26 Jan
- Fawlty Towers: The Play, Edinburgh Playhouse, 27 – 31 Jan
- Maddie Grace Jepson: Live On Tour, Royal Lyceum, 28 Jan
- Candlelight: Vivaldi Four Seasons & Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto, St Giles’ Cathedral, 30 Jan
- Candlelight: Best of Bridgerton on Strings, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 30 Jan
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 31 Jan
- Stuart Mitchell: Tips Not Included, Royal Lyceum, 31 Jan
Festivals and special events
- Edinburgh Zoo’s Giant Lanterns, Edinburgh Zoo, selected dates 14 Nov – 22 Feb
- Edinburgh’s Christmas, various venues, 15 Nov – 4 Jan
- Castle of Light, Edinburgh Castle, selected dates 21 Nov – 4 Jan
- Beyond Van Gogh & Beyond Monet, Royal Highland Centre, 29 Nov – 4 Jan
- Sprogmanay, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jan
- Museum Late: Big Burns Ceilidh, National Museum of Scotland, 23 Jan
- Burns & Beyond, TBC
Activities, tours and experiences
- Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, Assembly Roxy, 30 Jan
- Gin Tour and Tasting, Lind & Lime Distillery, selected dates
- Haunted Vaults Walking Tour, Royal Mile, selected dates
- Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience, city centre, selected dates
- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour, city centre, selected dates
- Historical Walking Tour, city centre, selected dates
- The Mountebank Comedy Walk, Monkey Barrel Comedy, selected dates
- Distillery Tour, Holyrood Distillery, selected dates
- Luxury Whisky Tasting, Underground Vaults, selected dates
Markets and fairs
- Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, most Sats
- Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, most Sats
- Leith Market, Dock Place, most Sats
- Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, Edinburgh Corn Exchange, selected Sats & Suns
- Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, most Suns
- Edinburgh Street Food, Leith Street, most days
- Tron Kirk Market, Tron Kirk on Royal Mile, most days
- Traditional Christmas Markets, Princes Street Gardens, 15 Nov – 4 Jan
- The Luxury Scottish Wedding Show, Assembly Rooms, 18 Jan
- Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition, Murrayfield Stadium, 31 Jan – 1 Feb
- Edinburgh Flea Market, TBC
Museums, galleries and exhibitions
- Maps: Memories from the Second World War, National Museum of Scotland, until 4 Oct
- Cold War Scotland, National Museum of Scotland, until 4 Jan
- Resistance, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 21 Jun – 4 Jan
- IKEA: Magical Patterns, Dovecot Studios, 18 Jul – 17 Jan
- Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture, City Art Centre, 13 Sep – 31 May
- Making a Statement: Craft & Activism in Edinburgh, Museum of Edinburgh, 17 Sep – 26 Jan
- Drawing the Italian Renaissance, The King’s Gallery, 17 Oct – 1 Mar
- Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 18 Oct – 19 Apr
- Picking up the Thread: The Past, Present and Future of Tapestry, Dovecot Studios, 20 Oct – 14 Feb
- The Children are Now, Talbot Rice Gallery, 25 Oct – 15 Feb
- Michael Fullerton, City Art Centre, 22 Nov – 22 Feb
- Turner in January, Scottish National Gallery, 1 – 31 Jan
- Drawing on Style: Original Fashion Illustration, Dovecot Studios, 10 Jan – 11 Apr
- Giants, National Museum of Scotland, 31 Jan – 14 Sep
Most viewed attractions listings in January
- The Real Mary King’s Close, underground network of streets, offering history tours
- Grassmarket, historic Edinburgh market square with shops, pubs and restaurants
- Edinburgh Castle, iconic fortress atop Castle Rock, offering historic castle tours
- Edinburgh Dungeon, immersive, theatrical tours showcasing the city’s dark history
- Monkey Barrel Comedy, comedy venue that hosts live stand-up shows
- Pentland Hills, scenic trails, rolling landscapes and outdoor adventures
- Princes Street, Edinburgh’s main shopping street with iconic views of the castle
- The Royal Mile, historic Edinburgh street, connecting the castle and palace
- National Museum of Scotland, large museum exploring showcases history, culture and science
- Circus Lane, charming cobbled street in Edinburgh, lined with quaint cottages
- View more attractions…
See also
- Virtual tours, take a look around Edinburgh from the comfort of home
- Q&As, a few questions answered about Edinburgh and Scotland
