Scotland ushered in 2026 with characteristic defiance, as tens of thousands of revellers took to the streets for Hogmanay celebrations despite being buffeted by hurricane-force winds and threats of heavy snow and ice.
A Capital Celebration Against the Elements
A crowd of 50,000 people gathered for the world-famous street party in Edinburgh to 'see in the Bells'. The event was headlined by the acclaimed indie-rock duo Wet Leg, who performed for around 10,000 spectators in Princes Street Gardens, with their set broadcast to the further 40,000 attendees across the party zone.
The celebrations culminated at midnight with a spectacular fireworks display launched from the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle. More than 1,678 kilograms of fireworks, comprising 10,000 individual shots, lit up the sky to a curated soundtrack.
The party atmosphere was truly international, with visitors from over 80 countries, including Iran, Gran Canaria, and the United States, making the pilgrimage. Teresa MacLeod-MacLean, a 59-year-old from Arizona, captured the sentiment: "Scotland is in my blood... 2026 is a year of new beginnings so this is exactly where I need to be."
Traditional Events and Weather Warnings
While the festivities proceeded, the nation was under a severe winter alert. The Met Office issued yellow warnings for wind, snow, and ice across vast swathes of the country, including Central Scotland, the Highlands, and the Islands. Forecasters predicted temperatures could plunge to as low as minus 10 degrees Celsius, with up to 12 inches of snow in northern areas and winds reaching 70 mph.
Remarkably, one of Scotland's oldest traditions, the Stonehaven Fireballs in Aberdeenshire, went ahead as planned, attracting its usual 10,000 spectators. However, safety concerns led to the cancellation of the town's traditional New Year's Day Nippy Dip, with other dips in Dornoch and Loch Insh still scheduled.
George Fiddes of Transport Scotland urged caution, stating the "particularly cold weather" would "likely impact driving conditions" and potentially disrupt rail, ferry, and air travel.
Nationwide Festivities and a Chilly Outlook
Beyond Edinburgh, celebrations flourished. In Glasgow, bars and pubs were packed, with a ceilidh at Merchant Square and a street party for 3,000 on Ashton Lane. The Stromness Yule Log Pull in Orkney proceeded, though its fireworks were axed due to the high winds.
Mark Sidaway, the Met Office's deputy chief forecaster, confirmed the wintry theme, noting, "It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of winter as we welcome in the new year." Forecasters warn the cold snap, with potential for blizzard conditions, is likely to persist well into the first week of 2026.
Yet, as the testimony of families like Jenny Taylor's from Cambridgeshire shows, the spirit remained undampened. "Hogmanay in Edinburgh is the best in the world," she said, a view echoed by the resilient crowds who transformed the Scottish capital into a giant, global party zone to welcome the new year.
