Scotland is set for a standout late summer, where major international moments and a rich programme of festivals come together to showcase a vibrant mix of culture, creativity and storytelling.
From the much-anticipated Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 through to a packed calendar of festivals and celebrations that follow, the months ahead bring a mix of headline experiences and unexpected discoveries.
What’s more, Scotland’s landscapes continue to double as familiar backdrops for film and television, with new releases and set-jetting moments set to inspire travel this summer, while a wave of new openings adds fresh reasons to visit in 2026.
Scotland comes alive with festivals
With the Commonwealth Games fast approaching in July, Glasgow is poised for a major cultural moment, making now an ideal time to spotlight the city. In the lead up, the Glasgow 2026 Festival will take centre stage as a ten-week, city-wide celebration from 23 May – 9 August. The programme features hundreds of events, performances, and participatory experiences inspired by the games.
While the world-renowned Edinburgh Festivals continue to attract visitors from around the globe, there is also a rich calendar of regional events celebrating Scotland’s communities, creativity and traditions beyond the capital.
- Fife: The Pittenweem Arts Festival (1-8 August) transforms the charming coastal village of the East Neuk into a vibrant canvas, with artists exhibiting work in unique spaces ranging from fishermen’s cottages to historic buildings and hidden corners throughout the village.
- Ayrshire: Taking centre stage in the southwest is The International Ayr Show (4–5 September), which will once again fill the skies with spectacular aerial displays along the Ayrshire coast.
- Dumfries & Galloway: The Stranraer Oyster Festival (11-13 September), headlined by Outlander star Sam Heughan, celebrates Scotland’s last wild, native oyster fishery on the shores of Loch Ryan, with returning celebrity chefs Tony Singh, Matt Tebbutt, Rosemary Shrager and Julie Lin, alongside Tony Pierce, recently retired from Knockinaam Lodge after more than 25 years. Continuing in the southwest, Literary fans can head to the Wigtown Book Festival (25 September – 4 October), Scotland’s national book festival.
- Shetland: Craft and textile enthusiasts can immerse themselves in Shetland Wool Week (27 September – 3 October), celebrating Britain’s most northerly native sheep, the textile industry and the rural farming community on the Shetland islands.
- Moray Speyside: Arts and culture lovers can enjoy the Findhorn Bay Festival (24 September – 4 October), while Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates places and stories, new and old, Doors Open Days, invites visitors to enjoy free access to historic buildings and hidden spaces across Scotland every weekend throughout September.
Across Scotland, traditional Highland Games continue, offering the opportunity to experience centuries-old Scottish sporting and cultural traditions, from caber tossing and Tug of War to Highland dancing and pipe bands. The Cowal Gathering (27-29 August) welcomes around 20,000 visitors to Dunoon, Argyll, for one of the largest and most spectacular Highland gatherings in the world.
