Edinburgh hosts the Hogmanay Torchlight Procession each New Year's Eve.
The procession is part of Edinburgh's Hogmanay program and traditionally moves through the city with participants carrying flaming torches. It creates a dramatic visual opening to the celebrations and connects the modern festival with Scotland's winter customs and public New Year gatherings.
The route and organization have changed over time. In modern editions, crowds have gathered along central Edinburgh streets before the event continues toward a major landmark or public space. Exact dates, routes, and participation rules can vary because organizers adjust the program for safety, weather, and local conditions.
Hogmanay is not merely the name of the procession: it is the broader Scottish New Year's celebration. Edinburgh's festival also includes concerts, street parties, fireworks, and traditional first-footing customs. Glasgow and other Scottish cities hold their own New Year events, but the famous torchlight procession is specifically associated with Edinburgh.