2026 begins with the world's best party as hardy Scots revellers brave icy conditions to celebrate the biggest night of the year
Revellers flooded Scotland's streets as the country welcomed in 2026 despite hurricane-force winds battering parts of the country.
Revellers flooded Scotland’s streets as the country welcomed in 2026 despite hurricane-force winds battering parts of the country.
Despite heavy snow, ice and freezing fog predicted to provide a ‘hazardous’ start to the New Year, thousands took to the streets to celebrate.
A 50,000-strong crowd saw in the Bells at Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay street party.
Acclaimed indie-rock duo Wet Leg headlined the event, with around 10,000 people watching the show at Princes Street Gardens.
The band’s set was also broadcast to the 40,000 people elsewhere at the street party.
Edinburgh’s programme of events had started on Monday with the popular torchlight procession.
About 20,000 people watched the procession from the Meadows through the Old Town to the foot of Edinburgh Castle.
The culmination of the celebrations saw Wet Leg performance last night punctuated by fireworks from the castle at midnight, marking the start of 2026.
The countdown at Edinburgh’s world-famous Hogmanay party reaches its climax in a blaze of glory as ten thousand fireworks are launched from the castle ramparts
Thousands packed into Princes Street, near the big wheel, left
Nilo Latifi and Reza Shi from Iran ring in the New Year in Edinburgh
Visitors from more than 80 countries were said to have made their way to the city to enjoy the party atmosphere.
At midnight, more than 1,678 kg of fireworks – 10,000 shots – burst into the sky from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle to a unique curated soundtrack of music.
Partygoers had already enjoyed short bursts on the hour at nine, 10 and 11-o’clock.
Organisers monitored weather patterns closely with regular forecasts from the Met Office, and a chilly breeze never threatened to dampen spirits as organisers carried out their pledge to “transform the city into one giant party zone”.
Visitors from around the world hailed the Scottish capital as a bucket list destination not to be missed.
Teresa MacLeod-MacLean, 59, a retired farrier from Arizona, USA, born in the Philippines, said: ‘I came for Hogmanay last year and was cancelled due to the weather, so I had to come back.
‘My grandfather and great grandfather, both Donald, came from Mull and my great grandmother Mary MacLeod was from the Isle of Lewis, so Scotland is in my blood.
‘But I wanted to experience Hogmanay. 2026 is a year of new beginnings so this is exactly where I need to be to start the new year. Edinburgh feels like home to me.’
Jenny Taylor, 46, and daughters Kayce, 16, and Lucy, 13, from Streatham, Cambridgeshire, wanted a special celebration as a family.
She said: ‘This is our first year as a family of three and we wanted to do something special. We decided to take a holiday and the girls wanted to come to Scotland.