Live Music in Scotland's Capital — Tickets for Every Show
Browse all concertsIs one of the UK's most exciting cities for live music — especially in August, when the Edinburgh Festival Fringe transforms the city into the world's biggest arts festival. But Edinburgh's music scene thrives year-round. From the iconic Usher Hall and the OVO Hydro across the river in Glasgow (easily reachable by train) to intimate venues in the Old Town, Scotland's capital offers concerts of every genre for every kind of music fan. Find your next Edinburgh concert here.
Edinburgh's premier concert hall, opened in 1914. Home to the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. With its beautiful Edwardian interior and excellent acoustics, it's the city's most prestigious venue for classical music, jazz and larger touring acts.
A converted church in Newington that is one of Edinburgh's most atmospheric music venues. Hosts a wide range of jazz, folk, world music and classical concerts in an intimate setting. One of Edinburgh's most loved venues by both artists and audiences.
Courtesy of BBC
The outdoor stage at the heart of Edinburgh, with the Castle as a backdrop. Hosts concerts during the Edinburgh International Festival and other summer events. One of the most dramatic concert backdrops in the world.
August in Edinburgh is extraordinary but the city is packed. Book your accommodation and tickets months in advance if you're planning to attend the Edinburgh International Festival or the Fringe. Prices for hotels in August are among the highest in the UK.
Edinburgh's city centre is compact and walkable — most venues are within 20 minutes of each other on foot. Lothian Buses cover the whole city and run late on weekends. For venues outside the centre, taxis and rideshare apps are readily available. The OVO Hydro in Glasgow (for bigger shows) is 45 minutes by train from Edinburgh Waverley.
Edinburgh is part of a thriving Scottish music scene. Glasgow's OVO Hydro (14,300 people) is one of the UK's best arenas and is easily reached by train. Celtic Connections in Glasgow (January) is the world's premier Celtic music festival. Together, Edinburgh and Glasgow offer one of the best live music city-pairs in Europe.
For large shows: Usher Hall (2,900) and O2 Academy Edinburgh (2,000). For jazz and folk: The Queen's Hall (900). For outdoor summer concerts: Princes Street Gardens. For discovering new music: Sneaky Pete's and Bongo Club.
The Edinburgh International Festival runs in August, usually from early to late in the month. It coincides with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, making August one of the most exciting times to visit Scotland's capital.
The Edinburgh International Festival (August), the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (August), the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival (July) and Hogmanay (31 December) are the main music-related events in Edinburgh's calendar.
Both cities have great live music scenes. Edinburgh has the prestige of the International Festival and the Fringe, and excellent venues for classical and jazz. Glasgow has larger arenas (OVO Hydro) and a world-class indie and rock scene. The cities are 45 minutes apart by train, so it's easy to enjoy both.
Edinburgh Waverley station has direct trains from London (4.5 hours), Glasgow (45 minutes), Manchester and Leeds. Edinburgh Airport is served by flights from across Europe. The city centre is walkable from the station and most concert venues are nearby.
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