Key Takeaways
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026 runs 29 December to 1 January. Torchlight Procession on 29 December, Night Afore Party on 30 December, Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens on Thursday 31 December, free First Footin' music on New Year's Day.
- A Street Party ticket costs £39 today. That is the First Release price on the official booking page. The organiser's booking system also lists a Final Release at £45, and the £33 price is now only for EH-postcode residents.
- The big tickets do not include each other. Hogmanay in the Gardens (from £79) does not get you onto Princes Street, and a Street Party ticket does not get you into the Gardens. Your entry gate is fixed when you buy.
- Last year the Street Party and the Torchlight Procession both sold out. The organiser counted over 115,000 people from 138 countries across the four days.
- This is the first Hogmanay with Edinburgh's 5% visitor levy on hotel stays, charged on up to five consecutive nights.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026 runs from 29 December to 1 January. The Street Party on Princes Street is Thursday 31 December from 8pm, and a ticket costs £39 at today's First Release price, with a £45 Final Release listed for later. Hogmanay in the Gardens starts at £79. Book a room within walking distance of Princes Street.
We built this trip in Navoy: a 4-day Edinburgh Hogmanay plan, 29 December to 1 January.
What's on at Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026, and when?
Four days, five headline events. The Torchlight Procession is on 29 December, the Night Afore Party on 30 December, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens both on 31 December, and the free First Footin' music trail on 1 January. Everything except First Footin' needs a ticket.
| Date | Event | Where | Starts | Lowest official price | Age rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 29 Dec | Torchlight Procession | The Meadows to beneath the Castle | 18:30 | £5.75 entry, £16.50 with torch | All ages (under 16s with an adult) |
| Wed 30 Dec | Night Afore Party (The Fratellis) | West Princes Street Gardens | 18:00 | £42 | 12+ |
| Thu 31 Dec | Street Party | Princes Street | 20:00 | £39 | 12+ |
| Thu 31 Dec | Hogmanay in the Gardens (Underworld) | West Princes Street Gardens | 20:00 doors | £79 | 12+ |
| Fri 1 Jan | First Footin' | Venues across the city centre | Various | Free trail, some shows ticketed | Varies |
The 2026 Street Party is set for 45,000 people, and the organiser expects 50,000 partygoers in the centre for the Midnight Moment once the Gardens crowd is added. This year Underworld will play the midnight fireworks live from the Gardens stage, a first for the event.
The Loony Dook, the New Year's Day dip at South Queensferry, has not been part of the official programme since the organiser dropped it in 2022. A locally organised dook still went ahead there on 1 January 2026, raising money for local charities, but nothing is announced for 2027 yet, so check before you build your trip around it.
How much are Edinburgh Hogmanay tickets in 2026?
On 2 October 2026 the official booking pages show £39 for the Street Party, from £79 for Hogmanay in the Gardens, from £42 for the Night Afore Party, and £5.75 or £16.50 for the Torchlight Procession. Street Party prices rise by release: £39 now, with a Final Release listed at £45.
| Ticket | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Street Party, early-bird (January 2026) | 2025 prices | Gone. A limited release on 9 January |
| Street Party, First Release (on sale now) | £39 | The page states Street Party tickets include a £3.50 booking fee and a 50p charity donation |
| Street Party, Final Release | £45 | Listed in the official booking system |
| Street Party, EH Resident | £33 | Only for accounts with an Edinburgh EH postcode |
| Silent Disco add-on | £10 | Only with a South Gate Street Party ticket. Last year it was on Waverley Bridge |
| Hogmanay in the Gardens | £79 Gardens, £89 Enclosure, £180 Premium | Booking fees and a £1 donation included |
| Night Afore Party | from £42 | Booking fees included |
| Torchlight Procession | £5.75 entry, £16.50 torch ticket | Torch ticket includes entry; at least one torch per two people |
So the question is not only which ticket, but when. The organiser doesn't publish when each release ends. What is certain is that the cheapest price a visitor can buy today is £39, and that waiting for the Final Release costs £6 more per ticket.
Two rules catch people out. Buy only from the three official sellers: edinburghshogmanay.com, Ticketmaster and Tickets Scotland (the organiser also runs in-person box offices at Edinburgh's Christmas from 14 November). The organiser says there is no official resale and that tickets from Eventbrite or secondary sites are not valid. You can gift a ticket, but the guest then needs a signed Letter of Authority and photo ID.
If you're buying tickets this week, it's worth looking at rooms in the same sitting: check what's left for your nights in Edinburgh.
Street Party or Hogmanay in the Gardens: which should you buy?
Pick one, because neither ticket gets you into the other. The Street Party (£39) is the 45,000-person party along Princes Street with stages, DJs and the castle fireworks overhead. The Gardens (from £79) is a concert below the castle with Underworld. Gardens tickets "DO NOT allow access" to Princes Street.
How to choose:
- Choose the Street Party if you want the big open-air night, several stages and room to move around. It runs from 8pm for 285 minutes, so well past midnight.
- Choose the Gardens if Underworld is the reason you're going. Doors open at 8pm, the stage is live from 8.50pm and last entry is 11pm.
- Both are 12+. Under-16s need an adult over 18 with them. Families with younger children have the Torchlight Procession, which is open to all ages.
Three rules apply to both. Your gate is fixed at purchase (East, South or West for the Street Party; West or South for the Gardens) and can't be changed, so pick the one nearest where you're staying. There is no readmittance: leave and you're out for the night. And bags must be no bigger than A3, with no umbrellas and no glass. At the Street Party you can bring up to four cans or plastic bottles of 500ml or less; at the Gardens you can't bring alcohol in.
What sold out at Hogmanay last year?
In 2025/26 the Street Party, the Torchlight Procession and many indoor concerts and ceilidhs sold out, according to the organiser. Over 115,000 people from 138 countries attended across the four days. The organiser doesn't publish the dates things sold out, so treat both main events as sell-out risks.
The 2026 signs point the same way. The organiser released a limited early-bird batch for the Street Party and Torchlight Procession on 9 January 2026, citing demand already surging. On 2 October the Torchlight booking page shows "Coming soon" instead of tickets, so if the procession matters to you, sign up for the official newsletter to hear when it reopens.
What do you need to know about the Torchlight Procession?
It's on Tuesday 29 December. Pre-entertainment starts at The Meadows at 18:30, the procession sets off at 19:30 and walks about 1.5km through the Old Town to finish beneath Edinburgh Castle, ending around 21:00. You need at least one torch per two people, and everyone needs a torch or wristband.
Practical points from the organiser:
- Collect torches early. Collection opens in the early afternoon; locations and the route map come closer to the date.
- No buggies, no alcohol, no umbrellas. The torches are wax, and wind blows wax onto clothes, so skip anything delicate.
Where should you stay for Hogmanay in Edinburgh?
Stay within walking distance of Princes Street but outside the gated arena, or on the tram line. On 31 December the arena locks down from about 6pm until around 4am. Last year, addresses inside it, including 30 to 134 Princes Street, needed access passes, so ask any hotel there how guests get in.
The access rules published for the 2025/26 edition give a clear picture of how the night works (the 2026/27 version isn't out yet):
- The arena covered Princes Street and parts of Castle Street, Frederick Street, Hanover Street, Waverley Bridge and Market Street. Most pedestrian restrictions ran from 18:00 on 31 December to about 04:00 on 1 January, and the main road closure of Princes Street started at 19:00 on 30 December.
- New Town streets just north of the arena and Old Town streets to the south keep you a short walk from your gate without living inside the barriers.
- Along the tram line (West End, Haymarket, Leith) works because trams ran all night last year, up to every 10 minutes until 2am and then every 20 minutes, and were free after midnight.
Budget for one new line on the bill. Edinburgh's visitor levy adds 5% to overnight stays from 24 July 2026, charged on up to five consecutive nights, for bookings made from 1 October 2025. Hogmanay 2026 is the first New Year it applies to. Our guide to hotel fees that weren't in the price you clicked covers how to spot charges like this before you pay.
How much more do hotels cost on Hogmanay?
About four to six times a normal night. When we searched Edinburgh on Navoy on 2 October 2026, the cheapest room for two on 31 December was $223, against $48 for Thursday 21 January 2027. The median of the 12 cheapest rooms was $373 on Hogmanay and $62 in January.
| Room for 2 adults, 1 night | Thu 31 Dec 2026 | Thu 21 Jan 2027 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest room available | $223 | $48 | 4.6x |
| Median of the 12 cheapest | $373 | $62 | 6.0x |
| Median of 12 top-rated picks | $640 | $189 | 3.4x |
The budget end moves the most. In January, a dozen rooms sat at $75 or less; on Hogmanay, nothing came in under $223. Mid-range hotels rise less in proportion, but they are also the first to disappear from the list.
How we measured: live Navoy hotel search, one room, two adults, one night, prices in US dollars including taxes and fees as shown, both nights checked the same day. Prices move daily, so treat these as a snapshot, not a quote.
See what your dates cost now: compare Edinburgh hotels for Hogmanay.
How do you get to Edinburgh for Hogmanay?
Fly into Edinburgh Airport (EDI). The tram to the city centre takes about 30 minutes and runs every 7 to 10 minutes. On 31 December, plan to arrive by the afternoon: last year ScotRail services ran normally only until around 7pm before winding down.
Getting around on the night, based on last year's arrangements:
- Trams ran West End to Edinburgh Airport and Picardy Place to Newhaven all night, up to every 10 minutes until 2am and every 20 minutes after that, free after midnight.
- Lothian Buses sold unlimited travel after 18:00, including the late "H" services, at £6 for one zone and £12 for two.
- Don't drive in. Closures start from 29 December and cars left in restricted spots are removed.
Flight prices to Edinburgh over Christmas and New Year follow the same holiday curve as the rest of December. Our guide on when to book Christmas flights covers the timing. When you're ready, search flights to EDI, 29 December to 1 January.
Plan this trip
- See the trip we built: a 4-day Edinburgh Hogmanay plan, 29 December to 1 January
- Plan your own for free: tell Navoy your dates and budget and it builds the itinerary. The free plan covers up to three trips of up to 14 days each. Start free
- Hotels in Edinburgh: compare live prices for your Hogmanay nights
- Flights: search flights to Edinburgh EDI, 29 December to 1 January
- Still weighing up a December trip: browse hotels across the UK and Europe
Frequently asked questions
When is Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2026?
From Tuesday 29 December 2026 to Friday 1 January 2027. The Torchlight Procession opens it on 29 December, the Night Afore Party is on 30 December, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens are on Thursday 31 December from 8pm, and the free First Footin' music trail runs on New Year's Day.
How much is a ticket for the Edinburgh Street Party?
£39 at the First Release price shown on the official booking page on 2 October 2026. The organiser's booking system also lists a Final Release at £45. The £33 price you may see quoted is the EH Resident price, only for residents with an Edinburgh EH postcode. The limited January early-bird, sold at 2025 prices, has gone.
Can you see the Edinburgh Hogmanay fireworks without a ticket?
The fireworks are launched from Edinburgh Castle and the organiser describes them as visible across the city centre skyline. But Princes Street and the Gardens are gated, ticket-only arenas on 31 December, so you'd be watching from outside the event area, and the closest viewing spots sit inside it.
Can children go to the Edinburgh Street Party?
No one under 12 is allowed into the Street Party, Hogmanay in the Gardens or the Night Afore Party, and anyone under 16 must be with an adult over 18. The Torchlight Procession is open to all ages, with the same accompaniment rule for under-16s, and New Year's Day has free family events.
Is the Loony Dook happening on 1 January 2027?
Nothing has been announced yet. The New Year's Day dip at South Queensferry has not been part of the official Edinburgh's Hogmanay programme since 2022, but it has carried on outside it: on 1 January 2026 it ran as a locally organised charity fundraiser. Check locally closer to the date before planning around it.
Sources
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Street Party event page - date, 8pm start, 285-minute duration, 45,000 capacity, 12+ age rule, official sellers, no official resale
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Street Party booking page - £39 First Release, £45 Final Release, £33 EH Resident, £10 Silent Disco add-on (South Gate only), booking fee and donation note, fixed gates
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld - £79 / £89 / £180 prices, doors, last entry, age rules, no access to the Street Party
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Underworld announcement (23 June 2026) - live Midnight Moment, 50,000 partygoers, four-day programme
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Night Afore Party with The Fratellis - 30 December date, from £42 including fees, 12+ rule
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Torchlight Procession and booking page - 29 December, £5.75 and £16.50 tickets, one torch per two people, current sales status
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Torchlight Procession information - timings, 1.5km route from The Meadows, torch collection, prohibited items
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, 2025/26 sell-out release (1 January 2026) - sold-out Street Party in 2025/26
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, early-bird release (9 January 2026) - 115,000 visitors from 138 countries, events that sold out, early-bird at 2025 prices
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, FAQs - no readmittance, bag and alcohol rules, gifting rules, age rules
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Residents and Businesses - 2025/26 arena addresses, access passes, closure and restriction times, fireworks visible across the city centre skyline
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Getting Here and Home - 2025/26 tram split service, ScotRail on 31 December
- Edinburgh Trams, free all-night trams on Hogmanay (December 2025) - split service, frequency after midnight, free after midnight
- Lothian Buses, Hogmanay Ticket and HogmanayBus map 2025/26 (PDF) - £6 one zone, £12 two zones, valid after 18:00 on 31 December and on H services after midnight
- Edinburgh Airport, trams - 30-minute journey, 7 to 10 minute frequency
- City of Edinburgh Council, visitor levy declared (24 January 2025) - 5% rate, five-night cap, stays from 24 July 2026, bookings from 1 October 2025
- Edinburgh's Hogmanay, programme additions (21 November 2022) - no official Loony Dook in the programme, community dips instead
- Queensferry Care, Loony Dook 2026 - the dook went ahead on 1 January 2026 as a charity fundraiser
All figures verified 2 October 2026. Access, closure and transport rules are from the 2025/26 edition; the organiser publishes the 2026/27 versions closer to the event.
Related articles
- When to Book Christmas Flights in 2026
- 6 Hotel Fees That Weren't in the Price You Clicked
- Christmas Markets 2026: Which Dates Are Confirmed
Going for the bells? Plan the trip free, then compare live prices - Navoy: your AI Travel Agent
About the Author
Haroun Moula
Haroun Moula is the founder and CEO of Navoy. Before Navoy, he worked in luxury travel with VVIPs and high-profile travelers. He built Navoy to bring curated, adaptive trip planning to more travelers through an AI travel agent that plans and books core trip parts in one place.
