THIS year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay line-up has a host of the brightest and best Scottish musicians taking over the capital’s iconic New Year celebrations with a mix of free and ticketed gigs. With the likes of Wet Leg, Lucia & The Best Boys, Valtos, Kathryn Joseph, and more, we pick our top 5 Scottish must-sees at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay
Check out the full music line-up and buy tickets at www.edinburghshogmanay.com
Lucia & the Best Boys, Concert in the Gardens
Glasgow’s Lucia & the Best Boys are supporting Wet Leg at the Concert in the Gardens, bringing their moody synth pop to the iconic New Year gig. Led by front-woman Lucia Fairfull and championed by Elton John himself, Lucia & The Best Boys are full of dramatic, atmospheric, pop-fuelled bangers. Opening the show on 31st December, Lucia and co. are set to ensure the last gig of 2025 gets off to a raucous start.
Kathryn Joseph at St Giles’ Cathedral, First Footin’
The former SAY Award winner is a highlightof the First Footin’ line-up and a firm favourite in the Scottish music scene, with her uniquely honest and devastatingly beautiful storytelling. This time round Kathryn Joseph is joining Tinderbox Orchestra at St Giles’ Cathedral alongside James Emmanuel and Rachel Sermanni, for an immersive, cross genre set as part of the free First Footin’ line-up on the 1st Jan. Each singer will perform their own set with Tinderbox Orchestra before coming together for a full performance in an epic finale.
Valtos at the Street Party, Princes Street
Skye’s electronic-trad duo Valtos feature heavily at this year’s Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, from their takeover of Greyfriars Kirk on New Year’s Day at First Footin’, to their live set at the world-famous Street Party on the night of Hogmanay itself. Taking over the Street Party’s Tartan Zone with their blend of trad and Celtic electronic, Valtos are bringing trad into the modern age in a big way.
First Footin’
If you’re looking for the very best of up-and-coming Scottish artists, First Footin’ is the place to be. Fast becoming a mini festival in its’ own right, First Footin’ brings new and established Scottish artists to pubs, churches and venues across the city for a jam-packed day of free and ticketed gigs. With artists including Theo Bleak, Slix, Quiet House and more, First Footin’ is the best place to find your new favourite for 2026.
Wet Leg
An honourable mention has to go to this year’s Concert in the Gardens headliner Wet Leg who will take to the stage beneath the castle with the support of home-grown talent Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys on 31st December for the last gig of 2025, and first of 2026. Bringing their Grammy nominated new album ‘moisturizer’ and hits such as ‘Chaise Longue’, ‘mangetout’ and more to the iconic Concert in the Gardens, the Isle of Wight five-piece have had a meteoric rise over the last few years and following a storming two nights at the O2 Academy in Glasgow in November, their Hogmanay set will ring the New Year in with a bang.
