September 2020

Please be advised that due to the current Covid-19 situation, many events for 2020 will now be cancelled or rescheduled. Please check with individual event organisers.

A selection of autumn events in Scotland

Largs Viking Festival
29 August - 6 September 2020, Ayrshire
Annual event which marks the Battle of Largs in 1263 (the last mainland battle between the Scots and Norse). Now in its 40th year!

Doors Open Days
1-30 September 2020
Doors Open Days give you free access to hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland. Every weekend in September you can explore places that are normally closed to the public. Some open up once a year, some just once in a lifetime...

Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight
tbc 1 - 16 September 2020
Variety of events across Scotland.

Borders Heritage Festival
tbc 1-30 September 2020

Speyside Whisky Distilled
tbc September 2020, Elgin Town Hall
A celebration of Speyside Whisky

Dundee Flower and Food Festival
4 - 6 September 2020, Camperdown Country Park, Dundee
Dundee's big floral and foodie event of the year.

Clan Hunter Gathering
4 - 6 September 2020, North Ayrshire
International Clan Hunter Gathering at Hunterston Castle.

The Royal Burgh of Peebles Highland Games
5 September 2020, Peebles
Pipe band contest, Highland dancing, traditional heavy events, trade stands, craft tent and beer tent.

Braemar Gathering
5 September 2020, Braemar
International athletes will be among those taking part in the "heavy" and "track" events. Pipers and dancers will be of the usual high standard while teams from H.M. Forces will compete in the InterServices Unit Tug of War Championship and in the Services Medley Relay Race.

Carve Carrbridge
5 September 2020, Carrbridge
Competition for the Claymore Trophy of the best chainsaw carvers from the UK and the World. A full day of events, with stalls, music, food and entertainment for the whole family.

Dalmally Show
tbc 5 September 2020
Annual agricultural show in Argyll.

Ben Nevis Race
tbc 5 September 2020
Hill race up and down Britain's highest mountain (near Fort William).

Scottish Borders Walking Festival
5 - 12 September 2020 - various venues around Jedburgh
A week long celebration of walking and the Borders countryside.

Perthshire Open Studios
5 - 13 September 2020
artists and makers throughout Perthshire and Kinross-Shire opening their studios and workshops to the public, many of them giving demonstrations and all of them welcoming visitors

Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games
6 September 2020, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Traditional Highland game events including heavyweights, running, Highland dancing, piping, etc. Also includes the International Highland Games Federation Stones of Strength Scottish Final.

Motormania
tbc 6 September 2020, Grantown-on-Spey
Around 500 Classic Cars on display, with their owners only too delighted to talk about them. Stands, pipers, Highland dancing, great fun!

Kirriemuir Festival of Music and Song
tbc September 2020, Angus
Music, dances, ceilidhs in various venues around Kirriemuir.

Canines at the Castle
tbc September 2020, Glamis Castle, Angus
Huge doggy event in the grounds of Glamis Castle.

Glencoe Marathon
6 September 2020
Marathons don't get any more dramatic than in Glen Coe.

Nairn Book and Arts Festival
8 - 13 September 2020
Some of the best- known faces in the country are here - from top authors to ex-politicians and experts on military history, forensic medicine and antiques - alongside poets, comedians, children’s entertainers, a superb line-up of musicians from across Scotland and an exciting visual arts programme to suit every taste.

Linlithgow Folk Festival
9 - 13 September 2020

Islay Jazz Festival
tbc mid September 2020, Isle of Islay

Stranraer Oyster Festival
11 - 13 September 2020
Celebrating this area's coastal heritage, its people and its local produce.

Pitlochry Highland Games
12 September 2020, Recreation Ground, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Traditional Highland games with piping, Highland dancing, heavy events, track and field, grand pipe band contest for grades 1 to 4 and novice juvenile. There will also be a grand finale of massed bands.

Etape Loch Ness
13 September 2020 (rescheduled from April)
Cycle race of 67 miles/107 km around Loch Ness

Tour of Britain
13 September 2020
The UK's biggest bike race comes to Aberdeenshire with hundreds of cyclists competing in the 8th and final phase of the week-long challenge. The race will start in Penzance on 6 September and the champion will be crowned in Aberdeen.

North East Open Studios
tbc mid September 2020, Aberdeenshire
North East Open Studios (NEOS) across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is one of the UK’s largest open studios events.

Northern Lights Festival
12 - 19 September 2020, Wick
This special week-long outdoor light and arts festival celebrates Wick Harbour and the Caithness Coastline as part of Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. Explore the heritage and history of the Far North of Scotland, enjoy nightly pop-up performances, coastal culinary treats and a special closing procession.

Spirit of Moray Book Festival
15 - 19 September 2020, Elgin
This 5-day festival includes sessions with authors such as Sue Lawrence and Rosemary Goring, as well as Christopher Brookmyre and his wife who write together under the name Ambrose Parry. Cyclist Mark Beaumont will be talking about his book 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

Ayr Gold Cup
17 - 19 September 2020, Ayr Racecourse
One of the big events on the Scottish horse racing calendar.

Bloody Scotland
18 - 20 September 2020, Stirling
Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival

Camanachd Cup Final
19 September 2020, Kingussie, Scottish Highlands
The big final of Scotland's annual shinty competition will be followed by The Final Fling - a music concert featuring Manran, Peat & Diesel and Keir Gibson.

Doune Hill Climb Car Competition
19 September 2020, Perthshire

Aviemore Triathlon
20 September 2020, Aviemore
There are 2 courses to suit all abilities based around Loch Morlich and Glenmore Forest in the heart of the spectacular Cairngorm National Park.

True North
tbc September 2020, Aberdeen
True North is Aberdeen’s annual music festival and Fringe.

Skyrunning
19 - 22 September 2020, Lochaber
Elite mountain running and alpinism race in the magnificent settings of the Mamores, Ring of Steall, Ben Nevis and Glencoe.

Blair Atholl Music and Scottish Craft Beer Festival
tbc September 2020

Wigtown Book Festival
25 September - 4 October 2020, Dumfries & Galloway
The Lowlands have their own romance, giving birth to many of the writers, thinkers, warriors, explorers and inventors who have helped to shape the modern world. Hear their stories and explore the link between Galloway's stunning Lowland landscape and its people; drop in for a dram at Scotland's most southerly distillery and discover the lands where Robert the Bruce earned his spurs.

Spirit of the North
26 September 2020, Bogbain Farm near Inverness
Whisky and gin tasting festival

World Stone Skimming Championship
27 September 2019, Isle of Easdale, Argyll
Unique annual event on a very small island near Oban

Torridon Mountain and Sea Festival
tbc September 2020, Wester Ross, north west Highlands
Variety of events including guided walks, kayaking, mountain scrambling and also an Ale Festival

Tidelines Book Festival
tbc late September 2020, Irvine, Ayrshire