Edinburgh hosts the annual Hogmanay torchlight procession that traditionally begins Scotland’s New Year celebrations.
The Edinburgh Torchlight Procession is a major event in the city’s Hogmanay program. Participants carry flaming torches through central Edinburgh, creating a moving river of light toward a concluding ceremony. The route and exact arrangements can change from year to year, but the procession is closely identified with Edinburgh’s New Year festival.
Edinburgh’s wider Hogmanay celebrations include concerts, street festivities, fireworks, and a large midnight gathering. The city’s historic streets, castle, and dramatic skyline give the event a distinctive setting.
The procession is not Scotland’s only torch ceremony, and other Scottish towns hold their own winter events. The specific Hogmanay torchlight procession associated with the internationally promoted festival is the one in Edinburgh.