Discover what’s on in Edinburgh this Spring.

From enchanting musical performances and captivating festivals to intriguing exhibitions and engaging virtual discussions, Edinburgh boasts a kaleidoscope of experiences waiting to be discovered. Dive into our curated list of events below and embark on your journey through Spring. With longer days, blooming flowers, and the city abuzz with Easter traditions, April and May offer a delightful time to visit Edinburgh.

Our guide unveils the quintessence of Edinburgh in spring – from culinary delights to spirited celebrations, it offers insights on where to dine, what to sip, and how to partake in Easter festivities

Music, Theatre and Comedy

March

• Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Edinburgh Playhouse, 27 Feb – 2 Mar
• Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1 Mar
• Vivaldi Four Seasons by Candlelight, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 2 Mar
• Melanie Bracewell: Forget Me Not, The Stand, 2 Mar
• Count Arthur Strong …and It’s Goodnight From Him, EICC, 2 Mar
• Aurie Styla: The Aurator Tour, The Stand, 3 Mar   O MD, Usher Hall, 6 Mar
• Jo Whiley’s 90s Anthems, O2 Academy, 8 Mar
• A Night at the Opera by Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 8 Mar
• The Stranglers, Usher Hall, 9 Mar
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay on Strings, Nicolson Square, 9 Mar
• Bill Bailey: Thoughtifier, Edinburgh Playhouse, 11 Mar   Ellen Kent’s Carmen, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 Mar
• Ellen Kent: Madama Butterfly, Edinburgh Playhouse, 14 Mar
• Josh Pugh: Existin’ La Vida Loca, The Stand, 14 Mar
• Professor Brian Cox: Horizons, A 21st Century Space Odyssey, Edinburgh Playhouse, 15 Mar
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 15 Mar
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Ludovico Einaudi, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 15 Mar
• Moya Brennan, Queens Hall, 16 Mar
• An Evening with Rick Stein, Queens Hall, 17 Mar
• M C Hammersmith: Straight Outta Brompton, The Stand, 19 Mar
• Gipsy Kings feat. Nicolas Reyes, Usher Hall, 20 Mar
• Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 22 Mar
• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight, St Giles’
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Queen, Ghillie Dhu, 23 Mar
• The Lark Ascending by Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 23 Mar
• The Wandering Hearts, Queens Hall, 26 Mar
• The Jesus and Mary Chain: 40 Years, Usher Hall, 27 Mar
• Dirty Dancing in Concert, Usher Hall, 28 Mar
• Frankie Boyle: Lap of Shame, Edinburgh Playhouse, 30 Mar

April

• Glen Hansard, Queens Hall, 1 Apr
• Pretty Woman The Musical, Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 – 13 Apr
• Underworld Live 2024, Usher Hall, 3 – 4 Apr
• Starsailor, Queens Hall. 5 Apr
• The Billy Joel Songbook, Usher Hall, 6 Apr
• Tommy Tiernan: tommedian, Queens Hall, 7 Apr
• Dr John Cooper Clarke: Celebrating 50 Years in
• Showbiz, Queens Hall, 12 – 13 Apr
• Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 12 Apr
• Candlelight: Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, 12 Apr
• Paddington in Concert, Usher Hall, 12 Apr
• Kidz Bop: Never Stop Tour, Usher Hall, 13 Apr
• Lemar: Closer Tour 2024, Assembly Rooms, 13 Apr
• Vivaldi’s Four Seasons & The Lark Ascending by
• Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 13 Apr
• Barenaked Ladies, Assembly Rooms, 15 Apr Josh Baulf & Friends, The Stand, 16 Apr
• Charles Esten, Usher Hall, 20 Apr
• Candlelight Spring: A Tribute to ABBA, Nicolson Square, 20 Apr
• Candlelight Spring: A Tribute to Queen, Nicolson Square, 20 Apr
• Johannes Radebe: House of JoJo, Edinburgh Playhouse, 21 Apr
• Blue, Usher Hall, 25 Apr
• Madagascar The Musical, Edinburgh Playhouse, 25 – 27 Apr
• Rhapsody in Blue by Candlelight, St Giles’ Cathedral, 26 Apr
• Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, O2 Academy, 27 Apr

May

• The Drifters Girl, Edinburgh Playhouse, 30 Apr – 4 May
• Scottish Ballet: Swan Lake, Festival Theatre, 2 – 4 May
• BBC Radio 2 Sounds Of The 80s Live Tour, O2 Academy, 3 May
• Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, Usher Hall, 7 May
• Tom Houghton: It’s Not Ideal, The Stand, 9 May
• Average White Band, Usher Hall, 11 May
• Julian Clary, Queens Hall, 11 May
• The Elvis Tribute Artist World Tour, Edinburgh Playhouse, 14 May
• Romesh Ranganathan: Hustle, Edinburgh Playhouse, 16 – 17 May
• Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals, Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 May
• Edinburgh Playhouse, 19 May
• Chris Kent: Back At It, The Stand, 19 May
• Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, Usher Hall, 21 May   Tom Davis: Underdog, Queens Hall, 24 May
• The Staves, Assembly Rooms, 25 May
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Edinburgh Playhouse, 28 May – 1 Jun
• Iain Stirling: Relevant, Festival Theatre, 31 May

Festivals and Special Events

March

• Edinburgh International Improv Festival, Scottish Storytelling Centre, 29 Feb – 3 Mar
• Eat Out Edinburgh, various venues, 1 – 31 Mar
• Edinburgh Science Festival, various venues, 30 Mar – 14 Apr

April

• Edinburgh Science Festival, various venues, 30 Mar – 14 Apr
• Edinburgh International Harp Festival, George Watson’s, 5 – 9 Apr
• Scottish Vegan Festival, Assembly Rooms, 7 Apr
• Terminal V Festival, Royal Highland Centre, 13 – 15 Apr
• Beltane Fire Festival, Calton Hill, 30 Apr

May

• Whisky Month, various venues, 1 – 31 May
• TradFest Edinburgh, various venues, 3 – 13 May
• Brick Fest Live, Royal Highland Centre, 4 – 6 May
• Hidden Door Festival, secret location, 10 – 11 May
• Pint Of Science Festival, various venues, 13 – 15 May
• Edinburgh International Children’s Festival, various venues, 25 May – 2 Jun

Activities and Experiences

March

• Sing in the Playhouse, Boards Bar, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 Jan – 2 Apr
• Hidden & Haunted Ghost Tour, Blair Street Vaults, 1 Mar – 26 Apr
• Edinburgh Beer Tour, city centre, 1 Mar – 28 Apr
• Historical Walking Tour, city centre, 2 Mar – 28 Apr
• Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience, city centre, 3 Mar – 28 Apr
• Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 5, 12, 15, 19 & 26 Mar
• Taylor Swift Boozy Brunch, YOTEL Edinburgh, 23 Mar

April

• Sing in the Playhouse, Boards Bar, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 Jan – 2 Apr
• Hidden & Haunted Ghost Tour, Blair Street Vaults, 1 Mar – 26 Apr
• Edinburgh Beer Tour, city centre, 1 Mar – 28 Apr
• Historical Walking Tour, city centre, 2 Mar – 28 Apr
• Edinburgh Afternoon Tea Experience, city centre, 3 Mar – 28 Apr
• Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 2, 9, 16, 23, 26 & 30 Apr

May

• Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 7, 10, 14, 21 & 28 May
• Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat
• Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat
• Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, O2 Academy, every Sat & Sun
• Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun
• Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 6 – 12 May
• Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Markets and Fairs

March

• Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat
• Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat
• Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat
• Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, O2 Academy, every Sat & Sun   Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun

March

• Jack & Jill Market, Granton College, 2 Mar

April

• Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 1 – 7 Apr
• Edinburgh Careers Fair, Assembly Rooms, 10 Apr
• Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 27 Apr

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

March

• Connecting Histories, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 30 Jun – 14 Apr
• Uniquely Scottish Silver, National Museum of Scotland, 5 Aug – 26 May
• Rising Tide, National Museum of Scotland, 12 Aug – 14 Apr
• Theravā da Buddhism, National Museum of Scotland, 16 Sep – 9 Jun
• Making Space: Photographs of Architecture, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 7 Oct – 3 Mar
• Monarchs of the Glen, Dovecot Studios, 14 Oct – 2 Mar
• The Scottish Landscape Awards, City Art Centre, 4 Nov – 3 Mar
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Museum of Scotland, 20 Jan – 6 May
• Andy Warhol: The Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 26 Jan – 18 May
• Paolozzi at 100, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 27 Jan – 21 Apr
• Do Ho Suh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 17 Feb – 1 Sep
• Pauline Caulfield Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 8 Mar – 20 Jul
• Candice Lin, Talbot Rice Gallery, 16 Mar – 1 Jun
• Talbot Rice Residents, Talbot Rice Gallery, 16 Mar – 1 Jun
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 23 Mar – 15 Sep

April

• Connecting Histories, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 30 Jun – 14 Apr
• Uniquely Scottish Silver, National Museum of Scotland,
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Museum of Scotland, 20 Jan – 6 May
• Andy Warhol: The Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 26 Jan – 18 May
• Paolozzi at 100, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 27 Jan – 21 Apr
• Do Ho Suh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 17 Feb – 1 Sep
• Pauline Caulfield Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 8 Mar – 20 Jul
• Talbot Rice Residents, Talbot Rice Gallery, 16 Mar – 1 Jun
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 23 Mar – 15 Sep

May

• Uniquely Scottish Silver, National Museum of Scotland, 5 Aug – 26 May
• Theravā da Buddhism, National Museum of Scotland, 16 Sep – 9 Jun
• Wildlife Photographer of the Year, National Museum of Scotland, 20 Jan – 6 May
• Andy Warhol: The Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 26 Jan – 18 May
• Do Ho Suh, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 17 Feb – 1 Sep
• Pauline Caulfield Textiles, Dovecot Studios, 8 Mar – 20 Jul
• Candice Lin, Talbot Rice Gallery, 16 Mar – 1 Jun
• Talbot Rice Residents, Talbot Rice Gallery, 16 Mar – 1 Jun
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 23 Mar – 15 Sep
• National Treasures: Vermeer in Edinburgh, Scottish National Gallery, 10 May – 8 Sep
• Adam Bruce Thomson: The Quiet Path, City Art Centre, 11 May – 6 Oct
• Women in Revolt! Art & Activism in UK…, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 25 May – 26 Jan

Sports and Fundraising Events

March

• Meadows Marathon, The Meadows, 3 Mar

April

• Scottish Kilomathon, various routes, 7 Apr
• Target Ovarian Cancer Running Events, 25 – 26 May
• Edinburgh Marathon Festival, various routes, 26 May