Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve celebration is famous for its Hogmanay torchlight procession.
The procession traditionally takes place before the main New Year festivities and involves participants carrying flaming torches through the Scottish capital. It has become one of Edinburgh’s best-known Hogmanay events, connecting the city’s historic streets and landmarks with the arrival of the new year.
Edinburgh’s wider Hogmanay program has included street parties, concerts, fireworks, and public countdown events. The exact route, dates, and arrangements can vary, so the torchlight procession should be understood as a recurring feature rather than an identical annual production.
Other cities hold torchlight parades, and Scotland has several New Year celebrations. Edinburgh is the city most specifically associated with the internationally recognized Hogmanay procession.