Why 2026 is the year to visit Scotland
As we stand at the close of 2025 and look back on a year that has seen Scotland shine with remarkable brilliance, there is a palpable sense of momentum building for what lies ahead. The past twelve months have delivered everything we love about our country, but with a level of energy that felt truly historic.
We saw the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society wrap up a triumphant 2025 season with an incredible 2.6 million tickets issued across nearly 3,900 shows. At the same time, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrated its landmark 75th anniversary with a show that captivated a live audience of 220,000 spectators on the iconic castle esplanade. These figures show the enduring and global appeal of the Scottish spirit. If 2025 was a year of celebrating our deep rooted traditions, then 2026 is shaping up to be the year of transformation and unparalleled adventure for every traveller.
The 2010 Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pictured
The primary reason that 2026 stands out as a landmark year is the way the country has evolved to offer a deeper and more immersive connection with the landscape. While headlines will certainly be dominated by the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games between the 23rd of July and the 2nd of August, the real story for the traveller is found in the spaces between these events. 2026 marks a turning point for slow travel in the Highlands. We are seeing a move away from the frantic pace of "ticking boxes" and a return to the grand tour style of exploration. It is a year where the focus shifts to the quality of the journey, the stories told along the way, and the discovery of glens and coastal paths that remain untouched by the masses. For anyone who has ever wanted to see the true Scotland, 2026 offers a perfectly balanced environment where the vibrance of our cities is matched by the profound silence of our wild places.
The timing of the major festivals provides a brilliant anchor for a wider exploration. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe will run from the 7th to the 31st of August 2026, and the Edinburgh International Festival takes place from the 7th to the 30th of August 2026. When you combine these with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo from the 7th to the 29th of August, you have a cultural super month. But in 2026, the savvy traveller will use these events as a gateway to the Scottish Highlands. Imagine spending a few days immersed in the artistic explosion of the capital before being whisked away on a private journey into the heart of the Cairngorms or out to the jagged cliffs of the Atlantic coast. This contrast is what makes 2026 such a compelling prospect. It is the ability to witness the world’s greatest sporting and cultural spectacles and then, within a matter of hours, find yourself in a landscape where the only other living soul is a red deer stag on a distant ridge.
Planning your ultimate 2026 Highland tour?
While the big cities will be buzzing with activity, the true magic of 2026 will be found in the way we connect with the rugged landscape of the Highlands. To meet the growing demand for meaningful and shared experiences, we have released a small group Isle of Skye and Inverness trip specifically for early May. Running from the 4th to the 7th of May 2026, this tour captures the Highlands at their most breathtaking and revitalised. May is often considered the secret peak season in Scotland, offering the best chance of clear skies and the longest daylight hours before the midsummer rush begins. This four day journey is a carefully curated exploration of the most iconic landscapes in Scotland. We will wander through the jagged beauty of the Trotternish Peninsula, stand before the ancient and weathered stones of the Isle of Skye, and explore the historic heart of Inverness. With only 16 spaces available, this tour is about quality over quantity, allowing for a level of camaraderie and personal insight that larger groups simply cannot offer.
For those who prefer a more tailored pace, our bespoke tours remain the ultimate way to see Scotland in 2026. Whether you want to align your trip with the fiery spectacle of Up Helly Aa in Shetland on the 27th of January or the melodic traditions of Celtic Connections in Glasgow, which runs from the 15th of January to the 1st of February, we can build an itinerary that revolves around your specific interests. You might be drawn to the rugged west coast for the Mull Music Festival in late April or the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway from the 15th to the 18th of July. From the Highland Games circuit that runs all summer to the prestige of the Braemar Gathering on the 5th of September, a bespoke journey ensures you are always exactly where you need to be to witness the heart of the action.
Beyond the major headlines, 2026 is also about the smaller and more intimate regional events that offer a deeper look into the Scottish way of life. In March, the Glasgow International Comedy Festival provides a fantastic shoulder season reason to visit the west, while the Inverness Half Marathon on the 8th of March offers an active travel incentive for those who want to see the Highlands at a faster pace. As the year progresses, events like Skye Live in early May and the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival near Inverness in late July provide a perfect blend of modern music and traditional Highland atmosphere. These festivals are often where you will find the most authentic interactions, away from the more traditional tourist trails. The sheer variety of events means that no matter when you choose to visit, there is a cultural anchor for your journey.
Skye Live Festival in Portree
According to the latest International Tourism Performance reports from VisitScotland, international visitor spending reached record heights of £4 billion in 2024, with a significant trend toward longer stays and higher spend per trip. This suggests that travellers are no longer just looking to tick boxes but are seeking deeper and more immersive connections with the places they visit. This is precisely what we aim to provide with our private tours. 2026 is the year to discover the quiet glens of Wester Ross, the pristine beaches of the Outer Hebrides, or the ancient woodlands of the Cairngorms at a pace that allows you to actually breathe in the surroundings. It is about finding those moments of stillness between the grand spectacles of the Commonwealth Games or the Edinburgh festivals.
Because 2026 is such a multifaceted year, planning ahead is more important than ever. The return of the Commonwealth Games and the continued popularity of the Edinburgh festivals means that accommodation and tour spaces will be at a premium throughout the summer months. To help you navigate the year, we recommend considering three key planning windows. First, the winter and spring periods are perfect for those who enjoy fire festivals and folk music, especially with our first group tour in May. Second, the summer peak is the time for the full festival and Commonwealth Games experience, though we recommend booking accommodation at least nine to twelve months in advance. Finally, the autumn culture trail in October is ideal for those who love Gaelic culture, anchored by the Royal National Mòd in Glasgow from the 9th to the 17th of October.
While many travellers visit for these specific events, the time spent on the road exploring the Highlands is often the true highlight of their journey. Our role is to provide the expert guiding and transport that brings the landscape to life, fitting seamlessly into the time you have carved out for your Scottish adventure. You should not feel restricted by fixed schedules, as the most rewarding way to see the country is to work with our team to create your own customised tour and explore Scotland your way. Whether you are using your own base in the city or looking for a dedicated multi day expedition, we focus on providing the storytelling and local insight that turns a simple drive into a lifelong memory.
For those who have a few days to dedicate to the Highlands between other plans, a four or five day private tour offers a perfect balance of depth and efficiency. A popular way to structure this is with a 4 day Isle of Skye and Inverness tour, which allows enough time to move beyond the famous viewpoints and really feel the rhythm of the islands. This length of tour is ideal because it covers the dramatic scenery of Glencoe and the rugged coastlines of Skye without feeling rushed. If you are visiting on a much tighter schedule, perhaps just for a weekend, a Scotland in a Day tour can be a transformative addition to a city stay, providing a full day highlight reel of lochs, mountains, and Highland villages that ensures you do not leave without seeing the wilder side of the north.
For the traveller who wants the definitive experience, a longer journey of ten to twelve days allows for an incredible level of immersion. Our ten day tour, affectionately known as The Beast, is a sweeping loop that covers the absolute best of the country in one journey. This itinerary allows us to take you from the historic streets of St Andrews and the whisky heartland of Speyside all the way to the white sand beaches of Lewis and Harris. Spending this much time on a private tour means we can truly escape the crowds, finding those silent, ancient corners of the Highlands that require a bit more time to reach. It is the ultimate way to see the country, where the tour itself becomes the core of your Scottish experience.
Ultimately, 2026 is about more than just a list of events or a collection of landmarks. It is about a country that is coming alive with a renewed sense of pride and energy. While the Commonwealth Games and the Edinburgh festivals provide the vibrant "loud" moments of the year, the "quiet" moments found on a single track road in the Highlands or on a ferry crossing to the Hebrides are what stay with you. Scotland is a country that never stands still, and the coming year promises to be one of the most exciting and transformative in our recent history.
The road is open, the mountains are waiting, and there has never been a better time to say yes to the call of the north. Whether you are here for the roar of the stadium or the silence of the glen, 2026 offers a chance to reconnect with something wild and wonderful. Let 2026 be the year you finally see the Scotland you have always dreamed of, guided by those who know and love it best. We look forward to welcoming you to the Highlands and sharing the magic that makes this year so incredibly unique for you.