Which New Year's Eve event in Scotland begins with a torchlight procession through Edinburgh's Old Town?

Edinburgh's Hogmanay is the New Year's Eve event in Scotland that begins with a torchlight procession through Edinburgh's Old Town.

The procession is one of the festival’s signature opening events. Participants carry flaming torches through historic streets toward a finishing area, creating a river of light visible across parts of the city. Routes, dates, ticketing, and arrangements can change, so the procession should be understood as a recurring festival feature rather than an unchanging annual schedule.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay extends beyond December 31, with events commonly spread across several days. The festival’s name comes from “Hogmanay,” the Scots term for New Year’s Eve and its celebrations. The torchlight procession is separate from Edinburgh’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which is a summer event held at Edinburgh Castle. It is also separate from the fire festivals held in other Scottish communities, even though fire, music, and public procession are recurring elements of Scottish seasonal culture.