Edinburgh holds the Hogmanay torchlight procession as part of its New Year's Eve celebrations.
The procession traditionally winds through central Edinburgh, with participants carrying flaming torches before the main Hogmanay festivities. Its route and organization have changed over time, but the event is strongly associated with the city’s New Year's Eve program and dramatic views of Edinburgh’s historic streets and castle.
Hogmanay is the Scottish word for New Year's Eve and is also used for Scotland’s broader New Year celebrations. Edinburgh’s modern festival grew into a major organized event featuring concerts, street gatherings, fireworks, and ceremonial traditions. The torchlight procession usually takes place before midnight rather than being the midnight countdown itself.
The procession is sometimes confused with other Scottish fire festivals, such as the Stonehaven Fireballs. Those are separate events with different rituals and locations. Edinburgh’s procession is a city celebration connected specifically with its Hogmanay program, while the Stonehaven ceremony takes place in Aberdeenshire.