Edinburgh hosted the first official Hogmanay street party in 1993.
The event helped turn the Scottish capital’s New Year celebration into a major international festival. Modern Edinburgh’s Hogmanay includes a large street party, concerts, a torchlight procession and other programmed events, although the exact layout and admission arrangements can change from one year to another.
Hogmanay itself is much older than the organized street party. Scotland has long marked the season with customs such as first-footing, singing, feasting and fire-related rituals. The modern festival brought these traditions together with large-scale public entertainment in a city known for its historic Old Town, New Town and castle.
The year 1993 identifies the official street-party milestone, not the beginning of Scottish New Year customs. Edinburgh is also sometimes confused with Glasgow because both cities host major Scottish celebrations. The question refers specifically to the official Hogmanay street party associated with central Edinburgh, rather than every New Year event held in Scotland.