What is the name of the New Year's Eve torchlight procession that begins Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations?

The New Year's Eve torchlight procession that begins Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations is called the Torchlight Procession. It traditionally leads thousands of torchbearers through central Edinburgh toward a final gathering point.

The procession is held before the main midnight celebrations and provides a dramatic opening to the city's Hogmanay program. Participants carry flaming torches through the historic streets, creating a river of light against Edinburgh's winter skyline. The route and finishing location can vary with the program and public-safety arrangements.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is a large multi-day festival rather than a single event. Its program has included street parties, concerts, fireworks, and other performances. The Torchlight Procession is therefore best understood as the opening ceremony of the festival, not as the name for every Edinburgh New Year's activity.

The event draws on Scotland's longstanding association between winter festivals, fire, and communal renewal. It should not be confused with Stonehaven's separate Fireballs Ceremony, another Scottish New Year's event involving fire.