What is the traditional New Year's Eve torchlight procession in Edinburgh, Scotland, called?

The traditional New Year's Eve torchlight procession in Edinburgh is called Edinburgh's Torchlight Procession.

The procession is a major opening event of Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations. Thousands of torchbearers have walked through the city, creating a river of fire that travels toward a ceremonial gathering area. The event is designed as a dramatic transition into the wider New Year's festivities.

Its modern presentation draws on Scotland's winter fire festivals and Viking-themed imagery, especially the connection between torchlight, community gatherings, and symbolic renewal. The route and final ceremony have changed over time, so descriptions of the event can differ by year.

Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve and its surrounding celebrations. The Torchlight Procession is therefore one event within Edinburgh's Hogmanay programme, not a synonym for Hogmanay itself. It is also distinct from the first-footing custom practiced in Scotland after midnight.