The best music festivals in Scotland
From Knockengorroch in the Highlands to Fly Open Air at a country house estate just outside Edinburgh, Scotland boasts some of the UK's best and most picturesque music festivals.
Skiddle Staff
Last updated: 30th Jan 2023
Anyone that ever attended T in the Park knows how much Scotland loves a music festival.
And while the nation's most notorious musical gathering is no more (it was put to bed in 2016... with a pint of water and a box of Alka Seltzer), there are myriad events that continue to carry the torch for Scottish music festivals.
From TRNSMT, Glasgow’s newest and biggest festival that attracts the biggest bands in the world, to the country estate-located electronic music gathering, Fly Open Air, to the epic annual rave that is Terminal V. Scotland continues to attract some of the biggest and most exciting names in music, as well as cater to the more community-minded festival-goer with a wealth of charming, picturesque festival locations.
And of course, when it comes to music festivals in Scotland, you get some of the friendliest crowds you'll find anywhere.
Here's a bunch of the best music festivals in Scotland...
(Click on the headers or images for FAQs and more information about each festival, and make sure to secure tickets in the boxes below each event.)
Image: Knockengorroch Festival on Facebook
2023 Lineup: Mungos Hi-Fi, Cut Capers, Marina P, Old Blind Dogs
When: Thursday 25th - Sunday 28th May 2023
Where: Knockengorroch in Kirkcudbrightshire
A selection of world-class names from near and far will journey to the stunning Southern Uplands of Scotland to mark the festival's milestone 25th-anniversary.
Among the talents set to make the journey to the festival's stunning Southern Uplands home, set amidst the hills of Galloway in South West Scotland, are the likes of Zentone, nine-piece funk band Cut Capers, Knockengorroch favourites Old Blind Dogs, who opened the first edition of Knockengorroch back in June 1998, and the mighty Mungo’s Hi Fi, this one’s going to be a belter, get your tickets below and don't miss out!
Tickets for Knockengorroch Festival
Image: FLY Open Air on Facebook
2023 Lineup: Ben Helmsley, Chaos in the CBD, Hannah Laing, Interplanetary Criminal, Eliza Rose
When: Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st May 2023
Where: Hopetoun House in Edinburgh
Situated on the grand and picturesque estate of Edinburgh's Hopetoun House, Fly Open Air Festival is one of the most sought-after outdoor, electronic Scottish festivals.
Overlooking the Firth of Forth and the impressive Forth Bridge from the country manor's pristine gardens, the gathering boasts one of the most atmospheric and scenic locations in the UK, as well as a regular bill of high-calibre electronic acts and DJs.
For the 2023 edition, this has only continued. Geordie tech wiz Ben Helmsley appears, alongside the effortlessly cool Chaos in the CBD and other big names like Interplanetary Criminal and rising Scot Hannah Laing. With many more to be announced, this one looks to be a dream for any Scottish fan of electronic music.
Tickets for FLY Open Air
Ticket waiting list for FLY Open Air Festival 2023 - Hopetoun House
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Image: Terminal V on Facebook
2023 Lineup: Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Ewan Mcvicar, Folamour, Taahliah
When: Saturday 8th - Sunday 9th April 2023
Where: Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh
The mighty Terminal V returns to the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh for another huge edition in 2023 after the wild success of its return last year.
One of Scotland's largest electronic music festivals, that will welcome over 20,000 over two days in the showground close to Edinburgh Airport, boasting five stages and some of the biggest names in the business.
As well as its hugely impressive roster of talent, organisers have also promised 'incredible mind-blowing indoor stages, further outdoor stages and festival areas featuring techno and house music elitists.’
Tickets for Terminal V
Image: Riverside Festival on Facebook
2023 Lineup: Patrick Topping, Mall Grab, Sherelle, Celeste, Palm Trax, Eclair Fifi, Big Miz
When: Saturday 3rd - Sunday 4th June 2023
Where: Riverside Museum in Glasgow
Situated in the heart of Glasgow, on the banks of the River Clyde, across from the iconic structure of the Riverside Museum is one of Scotland's most epic electronic music events - Riverside Festival.
The almost-annual, weekend rave spectacle, a favourite amongst the city's devoted dance music fans, has previously welcomed some of the biggest names in the electronic genre - names such as Laurent Garnier, Sven Vath, Fatboy Slim, Joris Voorn, Ben Klock, Joy Orbison, Midland... the list goes on.
Celebrating with renewed energy this June, the Riverside Festival organisers are planning to go even bigger than 2022 with the likes of Patrick Topping, Mall Grab and Celeste already confirmed to perform.
Tickets for Riverside Festival
Image: Party at the Palace on Facebook
2023 Lineup: TBA
When: Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th August 2023
Where: Lochside Field Linlithgow in Linlithgow
Linlithgow's award-winning Party at the Palace festival is back in 2023, for another two-day, Loch-side party.
Located in the historical grounds of the beautiful Linlithgow Palace, between Edinburgh and Glasgow, as Scottish festivals go, the two-day event is tip-top, attracting a number of household names, emerging talents and local heroes. Whether it's icons like The Charlatans or KT Tunstall who both played back in 2019 or Sophie Ellis-Bextor, The Human League or Ocean Colour Scene who played last year.
Whilst it remains to be seen whether the lineup will be as good this year, but if past lineups are anything to go off, it’s bound to be a belter.
Tickets for Party at the Palace
Ticket waiting list for Party at the Palace
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Image: Midstock on Facebook
2023 Lineup: QFX, Ultrabeat, MHA IRI, The Phonics, Dirty Harry, Little Mix Magic
When: Friday 26th - Saturday 27th May 2023
Where: Dalkeith Country Park in Edinburgh
Situated on the beautiful and vast grounds of the Dalkeith Country Park, located just southeast of Edinburgh, Midstock is billed as 'Scotland's biggest small festival', with a sense of community at its heart.
Combining great music with top local food and drink, this family-friendly festival has an eclectic mix of daytime fun, well-known acts, and late-night revelry.
The 2023 edition sees a smattering of noughties house/trance legends in QFX, Ultrabeat, and MHA IRI on Friday, and then the Saturday, billed as the family ay, sees a whole host of incredible tribute acts take the stage for a night of pure nostalgia. Get those tickets sorted and don't miss out.
Tickets for Midstock Festival
Ticket waiting list for Midstock Festival 2023
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2023 Lineup: Tide Lines, Beinn Lee, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Hò-rò, Talisk, Rant
When: Saturday 27th May 2023
Where: Inverness Northern Meeting Park in Inverness
Following on from an incredible 2022, The Gathering Festival is back for one day in Inverness, celebrating the best of the Highlands & Scotland.
Celebrating the very best in Highland culture, from traditional Celtic music to food and drink sourced exclusively from across the region, the festival will welcome and showcase homegrown folk talents to thousands of festival-goers.
As music festivals in Scotland go, this tartan-soaked event is by far the most celebratory of the culture and will make any Scot proud of their heritage, whilst also being a learning experience for any who are not as in tune with the country's past; a true cultural celebration that cannot be missed
Tickets for The Gathering
Image: Kelburn Garden Party on Facebook
2023 Lineup: TBA
When: Friday, 30th June - Sunday 2nd July 2023
Where: Kelburn Country Centre in Largs
Interactive art installations, pop-up parties, waterfall plunge pools, workshops, a 13th-century painted castle, The magical Kelburn Garden Party festival is a cultural and artistic safari for the mind, body and soul, featuring a unique programme of music, art and entertainment spread throughout the ancient and spell-binding forest glen and gardens.
This family-friendly, independent event is bursting at the seams with creativity. Turning its back on the standard idea of what a festival should be, entertainment can be found, seen and heard in the most absurd of environments.
2023 sees the magical garden party returning for another year, and bringing it with a host of familiar music names - from London-based electronic music and visual art producer, Max Cooper to radio host and British house DJ Paulette, the legendary Ragga Twins with DJ Krucial, East African rising star Kampire and many more.
Tickets for Kelburn Garden Party
Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
Image: Cultivate on Facebook
2023 Lineup: Charlie Sparks, Franck, Hannah Laing, Matt Guy, Testpress, Tibasko
When: Friday 12th - Saturday 13th May 2023
Cultivate is North East Scotlands’s biggest electronic music festival, set across two days against the backdrop of the beautiful Aberdeen beach.
The festival has become a regular fixture in Scotland's event calendar since 2018 and is renowned for bringing some of the biggest international artists in the world to Aberdeen across multiple indoor and outdoor stages.
The unique venue is custom-built for each event in an old arcade building and features an array of interesting spaces across multiple floors designed to easily accommodate 2500+ ravers per day. Plus, just take a look at that lineup, you’d be silly not to get down and see what it's all about.
Tickets for Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
Ticket waiting list for Cultivate Festival 2023: Summer Edition
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Image: TRSMT on Facebook
2023 lineup: Pulp, Sam Fender, The 1975, Kasabian, Royal Blood, George Ezra, Aitch, Jamie Webster
When: Friday 7th - Sunday 9th July 2023
Where: Glasgow Green in Glasgow
TRNSMT has quickly become one of the biggest festivals in the UK scene since its inception in 2017 and has come through once again with an incredible lineup for 2023. You’ve got a fantastic range of old and new with Britpop legends Pulp returning to headline the first day, current indie Darling Sam fender headlining the next, and then indie pop superstars The 1975 closing.
Amongst the rest, there's a whole range of incredible talents such as Kasabian, Royal Blood, George Ezra and Jamie Webster to name a few, all acts you’ll see headlining elsewhere. So, get on the phone with your mates and convince them to have a weekend away in Glasgow, you won't regret it.
Find more information on TRNSMT Festival - here
Has this list of incredible festivals in Scotland got you hungry for more? Click here to see more from our festival guides and start planning a summer in 2022 that you won't forget.
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