Everything you need to know about Glasgow's 850th celebrations with events on all year long

Celtic Connections is set to kick off the Glasgow 850 celebrations
-Credit:Celtic Connections


This year, Glasgow is set to mark 850 years since its founding with a thrilling year-long programme of exciting events.

This citywide programme of signature events and community-based activities will involve people from across Glasgow and let both visitors and locals alike share in the celebration of our wonderful city.

With events highlighting music, our heritage, the incredible food and drink scene and of course, the city's patron saint, St Mungo, there is loads to enjoy.

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Speaking about the Glasgow 850 celebrations, the organisers say it will allow people at home and abroad to "share their experiences and tell their stories", reflect on the city’s growth, and "inspire ambitions for the future".

They added: "2025 will be a big year for Glasgow as we celebrate the city's 850th birthday. It's a milestone and everyone who has or does call Glasgow home is invited to the party."

From top music festivals like TRNSMT and Celtic Connections and to ceilidhs and piping celebrations, here are just some of the incredible events you can look forward to this year.

Celtic Connections (16 January – 2 February)

With an incredible programme, the world’s leading folk, roots and world music festival, Celtic Connections, leads the celebrations as it launches on January 16.

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The premiere winter festival will illuminate stages across Glasgow from Thursday 16 January to Sunday 2 February, eclipsing dark winter nights with a kaleidoscope of internationally-renowned music, exciting new performances, unique showcases and one-off collaborations.

Around 1,200 musicians from 20 countries will descend on Glasgow for the international celebration of Celtic music.

Clyde Chorus (29 – 31 May, various venues)

Clyde Chorus is the city's flagship music event for Glasgow 850. Celebrating our rich musical heritage, it’s a multi-venue, multi genre event taking place in established and bespoke locations along the River Clyde, including the SEC Armadillo and the Briggait.

People's Palace Pop Up (June ‒ November, various venues)

The People’s Palace holds a special place in Glaswegian hearts and as part of the celebrations, it will be popping up in communities all over the city.

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With the iconic building closed for a major refurbishment, the People’s Palace Pop Up programme will see Glasgow’s fascinating social history explored in a new way, with historic artefacts, paintings, prints and photographs touring to various corners of the city.

Taste the Place (April)

As part of Glasgow’s 850th Anniversary celebrations, Taste the Place will provide the chance for locals and visitors to learn more about the history of Glasgow’s hospitality scene by eating their way around the city.

Launching in April, Taste the Place offers a series of free self-guided experiences, designed to celebrate (and show off) a key ingredient in Glasgow’s vibrant culture – its food scene. Each experience has been created to offer inspiration for discovering new foods and culinary offerings, all served from independent businesses who call Glasgow home. The destination, however, is up to you.

St Mungo Festival (January and June)

Marking the Feast Day of St Mungo on January 13, the St Mungo Festival celebrates our patron saint through free events and exhibitions which bring alive the story of the city’s founding to all its people.

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In addition to a wider January programme, June will see the 2025 Molendinar Lecture, and a celebration of the city’s High Street, the thoroughfare upon which Glasgow was founded and out from which it grew.

Glasgow Film Festival (26 February – 9 March, GFT)

Youth Takeover (Friday, February 28) – Hosted by the Young Ambassadors of Glasgow 850, this pop-up event of free cinema, activities and food for under 25s is aimed at young people with a passion for film.

Community Takeover Day (Saturday, March 8) – Glasgow Film Festival Community Takeover Day is a free cinema event, created with and for our communities around Glasgow, and will be a day of free film, activities and food. This event will cater to all ages and will be planned by members of the local community.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival (12 – 30 March, various locations across Glasgow)

Gray Matters: A Laugh for Glasgow’s 850 Years, 23 March, Òran Mór

Ashley Storrie, Christopher Macarthur-Boyd and Alan Bisset will offer three performances using comedy to celebrate the life of writer and artist Alasdair Gray as part of the Glasgow 850 events.

2025 would have seen Alasdair Gray’s 90th birthday, and the Alasdair Gray Archives will celebrate their fifth anniversary this year.

Yardworks Festival (3 & 4 May, SWG3)

A vibrant celebration of urban art culture, Yardworks brings together international and local talent for a dynamic weekend of live painting and creativity.

Held on the first weekend in May, the festival transforms the Yardworks site at SWG3 into a colourful canvas where artists showcase their skills and innovation. The event offers more than art, featuring delicious food, engaging activities, and a welcoming atmosphere that’s both family and dog-friendly.

Glasgow Mela (22 June, Kelvingrove Park)

The Glasgow Mela, Scotland’s largest South Asian festival, celebrates the vibrant diversity of the city with music, dance, poetry and interactive activities, all showcasing South Asian culture.

Held annually in Kelvingrove Park, this free festival offers global cuisine, artisan crafts, and family-friendly experiences, creating an inclusive space for cultural exchange. As part of Glasgow 850, the Mela in 2025 will highlight the contributions of South Asian culture and heritage to the city’s history.

TRNSMT Festival (11 – 13 July, Glasgow Green)

Music fans will return to the TRNSMT Festival at Glasgow Green this summer
Music fans will return to the TRNSMT Festival at Glasgow Green this summer -Credit:Roberto Ricciuti/Redferns/Getty

Taking over Glasgow Green each July, TRNSMT brings some huge stars to the city for three days of fun.

This year, TRNSMT will bring Glasgow 850 to life at the River Stage, showcasing musical talent from across the city.

Merchant City Festival – Mass Cèilidh (19 July, Brunswick Street)

This year, people across Glasgow can join in a mass street cèilidh at the city's vibrant and exciting outdoor multi-arts festival.

As well as the well-known dances, they will be celebrating the Gaelic roots of the cèilidh tradition with poetry and storytelling. Free and open to everyone, whatever your experience!

Piping Live! (11 – 17 August, National Piping Centre)

The world’s biggest week of bagpipes welcomes artists and audiences from across the world to more than 100 events across the city, featuring concerts, come-and-try sessions, recitals, talks, and performances by pipers from indigenous traditions across the world.

As part of Glasgow 850, Piping Live! will come to Pollokshields, Castlemilk and Ibrox community venues. With come and-try sessions, games and more, these sessions will be a great introduction to the bagpipes for all the family.

Govanhill International Festival & Carnival ‒ Irish Roots Project (August, various locations across Govanhill)

Featuring a dynamic programme that celebrates the significant contribution the Irish community has made to the social, cultural, and economic history of Glasgow.

There will be Irish Heritage events and talks by local historians, artists, and cultural organisations, including the ‘The Derry Boat to Donegal Hill’ heritage trail; school workshops; Irish language and singing sessions; the Irish History Group Oral History Project, and the Irish Heritage & Cultural Archive.

GlasGLOW (24 October – 9 November, Glasgow Botanic Gardens)

The hugely popular Halloween event is throwing a huge GlasGLOW 850 birthday party, with the experience, which brings the Botanic Gardens to life using world-class sound, light and set design, joining in the fun.

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