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History events in Edinburgh

Scroll down to view the upcoming History events taking place throughout Edinburgh or use the filters to narrow down the results.

Events in Edinburgh

Maps: Memories from the Second World War

9th March 2024 - 26th January 2026

Through personal stories, photography and memorabilia, this exhibition at the National War Museum charts the creation and use of maps during the Second World War.

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Arthur’s Secrets

Selected dates between 14th January 2025 - 31st March 2026

Come along on a guided walk to learn more about Arthur's Seat's turbulent past, created by fire and ice!

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Conservation Hangar Talks

1st April 2025 - 29th March 2026

See behind the scenes of the work carried out in the museum’s Conservation hangar with these free talks.

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Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000

17th May 2025 - 8th March 2026

Scheduled to complement John Bellany: A Life in Self-Portraiture, this survey exhibition examines the wider context of post-war Scottish art.

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Dear Library

20th June 2025 - 18th April 2026

To mark our 100th birthday, the National Library of Scotland presents a special exhibition, 'Dear Library'.

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Edinburgh Nuclear Bunker Tour

25th October 2025 - 27th December 2026

Don't miss an amazing opportunity to see part of Scotland's Cold War History on the Barnton Nuclear Bunker Tours every Saturday and Sunday!

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Fabulous Old Town Tour

1st December 2025 - 14th February 2026
Edinburgh Old Town

This free walking tour is fun and funny, performed by local independent tour guides, it will really help you to know the city and understand something about what life is all about!

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Drawing the Italian Renaissance: Curator’s Introduction

Selected dates between 5th December 2025 - 29th January 2026

Join exhibition curator Lauren Porter at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse as she discusses works from Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

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Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking Tour

Selected dates between 12th December 2025 - 27th March 2026
Edinburgh Old Town

This walking tour of Edinburgh focuses on LGBTQ history from the battle of legalisation to the modern issues faced by the community in the current day!

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Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

1st January 2026 - 31st December 2026
Various Locations Edinburgh

Have fun discovering Edinburgh on this award-winning, quirky, self-guided, heritage walk with a treasure hunt theme from Curious About!

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John Roy Stuart - Latha Chuilodair

17th January 2026

In this play, the ghost of John Roy Stuart, poet, partisan and Colonel of the Jacobite Edinburgh Regiment, returns to Scotland to recall his life, times and final battle.

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Edinburgh Forgotten Women

Selected dates between 18th January 2026 - 19th July 2026
Various Locations Edinburgh

Join one of the Edinburgh Street Historians' highly skilled and experienced guides on an unforgettable walking tour all about the amazing women of our city's past 1000 years!

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An Edinburgh Burns Night at The Real Mary King’s Close

23rd January 2026 - 25th January 2026

Join us at The Real Mary King's Close for a unique Burns Night experience filled with poetry, history, Scottish dishes and Scotch whisky!

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Blood and Guts: The Twists and Turns of Edinburgh’s Medical History - Walking Tour

Selected dates between 24th January 2026 - 29th November 2026

Join Surgeons' Hall Museums on their 5* weekend walking tour through Edinburgh’s old town and hear tales of old Edinburgh, disease, dissection and curious methods of treatment!

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Parkaeology

25th January 2026

Join archaeologist Rachel Pickering on Sunday 25th January and hear about the history and archaeology of Holyrood Park!

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Showcase: Ripley Alchemical Scroll

28th January 2026

Join us at the Physicians’ Gallery on 28th January as we explore the Philosophers’ Stone and the secret to eternal life!

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Giants

31st January 2026 - 14th September 2026

Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family friendly exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland!

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Conservator Talk: Conserving the Campi Cartoon

6th February 2026

Victoria Button, Royal Collection Trust’s Head of Paper Conservation, discusses her work in preparing drawings for presentation in Drawing The Italian Renaissance, on display at The King's Gallery.

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Map Festival

6th February 2026

Ever wonder what secrets lie in a map? Or wanted to go behind the scenes of a major collection? Join the National Library of Scotland for the Map Festival, a day dedicated to all things cartographic!

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Showcase: Banned Books

25th February 2026

Join us at the Physicians’ Gallery on Wednesday 25th February for this talk on the banning and censoring of scientific books, especially during the 1500s Catholic Inquisition!

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Curatorial Talk: The Patrons of the Renaissance

27th February 2026

Join Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust, for this lunchtime lecture as he discusses the vital role of patrons in the creation of Italian Renaissance art.

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Pioneers in Practice: The Legacy of Women in Medicine

5th March 2026

Join Surgeons Hall Museum for a captivating evening honouring the vision, skill, and perseverance of some of the women who transformed healthcare and medical science!

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The Women of Holyrood Park

6th March 2026 - 8th March 2026

Come along and hear about the women of the past who shaped the Holyrood Park of today, on these March guided walks!

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Portraits & Patterns

7th March 2026

Join artist Consuelo Rosa Servan for this practical workshop exploring portraiture, this hands-on session coincides with the closing of Surgeons' Hall Museum's exhibition Women in Surgery!

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City Streets, Scottish Islands and Silhouetted Hills: Bet Low (1924-2007) Art and Life

17th March 2026

This talk on artist Bet Low complements the City Art Centre Exhibition Out of Chaos: Post-War Scottish Art 1945-2000.

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John Kay and the Golden Age

20th March 2026

This lecture given by Eric Melvin, an established and respected local historian, is to mark the Bicentenary of John Kay's Death.

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John Henry Lorimer: Capturing the Characters of Edinburgh

21st March 2026

In this Spring talk, the artist’s great great niece Charlotte Lorimer gives this talk to complement the City Art Centre Exhibition ‘Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture’!

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Lunch Time Talk: A Legacy in Pages -The History of the RCSEd Library

24th March 2026

Join Steven Kerr and explore the history of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh's Library and Archive on Tuesday 24th March!

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Portraiture from the Fleming Collection

23rd April 2026

Director of the Fleming Collection, Theodore Albano, brings us on an exploration of four centuries of Scottish Portraiture in this talk at the Assembly Rooms.

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The Edwardians: Age of Elegance

24th April 2026 - 6th December 2026

The Edwardians: Age of Elegance explores the glitzy world of two of Britain's most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary!

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John Kay’s Edinburgh Street Characters and Visitors to the City

1st May 2026

Eric Melvin, an established and respected local historian, gives the talk on artist and engraver John Kay (1742 – 1826).

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William Dalrymple - The Relentless Rise of the East India Company

7th July 2026

Do not miss the remarkable story of India and empire as it has never been told before, when William Dalrymple comes to the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on Tuesday 7th July!

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My Royal Life: An Audience with Lucy Worsley

23rd October 2026

Prepare to be entertained, enlightened, and thoroughly charmed as Lucy Worsley reveals the secrets, stories, and splendours of Britain’s royal past.

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Uncovering Ancient Egypt with Bettany Hughes

8th November 2026

Step into the golden sands of Ancient Egypt with award-winning historian Bettany Hughes as she brings the land of the pharaohs vividly to life at the Assembly Rooms!

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Sponsored Links

King Pins
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
The Chocolatarium
Escape The Past

History Events in East Renfrewshire

History Events in Fife

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:

Anster Nicht: More Than Leeches? Weird and Wonderful New Discoveries in Medieval Medicine

Anster Nicht: More Than Leeches? Weird and Wonderful New Discoveries in Medieval Medicine

19th March 2026

Join Professor James Palmer from the University of St Andrews as he gives us an entertaining tour of new discoveries that have transformed what we know about medieval medicine!

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The Herring Year : Following the Fish, the Fleet and the Folk around the Coast

The Herring Year : Following the Fish, the Fleet and the Folk around the Coast

5th January 2026 - 2nd March 2026

Every year the shoals of herring moved around the coasts of Britain and every year an army of workers followed them. This exhibition, by local artist Jake Brown, illustrates the routes they took.

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Anster Nicht: Finding the Fairy Queen's Voice

Anster Nicht: Finding the Fairy Queen's Voice

19th February 2026

For decades, an enigmatic figurehead, known as The Fairy Queen, has been displayed in the Scottish Fisheries Museum. But where did it come from, and what does it symbolise?

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History Events in Glasgow

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:

Specialist Tour: The Silk Road between Japan and Glasgow

Specialist Tour: The Silk Road between Japan and Glasgow

5th May 2026

Join Dr Yupin Chung, Curator of East Asian Art, on Tuesday 5th of May for a special tour looking at exquisite items from the 1878 Japanese Government Gift, including the fabulous collection of silk!

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Glasgow Central Station Tours

Glasgow Central Station Tours

1st January 2026 - 31st December 2026

Glasgow Central Tours offer you the chance to explore behind the scenes of Glasgow's most iconic and busiest landmarks, Central Station!

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Historic Tours of Glasgow University

Historic Tours of Glasgow University

Selected dates between 6th January 2026 - 20th December 2026

Join a historic walking tour of the University of Glasgow the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world!

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History Events in Lanarkshire

History Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde

History Events in Stirling

Here's a selection of History Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:

Burns an’ a’ that

Burns an’ a’ that

25th January 2026

Join us at Stirling Castle to celebrate burns an' a' that and why not have a go at addressing the haggis!

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Celebrating International Womens Day

Celebrating International Womens Day

8th March 2026

Come along to Stirling Castle this international women's day to meet some of Scotland's most influential, powerful women as they wander around the Castle.

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Stirling Ghostwalk

Stirling Ghostwalk

1st January 2026 - 31st December 2026

Take a tour of the strange tales and stranger characters of Stirling's Old Town on the Stirling Ghostwalk... comedy, drama, fact and fable - fun for boys & ghouls of all ages!

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Events in Other Areas

Highlight Talks

Highlight Talks

Selected dates between 7th January 2026 - 24th June 2026

On selected days throughout the year the team at Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and volunteers hold a Highlight Talk exploring the life and works of Robert Burns!

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Sponsored Links

Fayre Play
The Cogency
Wonder & Co
The Cookbook Shop
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Sponsored Links

King Pins
Cancer Research UK
Cancer Research UK
The Chocolatarium
Escape The Past
Fayre Play
The Cogency
Wonder & Co
The Cookbook Shop
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon

Popular Events

Edinburgh Zoo Giant Lanterns
Edinburgh Zoo's award-winning Giant Lanterns event is back this winter, for the first time in six years, with a never-before-seen theme, featuring all things aquatic!
Musical Theatre Raves: Edinburgh
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Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Candlelight: Coldplay and Ed Sheeran
Get your tickets now and discover the music of Coldplay and Ed Sheeran at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh under the gentle glow of candlelight!
Enlightenment: An Immersive Light Show
Watch the iconic McEwans Hall in Edinburgh come alive with Enlightenment, a spectacular sound and light show, set to the enchanting melodies of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall