What's on in Glasgow, United Kingdom through the year

Busy — Christmas holidays in United Kingdom, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Celtic Connections

  15 Jan – 1 FebMajor festivalBook early

  Two and a half weeks of folk and roots music across twenty-odd venues in the worst fortnight of the Scottish winter, which is precisely the point. Late-night sessions run past the last train. Source ↗

Busy — February half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Glasgow Film Festival

  25 Feb – 8 Mar

  Eleven days at the end of February built around the Glasgow Film Theatre, with a habit of screening things in swimming pools and car parks rather than cinemas. Source ↗

Still on: Celtic Connections (15 Jan – 1 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Glasgow Film Festival (25 Feb – 8 Mar)

Busy — Easter / spring holiday in United Kingdom, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Busy — Late-May half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in May.

Peak crowds — TRNSMT, Late-May half-term in United Kingdom

• Festival

  TRNSMT

  19–21 JunMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three days on Glasgow Green; the date has moved between late June and mid-July, so check before booking a room. The city centre is loud and full for the whole weekend. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Merchant City Festival, Summer holidays in United Kingdom

• Festival

  Merchant City Festival

  22 Jul – 3 Aug · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Street theatre, circus and free stages through the Merchant City over the last two weekends of July, spilling into the first days of August. Outdoor, so it lives or dies on the week's rain. Source ↗

Still on: TRNSMT (19–21 Jun)

Peak crowds — Merchant City Festival, Piping Live and the Worlds

• Festival

  Piping Live and the Worlds

  9–15 AugMajor festivalCrowded

  A week of piping across the city ending with the World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green. Two hundred-odd bands tuning up on the same grass is worth the day ticket alone. Source ↗

Still on: Merchant City Festival (22 Jul – 3 Aug (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in September.

Busy — October half-term in United Kingdom, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Busy — Christmas lights and market, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Christmas lights and market

  15 Nov – 31 Dec · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowded

  The lights go on in mid-November and the markets run in George Square and St Enoch until the new year. Dark by four, which flatters the sandstone more than daylight does. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Christmas lights and market, Christmas holidays in United Kingdom

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Christmas lights and market (15 Nov – 31 Dec (usually))