Torchlight Procession returns for Edinburgh's Hogmanay - News

Organisers of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay today announced dates for this year’s festival. Plans include the return of the spectacular torchlight procession.

This element is in partnership with the acclaimed homelessness charity Social Bite. It will launch 30th anniversary celebrations.

An expanded four-day programme of world-class events will run from Friday 29 December 2023 to Monday 1 January 2024.

Celebrations will kick-off on 29 December with the much-loved torchlight procession. It will blaze a trail through the capital’s Old Town for the first time since 2019.

Partnership with Social Bite

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay organisers have partnered up with Social Bite. Together they will bring the torchlight procession back to the city.

A sellout crowd of 20,000 people are anticipated to take part. They will carry a torch to shine a light on homelessness raising over £50,000. This will fund Social Bite projects tackling the issue.

A donation of £2 from each torch sold (£20.00 including fees) will go to Social Bite. £1.50 from additional procession tickets (£7.50 including fees) will also be donated.

The event will see torch carrying revelers draw attention to the issue of homelessness. It will also highlight the important work being done to tackle it in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland.

What else can visitors expect?

Torchlight procession participants will enjoy a carnival atmosphere at the rebooted event.

There will be a new start location at the Meadows. In this park just south of Old Town, there will be a feast of live street theatre, fire performers, pipe bands and drummers to get celebrations started.

Vikings from Shetland’s South Mainland Up Helly Aa’ Jarl Squad will lead the procession. This will create a stunning river of fire through the capital’s historic Old Town.

We are thrilled to announce the return of the torchlight procession for this year’s 30th anniversary celebrations, the event has been greatly missed by locals and visitors to the city in recent years, and to partner with Social Bite will fundraise to help those most in need of support this winter.

Our 4-day programme is packed with spectacular events and artist to be announced, with the return of some old favourites from three decades of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, guaranteed to help bring in 2024 in style.

Directors of Unique Assembly

We are delighted to be partnering with Unique Assembly and Edinburgh Council to help bring the torchlight procession back to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.

Every Christmas, Social Bite open our doors to provide meals and gifts to homeless and vulnerable people and we are always blown away by the support of the Scottish public over the festive period.

This partnership builds on this work at this time of year and I can’t wait to see 20,000 people carrying a torch to kick off Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations and at the same time to shine a light on homelessness – raising funds and awareness for the most vulnerable people in Edinburgh and beyond.

Josh Littlejohn MBE, founder of Social Bite

50,000 attendees from around the world

50,000 revellers are expected at the world-famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party and headline concert in the gardens (31 December). They will dance their way into 2024 with friends old and new from around the world.

Together they will count down to the spectacular midnight moment from Edinburgh Castle. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay street party tickets (£28.50 including fees) are now available.

Discounted EH Postcode Resident Street Party Tickets (£23.50 including fees) are also available.

Full programme details will be announced in the coming weeks.

50p from every street party ticket purchased will be donated to Social Bite. Additional on-line donations can be made when purchasing tickets.

Fireworks over Edinburgh Castle during Edinburgh's Hogmanay midnight moment.

A full programme of events

The full Edinburgh’s Hogmanay programme and ticket details will be released in the coming weeks. The return of the Night Afore Disco Party (30 December) beneath Edinburgh Castle has been confirmed.

There will also be a packed programme of free New Year’s Day events for young and old. This includes the First Footin’ culture trail.

This event welcomes artists from across Scotland to perform in landmarks buildings, pubs, cafes and venues in the city centre. Sprogmanay family events will also return to the Old Town.

A world-leading celebration

Since the inaugural event in 1993, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay quickly grew into one of the world’s leading New Year celebrations. Over three decades it has welcomed millions of visitors and locals.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay returned in 2022/23. This was a major factor in aiding economic recovery in the capital’s tourism and hospitality sector.

It generated over £48.5 million for Scotland’s economy and continues to be a bucket list experience for people around the world looking to celebrate at the home of Hogmanay.

We’re absolutely delighted to see the return of the Torchlight Procession to this year’s Hogmanay celebrations. This element of the programme was always extremely popular with residents and visitors alike and I’m sure it will be again this December.

I’m also really pleased to see the partnership work between the organisers and Social Bite in order to raise vital funds and awareness for their excellent work supporting vulnerable people in Edinburgh and more widely across the country.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and our wider Winter Festivals programme are cornerstones of our cultural calendar and are internationally recognised as being some of the best around and I’m confident that this year’s edition will once again be a success.

Councillor Val Walker, City of Edinburgh Council Culture and Communities Convener

Working in partnership

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 is supported by City of Edinburgh Council, Creative Scotland through the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Essential Edinburgh.

These partners are working together to create spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 30th Anniversary celebrations for Scotland.

Buy tickets for Edinburgh's Hogmanay street party and torchlight parade on edinburghshogmany.com.

Details of further Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2023/24 events will be announced in late September.