Scottish festival HebCelt generates £4.4m for local economy

The Stornoway festival enjoyed its most successful edition in 2025, and continues to bring tens of thousands to the Outer Hebrides every summer.

Date published: 11th Dec 2025

Multi-award winning Hebridean Celtic Festival, better known as HebCelt, has generated millions for the local economy, the festival has reported. 

Taking place on Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HebCelt has regularly brought tens of thousands of attendees to the Outer Hebrides every July since 1996. HebCelt’s four-day celebration in July featured Lulu, Tidelines and Skerryvore as headliners, and enjoyed its most successful edition, bringing 18,500 people to Stornoway. The festival’s Economic Impact Report confirms a £4.4m boost to the Isle of Lewis, 62% of all waste recycled, and over 7000 volunteer hours. 

Festival Chair Iain Macphail said, “This is a landmark result for HebCelt and for the islands as a whole. The festival has again delivered important and sustainable value to the local economy with an exceptional performance, while remaining firmly committed to our core responsibilities to community, culture and sustainability.

“At a time when too many festivals across the UK are facing major cutbacks, challenges and in the saddest of cases even closure, HebCelt is showing that cultural events still have the ability to grow responsibly with consistent support.

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