Summer is finally at an end and Autumn has arrived. No matter what time of year you visit Edinburgh, you’re guaranteed to be spoilt rotten for things to do and see. As the summer comes to an end the city becomes somewhat quieter after the past couple of months when the festivals are at their peak, although this year is different from usual. Edinburgh this Autumn holds some great events and is the ideal time to visit our stunning city and explore at a slower pace.

Edinburgh this Autumn

September

September is a warm autumn month in Edinburgh, with an average temperature of 13°C. In addition to the events listed below, there are a wonderful variety of tourist attractions to enjoy including Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House at either end of the famous Royal Mile. Here’s what’s on in Edinburgh in September 2022.

Music, Theatre and Comedy

Professor Brian Cox: Horizons World Tour, Edinburgh Playhouse, 1 Sep

Foy Vance, Queens Hall, 1 Sep

Embrace, O2 Academy, 1 Sep

Jane McDonald, Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 Sep

No Such Thing as a Fish, Usher Hall, 2 Sep,

Music of Lord of the Rings, GOT and Beyond, Edinburgh Playhouse, 3 Sep

Sister Act, Festival Theatre, 6 – 15 Sep

Adam Kay: This is going to hurt .. Usher Hall, 7 Sep

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK: Series 3 Tour, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 Sep

Jo Whiley: 90s Anthems Tour 2022, O2 Academy, 9 Sep

The Book of Mormon, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 Sep – 8Oct

Giants of Soul, O2 Academy, 17 Sep

The Osmonds: A New Musical, Festival Theatre, 20 – 24 Sep

Star sailor, The Caves, 21 Sep

Madeleine Peyroux, Usher Hall, 22 Sep

Don McLean: 50th Anniversary of American Pie, Usher Hall, 27 Sep

Ian Brown, O2 Academy, 27 Sep

Sean McLoughlin: So Be It, The Stand, 29 Sep

Richard Marx, Queens Hall, 30 Sep

James IV: Queen of the Fight, Festival Theatre, 30 Sep – 8 Oct

Festivals and Special Events

Great British Food Festival, Dalkeith Country Park, 10 –11 Sep

The Gin to my Tonic Festival, EICC, 10 – 11 Sep

Edinburgh Riding of the Marches, city centre, 22 Sep

Big Gin Festival, O2 Academy, 23 – 24 Sep

EH1 Festival, Royal Highland Centre, 24 Sep

Doors Open Days, various venues, 24 – 25 Sep

BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour, Festival Theatre, 25 Sep

Markets, Fairs and Workshops

Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat

Grass market Weekly Market, Grass market, every Sat

Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat

Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal, every Sat &Sun

Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun

Edinburgh Antiques & Collectors Fair, RHC, 3 – 4 Sep

Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition, Murrayfield Stadium, 3– 4 Sep

Castle St Fair, Castle Street, 5 – 11 Sep

Jack & Jill Market, Edinburgh College Granton, 10 Sep

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 24Sep

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

You are here 2022, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 5Feb – 8 Jan

Masterpieces from Buckingham Palace, Palace of Holyroodhouse, 25 Mar – 25 Sep

Barbara Hepworth: Art & Life, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 9 Apr – 2 Oct

Japanese Contemporary Design, National Museum of Scotland, 6 May – 5 Mar

The Silver Casket, National Museum of Scotland, 19 May – 1 Nov

National Treasure: The Scottish Modern Arts Association, City Art Centre, 21 May – 16 Oct

Annette Krauss: A Matter of Precedents, Collective, 1Jun – 4 Sep

Will Maclean: Points of Departure, City Art Centre, 4 Jun– 2 Oct

Camara Taylor: backwash, Collective, 18 Jun – 4 Sep

Alan Davie: Beginning of a Far-off World, Dovecot Studios, 24 Jun – 24 Sep

Céline Condorelli: After Work, Talbot Rice Gallery, 25Jun – 1 Oct

Ruth Ewan: The Beast, Collective, 25 Jun – 18 Sep

Raphael: Magister Raffaello, Dovecot Studios, 1 Jul – 24 Sep

Anatomy: A Matter of Death and Life, National Museum of Scotland, 1 Jul – 13 Nov

The Modern Institute: Space Forgets You, Dovecot Studios, 8 Jul – 17 Sep

Platinum Jubilee Display, Palace of Holyrood house, 14Jul – 25 Sep

A Taste for Impressionism: Modern French Art…Scottish National Gallery, 30 Jul – 13 Nov

Stephanie Black-Daniels: Position & Attachment, Collective, 17 Sep – 20 Nov

Sport and Fundraising Events

Race for Life: Pretty Muddy, Royal Highland Centre, 10Sep

October

October is the mild autumn month in Edinburgh, with an average temperature of 10°C. It is also the rainiest month of the year, so bring an umbrella! If it does rain, there are lots of indoor attractions to discover, including the Scotch Whisky Experience, Camera Obscura and World of Illusions and The Edinburgh Dungeons. Here’s what’s on in Edinburgh in October 2022.

Music, Theatre and Comedy

The Book of Mormon, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 Sep – 8Oct

James IV: Queen of the Fight, Festival Theatre, 30 Sep –8 Oct

Calum Scott, Queens Hall, 1 Oct

10cc, Usher Hall, 5 Oct

Boyzlife: Old School Tour, Usher Hall, 8 Oct

Newton Faulkner, Queens Hall, 8 Oct

Harry Hill: Pedigree Fun, Festival Theatre, 9 Oct

Pink Martini, Usher Hall, 10 Oct

The Cher Show, Festival Theatre, 11 – 15 Oct

Al Stewart with his band The Empty Pockets, Queens Hall, 14 Oct

Elf Lyons: Raven, The Stand, 15 Oct

The Snuts, Usher Hall, 15 Oct

Will Young, Usher Hall, 16 Oct

Freedom starring Joe McElderry, Festival Theatre, 17Oct

Girl from the North Country, Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 –22 Oct

The Wannadies, Summerhall, 19 Oct

Samantha Fish, Queens Hall, 19 Oct

Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Queens Hall, 21 Oct

Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo, Festival Theatre, 21 – 22 Oct

Michael Palin: From North Korea into Iraq, Queens Hall, 21 Oct

The Enemy, 02 Academy, 22 Oct

Rob Newman, The Stand, 23 Oct

Whitney Queen of the Night, Usher Hall, 25 Oct

South Pacific, Festival Theatre, 25 – 27 Oct

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Edinburgh Playhouse, 25 – 29 Oct

Kosheen: Resist 20th Anniversary Tour, Summerhall, 28 Oct

Howard Jones Acoustic Trio, Queens Hall, 29 Oct

Paolo Nutini, O2 Academy, 31 Oct

Festivals and Special Events

Oktoberfest, West Princes Street Gardens, 6 – 9 Oct

Edinburgh Cocktail Week, various venues, 7 – 16 Oct

Edinburgh Zoo Spooktacular, Edinburgh Zoo, 7 – 31 Oct

Comic Con Scotland, Royal Highland Centre, 8 – 9 Oct

Scottish International Storytelling Festival, various venues, 14 – 30 Oct

Edinburgh Horror Festival, various venues, 27 – 31 Oct

Edinburgh Short Film Festival, Summer hall, 28 Oct – 13Nov

Wondrous Woods, Hopetoun House, TBC

Whisky Stramash, Surgeons’ Hall, TBC

Samhuinn Fire Parade, city centre route, TBC