What’s on in Edinburgh this Winter 2023

What’s on this Winter?

As winter blankets Edinburgh in a cosy embrace, the city transforms into a wonderland of festive cheer and enchanting experiences. From family-friendly adventures to cultural festivals, there’s something for everyone to enjoy amidst the crisp winter air. Let’s embark on a journey through Edinburgh’s winter wonderland with a closer look at the top attractions and events across various categories.

Family-Friendly Things to Do: Winter in Edinburgh offers a host of family-friendly activities to create cherished memories. Glide across the ice at the Edinburgh Christmas Ice Rink in St Andrew Square, where laughter fills the air and twinkling lights set the scene for a magical experience. Take a ride on the Christmas Wheel for panoramic views of the city adorned in sparkling decorations. For a touch of nostalgia, explore the Christmas markets along Princes Street Gardens, where little ones can marvel at festive displays and indulge in sweet treats.  Learn more

Events and Festivals: Edinburgh comes alive with festive spirit during the winter months, hosting a plethora of events and festivals to celebrate the season. The Edinburgh Christmas Market, one of the most anticipated events of the year, transforms the city into a winter wonderland with its charming stalls, fairground rides, and live entertainment. Don’t miss the annual Edinburgh’s Christmas festivities, featuring enchanting light displays, theatrical performances, and Santa’s Grotto, where children can share their wishes with the jolly man himself. Learn more

Best Sights and Landmarks: Winter casts a magical spell over Edinburgh’s iconic sights and landmarks, transforming them into enchanting winter wonderlands. Marvel at the majestic Edinburgh Castle, illuminated against the night sky, and stroll along the Royal Mile, adorned with festive decorations and bustling with holiday shoppers. For panoramic views of the city blanketed in snow, climb Arthur’s Seat or venture to Calton Hill, where you can capture breath-taking photographs of Edinburgh’s winter beauty. Learn more

In conclusion, Edinburgh’s winter wonderland offers a magical escape filled with festive cheer, enchanting experiences, and seasonal delights. Whether you’re exploring the Christmas markets, enjoying family-friendly activities, or admiring the city’s iconic landmarks adorned in twinkling lights, Edinburgh promises an unforgettable winter getaway for all to enjoy.

Music, Theatre and Comedy

January 2023

My Fair Lady, Edinburgh Playhouse, 14 Dec – 7 Jan

Panto: Snow White, Festival Theatre, 17 Dec – 22 Jan

Final Fling featuring Tide Lines, Princes Street Gardens,1 Jan

Shen Yun, Edinburgh Playhouse, 11 – 12 Jan

Sing-a-Long-a Encanto, Edinburgh Playhouse, 14 Jan

Kula Shaker, Liquid Room, 19 Jan

Mc Fleetwood, Freddie, Queen Experience, O2 Academy, 20 Jan

Burns, Edinburgh Playhouse, 20 – 21 Jan

Jersey Boys, Edinburgh Playhouse, 24 Jan – 4 Feb

Hey Duggee Live, Festival Theatre, 27 – 29 Jan

An Inspector Calls, Festival Theatre, 31 Jan – 4 Feb

February 2023

Jersey Boys, Edinburgh Playhouse, 24 Jan – 4 Feb

An Inspector Calls, Festival Theatre, 31 Jan – 4 Feb

Prue Leith: Nothing In Moderation, EICC, 4 Feb

Urzila Carlson, The Stand, 9 Feb

Ellen Kent’s La Bohème, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 Feb

Ellen Kent’s Madama Butterfly, Edinburgh Playhouse,10 Feb

Ellen Kent’s Aida, Edinburgh Playhouse, 11 Feb

John Barrowman, Usher Hall, 10 Feb

Randy Newman, Usher Hall, 17 Feb

Showaddywaddy, Edinburgh Playhouse, 17 Feb

Belinda Carlisle, Usher Hall, 18 Feb

The Rock Orchestra by Candlelight, Edinburgh Playhouse, 18 Feb

Parenting Hell Live: Work In Progress, Queens Hall, 18Feb

Janey Godley, Festival Theatre, 19 Feb

The Bodyguard, Edinburgh Playhouse, 20 – 25 Feb

Queen Extravaganza, Usher Hall, 21 Feb

Paul Smith: Joker, O2 Academy, 25 Feb

Rambert Dance: Peaky Blinders, Festival Theatre, 28Feb – 4 Mar

Festivals and Special Events

Manipulate Festival, various venues, 2 – 12 Feb

Capital Sci-Fi Con, O2 Academy, 11 – 12 Feb

March 2023

Rambert Dance: Peaky Blinders, Festival Theatre, 28Feb – 4 Mar

Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously, Edinburgh Playhouse, 1 Mar

Varna International Ballet: Giselle, Edinburgh Playhouse, 2 Mar

Varna International Ballet: Swan Lake, Edinburgh Playhouse, 3 Mar

Varna International Ballet: Nutcracker, Edinburgh Playhouse, 4 Mar

Axel Blake: In Style, Queens Hall, 4 Mar

The Story of Soul, Festival Theatre, 5 Mar

Tubular Bells: 50th Anniversary, Festival Theatre, 6 Mar

Fatboy Slim, O2 Academy, 9 Mar

Michael McIntyre Live, Edinburgh Playhouse, 9 – 10 Mar

Tide Lines, Usher Hall, 11 Mar

Jim Jefferies, Edinburgh Playhouse, 11 Mar

I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Edinburgh Playhouse, 12 Mar

The Classic Rock Show 2023, Usher Hall, 13 Mar

The Rocky Horror Show, Edinburgh Playhouse, 13 – 18Mar

Buddy, Festival Theatre, 14 – 18 Mar

KT Tunstall, Usher Hall, 15 Mar

Annie, Edinburgh Playhouse, 21 – 25 Mar

Tom Houghton: Absolute Shambles, The Stand, 21 Mar

Death Cab for Cutie, Usher Hall, 22 Mar

Tori Amos, Queens Hall, 25 Mar

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Swan Lake, Festival Theatre,29 Mar – 1 Apr

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Edinburgh Playhouse, 29 Mar – 15 Apr

Activities and Experiences

January 2023

Edinburgh Dungeon Lates (18+), Edinburgh Dungeon, every Fri

Anansi and the Pot of Wisdom Family Event, Museum of Edinburgh, 7 Jan

Robert Louis Stevenson Poetry & Art Family Workshop, Writers’ Museum, 8 Jan

Museum Collections Centre Tour, Museum Collections Centre, Broughton Market, 10 & 24 Jan

Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 10, 17, 24, 27 & 31 Jan

Art and Textiles Workshops, Dovecot Studios, 14, 21 & 28 Jan

Nature Art Family Activity, City Art Centre, 21 Jan

February 2023

Museum Collections Centre Tour, Museum Collections Centre, Broughton Market, 7 & 14 Feb

Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 7, 14, 21, 24 &28 Feb

Space Art Family Activity, City Art Centre, 11 Feb

A Sense of Place Family Art Session, City Art Centre, 19Feb

Collection Centre Tour, National Museums Collection Centre, Granton Road, 22 Feb

Silhouettes in a Landscape Art Workshop, City Art Centre, 25 Feb

March 2023

Women in Your Life Family Art Activity, City Art Centre,4 Mar

Edinburgh Ceilidh Club, various venues, 7, 14, 21 & 24 Mar

Collection Centre Tour, National

Markets and Fairs

Edinburgh Farmers Market, Castle Terrace, every Sat

Grassmarket Weekly Market, Grassmarket, every Sat

Leith Market, Dock Place, every Sat

Ocean Terminal Market, Ocean Terminal, every Sat & Sun

Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, O2 Academy, every Sat & Sun

Stockbridge Market, Saunders Street, every Sun

January 2023

Christmas Market, Princes Street Gardens, 25 Nov – 3Jan

Luxury Scottish Wedding Show, The Balmoral, 22 Jan

Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition, Murrayfield Stadium, 28– 29 Jan

Jack & Jill Market, Edinburgh College Granton, 28 Jan

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 28 Jan

February 2023

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, O2 Academy, TBC

March 2023

Big Wedding Fair & Fashion Show, O2 Academy, 4 –5 Mar

Edinburgh Careers Fair, Assembly Rooms, 16 Mar

Edinburgh Flea Market, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, TBC

Edinburgh Car Boot Sale, O2 Academy, TBC

Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions

January 2023

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

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

Katie Schwab: The Seeing Hands, Collective, 7 Oct – 5Mar

Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood, Dovecot Studios, 15 Oct– 11 Mar

Respect! Caribbean life in Edinburgh, Museum of Edinburgh, 16 Oct – 19 Feb

Qiu Zhijie, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Lara Favaretto, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Nira Pereg, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Artists at Work 2, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 29Oct – 12 Feb

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, National Museum of Scotland, 5 Nov – 23 Apr

Glean: Early 20th Century Women Filmmakers …

CityArt Centre, 12 Nov – 12 Mar

Ron O’Donnell: Edinburgh A Lost World, City Art Centre,19 Nov – 5 Mar

In the Frame: Conserving Scotland’s Art, Scottish National Gallery, 19 Nov – 16 Apr

Paul Duke: No Ruined Stone, City Art Centre, 26 Nov –26 Feb

Auld Reekie Retold, City Art Centre, 3 Dec – 19 Feb

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, National Museum of Scotland, 9 Dec – 1 May

February 2023

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

Katie Schwab: The Seeing Hands, Collective, 7 Oct – 5Mar

Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood, Dovecot Studios, 15 Oct– 11 Mar

Respect! Caribbean life in Edinburgh, Museum of Edinburgh, 16 Oct – 19 Feb

Qiu Zhijie, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Lara Favaretto, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Nira Pereg, Talbot Rice Gallery, 29 Oct – 18 Feb

Artists at Work 2, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, 29Oct – 12 Feb

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, National Museum of Scotland, 5 Nov – 23 Apr

Glean: Early 20th Century Women Filmmakers …

CityArt Centre, 12 Nov – 12 Mar

Ron O’Donnell: Edinburgh A Lost World, City Art Centre,19 Nov – 5 Mar

In the Frame: Conserving Scotland’s Art, Scottish National Gallery, 19 Nov – 16 Apr

Paul Duke: No Ruined Stone, City Art Centre, 26 Nov –26 Feb

Auld Reekie Retold, City Art Centre, 3 Dec – 19 Feb

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, National Museum of Scotland, 9 Dec – 1 May

March 2023

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

Katie Schwab: The Seeing Hands, Collective, 7 Oct – 5Mar

Knitwear: Chanel to Westwood, Dovecot Studios, 15 Oct– 11 Mar

Bernat Klein: Design in Colour, National Museum of Scotland, 5 Nov – 23 Apr

Glean: Early 20th Century Women Filmmakers …

CityArt Centre, 12 Nov – 12 Mar

Ron O’Donnell: Edinburgh A Lost World, City Art Centre,19 Nov – 5 Mar

In the Frame: Conserving Scotland’s Art, Scottish National Gallery, 19 Nov – 16 Apr

Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder, National Museum of Scotland, 9 Dec – 1 May

The Accursed Share, Talbot Rice Gallery, 18 Mar – 27 May

Kaffe Fassett: The Power of Pattern, Dovecot Studios, 31 Mar – 8 Jul

Sports and Fundraising Events

February 2023

Six Nations Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Feb – Mar

March 2023

Six Nations Rugby, Murrayfield Stadium, Feb – Mar

Meadows Marathon, The Meadows, 5 Mar

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