Looking ahead to Celtic Connections – Scotland’s annual celebration of traditional music beckons with highlights galore.

Dates: 15th January – 1st February 2026

Location: Glasgow

A TRULY CIVILISED FESTIVAL

Fans of Celtic traditional music need never fear seasonal affective disorder, they just hop on a bus, train or plane and head to Glasgow each January for Celtic Connections, the annual gathering of the great, good and upcoming from the traditional music scene.

Granted the Scottish weather can be interesting at this time of year – last year’s festival lost a day thanks to a red weather warning from Storm Eowyn – but the events are all in nice cozy venues across the city so it’s not as though you are stuck in field. A truly civilised festival this one.

The festival has some traditions and fixed points in the schedule, naturally enough for an event which has been a fixture in the Scottish calendar for over 30 years. The opening night concert presents a smorgasbord of the delights to come, and this year has a global theme presaging the Commonwealth Games, with artists from Mali, India, Palestine and Canada. And the festival traditional ends with the Transatlantic Sessions, another internationally-themed occasion, this year featuring the likes of Kathy Mattea and Karine Polwart as guest singers alongside the all-star house band.

Pics: Stuart Anderton

FOCUS ON NEW ARTISTS

Celtic Connections always focuses on new and up and coming artists, with the Danny Kyle Open Stage providing an opportunity for dozens of musicians, as well as the New Voices slot which in 2026 features Luc McNally, Roo Geddes and Amy Laurenson. Youngsters also get to compete in the Battle of the Folk Bands and the BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year final is televised from the festival on the final Sunday.

Events take place at venues all over the city, and last year Peat & Diesel broke new ground with their gig at the enormous Emirates Arena; in 2026 Skerryvore – fresh from winning Live Band of the Year at the Trads – take on that mantle with the largest event of the festival.

As well as concerts and workshops, there are two after-hours regulars over the festival’s weekend evenings – the lively Festival Club and the more sedate (and seated) Late Night Sessions. Your correspondent will be at the latter, his dancing until the small hours days being behind him.

NEW AND UNEXPECTED

There are over 300 events over the two and a bit weeks of Celtic Connections, far too many to name check, but to mention a few better known international visitors: Le Vent du Nord, Cherish the Ladies, Yann Tiersen, Emmylou Harris, Bela Fleck, Lucinda Williams and the Buena Vista All Stars. Dozens more are not household names but will reward those willing to try something new and unexpected.

Of course there are plenty of stalwarts of the Scottish music scene on show too: Capercaille, Kinnaris Q, Mec Lir, Blazin’ Fiddles, RURA, Dallahan, Daimh, Gnoss, Ross Ainslie, Hannah Rarity, Julie Fowlis, the list is near endless. The odd English voice can be heard too, with Martin Simpson, The Unthanks and Katherine Priddy flying the St George’s flag.

To single out a couple of shows which highlight the way Celtic Connections brings people together in interesting ways, Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson celebrate 20 years of collaboration with an all star concert in the Makintosh Church, while Ali Levack of Project Smok puts together an 11-piece big band with members of Mac Lir, Peatbog Faeries and TRIP at the Old Fruitmarket.

Collaborations and one-offs

Celtic creates dozens of these collaborations and one-offs every year and the main problem with the festival is that on any given evening there are always at least three or four events you really want to go to. Ironic considering the festival originated because there was a quiet period in the the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s schedules. For example on one night you have to choose between Sharon Shannon, Katherine Priddy, The East Pointers, Le Vent du Nord, Malin Lewis and Sian among several others – and that’s a Thursday. You can imagine what the weekends are like.

Glasgow is cheap to get to and stay in in January, as the city is not on most people’s lists for winter breaks. Which is fantastic for anyone with an interest in music; browse the programme and come up for a day, a weekend, a week…

Celtic Connections online:  Website  / Instagram

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