Events in Edinburgh on Friday 20th March 2026

A Play, A Pie and A Pint

With wonderful musicals, hilarious comedies and revealing dramas, there is something for everyone to tuck into at A Play, A Pie and A Pint at the Traverse Theatre - alongside pies and pints of course!

Adam Smith, the man, his morals, and some myths

Dr Gordon Povey FRSA will present some of this work to uncover the real Adam Smith, what he stood for, and how relevant he is.

Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer

Take to the skies and discover the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer at the National Galleries of Scotland: Portrait.

ARTIST ROOMS

Discover three of the biggest names in modern and contemporary art at Modern One this summer with a series of free ARTIST ROOMS displays in Edinburgh.

Ben Lingard: Version Control

Version Control at Leith School of Art is an exhibition of work by ex-graduate resident, now studio assistant and tutor, Ben Lingard!

Bothan Dhùn Èideann

Join Scottish Storytelling Centre for their upcoming Bothan Dhùn Èideann event, a monthly session of Gaelic culture and community in Edinburgh!

Bruise Control

Punk band Bruise Control play Legends Edinburgh on Friday 20th March, the only Scottish date on their UK Tour!

Burly Ceilidh Club

Enjoy an evening of Scottish scran, jigs and reels with a live ceilidh band taking you through all the steps into the small hours at the Ghillie Dhu's Burly Ceilidh Club!

Candlelight: Best of Joe Hisaishi

Discover the music of Joe Hisaishi at St Mary's Cathedral under the gentle glow of candlelight in this live, multi-sensory musical experience!

Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Discover the music of Fleetwood Mac, under the gentle glow of candlelight, at this live, multi-sensory musical experience in St Marys Episcopal Cathedral Edinburgh!

CATALYST: Art as Activism - A Heart in Exile

A Heart in Exile brings together three bodies of work that trace the inner landscape of migration; its fractures, its expansions, and its quiet, unresolvable tensions.

CATALYST: Art as Activism - All Day, Waiting For Another Sun to Rise

Within this show at Summerhall, Molly Wickett reimagines a post-apocalyptic landscape through a queer and disabled lens.

CATALYST: Art as Activism - Any Body Home

Any Body Home features works developed during the Hugo Burge Foundation x Summerhall residency Art as Activism (2024), along with other pieces exploring related themes.

CATALYST: Art as Activism - Net Worthy

Net Worthy explores how capitalism drives biodiversity loss through its emphasis on extraction via industrial agriculture and aquaculture to produce perpetual profit.

Cocktail Craft Masterclass

Join Summerhall Distillery at their historic venue for an immersive cocktail masterclass, where the art of mixology meets the science of spirits!

Conservation Hangar Talks

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

Crimes Of The Heart

Assembly Roxy welcomes Strawmoddie Theatre with their amateur production of Beth Henley's sizzling Southern Noir, Crimes Of The Heart, between the 19th and 22nd of March!

Curious About Edinburgh - Quirky Heritage Walks for the Curious!

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

Dear Library

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

Doghouse x Rusty Seagull Pop Up

New Portobello pub The Rusty Seagull has teamed up with another local Portobello business The Doghouse to front its latest street food pop-up!

Dropping Anchor - Rosemary Everett

East Lothian printmaker Rosemary Everett crafts stunning, sea-inspired paper art and books that explore northern landscapes... don't miss her exhibition, Dropping Anchor at Upright Gallery!

Dungeon Crawler Carl

New York Times bestselling author Matt Dinniman and legendary voice actor Jeff Hays will bring their highly anticipated Dungeon Crawler Carl LIVE TOUR to the EICC on Friday 20th March!

Dynamites Science Club

Join Dyna the dinosaur hatchling for Dynamites – a gentle and fun way for children under 4 to begin discovering the world around them!

Dynamos Science Club

Join Dynamo the little dinosaur for Dynamic Earth's science club, a lively learning programme for 4–6 year olds who are ready to explore, investigate, and ask why?

Eat Out Edinburgh

Eat Out Edinburgh is an annual celebration of Edinburgh city centre's fantastic bars and restaurants, this year taking place throughout the whole month of March due to popular demand!

Economists vs Comedians: Who Are The Real Jokers?

Expect quickfire exchanges, surprising insights, and plenty of laughs as jokes turn into jumping-off points for bigger conversations about how the economy really works.

Edinburgh Book Fair

Edinburgh Book Fair, Scotland's largest and most prestigious rare book fair, returns to the King's Hall at InterContinental The George Hotel on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March!

Edinburgh Nuclear Bunker Tour

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!

Edinburgh Old Town Guided Walking Tour

Discover the heart of Scotland's capital, beyond the reach of tour buses and guidebooks on this guided walking tour of Edinburgh's Old Town!

Edinburgh Open House Ceilidhs

Join Edinburgh Open House Ceilidhs with Live Band & Caller, held in the Royal British Legion Hall! Great informal fun night suitable for all ages (10yrs+).

Edinburgh Playhouse Backstage Tours

Take a bow on a stage where the world's greatest artists have performed and hear about the vast artistic history of Edinburgh Playhouse on one of their popular Backstage Tours!

Edinburgh Street Historians LGBTQ Free Walking Tour

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!

Edinburgh’s Ultimate Fanzone

Delivering wall-to-wall coverage, unbeatable atmosphere, and front-row energy for every fixture that matters... The Three Sisters Edinburgh is the Ultimate Fanzone!

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!

Eric Cruikshank :: Texture Dissolves / Colour Radiates

&Gallery are delighted to host Eric Cruikshank's forthcoming solo exhibition 'Texture Dissolves / Colour Radiates' between 7th March and 1st April!

ExBEERiences at Cold Town House

The Cold Town ExBEERience at Cold Town House is a 90-minute guided beer tasting designed for stags, group celebrations, work socials and anyone looking for something different to do at the weekend!

Exhibition: Families Belong Together

This exhibition documents the lives of 10 couples and families to illustrate the human cost of the spouse/partner migration policy and their sense of being continuously in limbo!

Exhibition: Golgotha Too

Previously exhibited in Lancaster and Carlisle, Martin Fowler's modest oil paintings on wood continue the tradition of figurative painting within the church.

Find Out Fridays

Explore a different theme each week on Friday afternoons, during school term-time, with our Learning team at the National Museum of Scotland.

Fiscal Rules OK? The Straitjacket of Austerity

Behind every headline about “fiscal headroom” and “black holes in the public finances” lies a story about power — and how economic rules are used to restrict democratic choices.

Free Film Screening - Migration

Waddle down to WHALE Arts Agency on Friday 20th March for a free, fab screening of the feel-good hit Migration... no booking needed, just bring the whole family for some duck-filled fun!

Giants

Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils of giant prehistoric animals when the immersive, family friendly exhibition Giants comes to the National Museum of Scotland!

Hays Community Education Courses (Free and accredited)

Hays Community Hub is excited to launch a brand-new learning opportunity designed to support you every step of the way.

Hays Community Hub Volunteer drop in

Interested in volunteering? Them come along to Hays Community Hub Volunteer drop in day on Thursday 20th November - we’d love to welcome you to the team!

Heriot-Watt Brewing Society’s Annual Charity Beer Festival

Heriot-Watt Brewing Society's Charity Beer Festival returns for its 39th year, pouring beers from across the UK for two whole days on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March in the Student Union!

Italian Stories Illustration Exhibition

Join the Italian Institute of Culture for their Italian Stories Illustration Exhibition which explores the central role of illustration in contemporary Italian narrative fiction!

Jersey Beats

Let the Jersey Beats take you back to the era when hit song after hit song had The Four Seasons famous around the world at the Corn Exchange Haddington Friday 20th March!

John Kay and the Golden Age

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

Jubilate Children’s Choir

Jubilate is St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral's new junior choir, held every Friday during term time in the Song School on the Cathedral grounds.

Land - Where Ecology and the Economy Collide

This conversation brings together the festival’s recurring themes of power, inequality, and historical injustice and what it means to embed ecology within the economy rather than the other way round

Live Music at The Botanist

The Botanist hosts live music from Thursday to Sunday every week! From acoustic singles, duos, trios and full band, we have it all.

Livingston Designer Outlet Food & Crafts Indoor Event

Expect an exciting mix of talented artisans, handmade crafts, unique gifts, and small businesses, all under one roof at the Livingston Designer Outlet Food & Crafts Indoor Event!

Madame Florentine Besson And The Birth Of The Modern Trumpet: Women’s History Month Talk

Join Dr Sabine Klaus at the Centre for Research Collections, as she explores the role of Madame Florentine Besson in the invention of the modern trumpet, with live demonstrations!

Maps: Memories from the Second World War

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.

Matilda The Musical

Matilda The Musical, the multi-award winning musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company, inspired by the beloved book by Roald Dahl, comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse in March!

Mischief and Mayhem Open Mic

Grab a ticket to watch, or brave the spotlight yourself at the Mischief and Mayhem open mic night of comedy at the Third Date Bar and Kitchen on Friday 20th March!

Norrie Maciver

Don't miss Norrie Maciver, lead singer of Skipinnish, when he plays The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 20th March!

Prison Nursing Unlocked: A History Of Care And Justice

Experience the inspiring evolution of prison nursing at this RCN exhibition, learning about the work of early reformers like Elizabeth Fry and the vital care nurses provide for prisoner health today!

Royal Mile International Piano Series

Set against the magnificent backdrop of St Giles’ Cathedral — illuminated by candlelight - these concerts promise an unforgettable musical experience!

RSNO Season 25-26: St Mary’s Music School Showcase

The RSNO is thrilled to offer the Senior Pupils of St Mary’s Music School the opportunity to shine in the magnificent Usher Hall.

RSNO Season 25-26: Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony

Beauty, passion and the miracles of nature – there's no tale that an orchestra can't tell, and there's definitely no symphony quite like Tchaikovsky's shattering Fourth.

Rugby for Beginners

Corstorphine Cougars are running free beginners classes every Tuesday for Females of all ages who would like to try Rugby!

Sailmaker

Coming to Studio Theatre in Edinburgh, Alan Spence's Sailmaker is a poignant, poetic, and deeply human play that explores themes of family, grief, masculinity, and working-class life in Glasgow.

Saint Joan

As today's world faces political unrest and war, Saint Joan speaks powerfully to a new generation challenging authority, reminding us of history's unlikely revolutionaries.

Scaredy Cat Exhibition

Celebrate queer identity and self-acceptance with Cat Gordon's vibrant new riso comic and exhibition, Scaredy Cat, created during her residency at Out of the Blueprint!

Scotland’s Economics Festival

Being held in venues across Leith in March, Scotland's Economics Festival is a unique, public-facing celebration of economic thinking – designed to challenge, inform, and inspire.

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden: Shepherd House

Visit Shepherd House, a constantly evolving artist’s garden that never stands still, with lots of surprises, including a shell house built in 2014, rose parterres, a rill and fountains!

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme Open Garden: Stobshiel House

The garden at Stobshiel House is effectively split into four main parts and the extensive collection of shrubs and mature trees offer a fantastic backdrop during all seasons.

Screening of Monsieur Lazhar

An Algerian professor is hired at a Montreal public school to take the place of a professor who died tragically in her own classroom and helps his students overcome their grief.

Sharing Our Wealth: What does the public think about wealth inequality and wealth taxation in Scotland?

Join WEAll Scotland for the launch of our latest research on public attitudes to wealth inequality and wealth taxation in Scotland.

Sho Ga Nai - It Is What It Is: The Modern Economic History of Japan

Drawing on his new book A Modern Economic History of Japan: Sho Ga Nai – It Is What It Is, Jones explores how Japan’s unique blend of culture, policy, and determination shaped its economic path.

Showchoir: Talk It Out

Showchoir return to the Pleasance Theatre with Talk It Out, a hilarious and entertaining production that explores themes of love, sex, identity, and the bonds of community!

Solo Art Exhibition: COND. CONT’D

Contemporary abstract artist Maro Hill brings his solo exhibition COND. CONT'D [Conditions Continued] to Leith Makers between the 11th and 22nd March!

Spring Equinox Sound Bath Meditation

Reconnect with your inner self by joining Marcela Tršová at The Open Door Community Centre in Morningside for this Spring Equinox Sound Bath Meditation on Friday 20th March!

St Mary’s Music School RSNO pre-Concert Showcase

Come and enjoy this exciting concert showcasing some of the finest young musicians in Scotland, giving you a captivating glimpse of the stars of tomorrow.

Summerhall Arts Surgeries

Summerhall Arts Surgeries returns for a special Spring edition, marking the first standalone iteration of the programme outside of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe!

TBC Improv & Friends: A Night of Improvised Comedy

Get ready for a double-header of brilliant improv at Summerhall as TBC Improv & Friends deliver a night of high-octane, unscripted chaos that'll leave you grinning from ear to ear!

Terrazzo Clock - Eco-Resin Craft Workshop

Join Polymorphics at We Make Edinburgh on Friday 20th March and learn how to work with eco-resin, how to mix pigments, make terrazzo chips and turn them into a colourful clock for your home!

The Biba Story: 1964–1975

The Biba Story explores how fashion phenomenon Biba blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label, sparking a revolution in how people shopped.

The Big Show

Enjoy a night of top stand-up comedy at The Big Show every weekend at Monkey Barrel Comedy, come see a line-up featuring outstanding local, national, and international comedians!

The Boy at the Back of the Class

After delighting audiences across the country, the smash-hit, joyful play based on the best-selling novel is back with a celebration of friendship kindness and compassion.

The Comedy Show

Kick off your weekend with a bang at the Gilded Balloon's legendary Friday night Comedy Show, featuring mixed-bill lineup of world-class comedians in the heart of Edinburgh's city centre!

The Friday Show

Let your hair down at the end of the week with fabulous Friday fun at The Stand Comedy Club Edinburgh!

The Head Hunters - Rock Covers Show

Catch The Head Hunters when they play Dreadnought Rock for the first time on Friday 20th March!

The Ladykillers

Adapted from the 1955 Ealing comedy film of the same name, Edinburgh People's Theatre presents The Ladykillers, a classic black comedy, at Church Hill Theatre this March!

The Weight of Waiting

Experience The Weight of Waiting art exhibition at The House of Smalls, celebrating the resilience of women who are turning healthcare struggles into creative artwork!

Unmasked: Exploring Scottish Portraiture

Featuring examples of painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking and photography, the exhibition at City Art Centre spans almost 400 years of artistic production.

Vibrant Viki’s Messy Art Club

Vibrant Viki’s Messy Art Club is a lively, hands-on creative experience designed especially for children under five who love to explore, play, and get wonderfully messy.

Vitamin String Quartet: - The Music of Billie Eilish, Bridgerton & Beyond

The Vitamin String Quartet is one of the most popular string ensembles in the world, redefining the boundaries of string music. Don't miss them when they play The Queen's Hall Edinburgh on 20th March!

We Are The Witches. We Are, Hear

This is an exhibition of textile artwork by 70 wise women artist using their craft to Challenge, Disturb and Disrupt. Catch it at The House of Smalls in August!

What’s Up: AI and The Sky

In this presenter-led Planetarium show, the team at Dynamic Earth will be diving into some of the ways AI is being used to help understand the cosmos.

Hundreds of original works of art will be on display in Clarkston Hall as part of the annual Christian Aid Clarkston Art Show on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March!

In this special evening at Eastwood Theatre, Milton Jones will be joined by a line-up of fellow comics for a night of quick-fire jokes, clever wordplay and brilliantly unpredictable humour!

Join an expert guide on a tour of the world's most famous golf course. Walk in the footsteps of icons of the game and experience a player's eye view of the fabled links.

With wonderful musicals, hilarious comedies and revealing dramas, there is something for everyone to tuck into at A Play, A Pie and A Pint at Oran Mor Glasgow - alongside pies and pints of course!

balletLORENT's family-friendly version of Snow White, for everyone aged 5+, is coming to Tramway on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st March!

One of the most in demand DJ's of 2025, Billy Gillies is returning to Scotland for two exclusive 2026 shows including a night at the O2 Academy Glasgow on Friday 20th March!

Acoustic Cafe Nights return to The Granary at Strathaven Town Mill on Friday 20th March for an evening of music from vibrant new acoustic duo, The Other Brothers!

Studio32 presents what is destined to be the Scottish amateur premiere of Home, I'm Darling by Laura Wade – a stylish, witty romp through gingham, cocktails, and perfectly polished domestic bliss!

Don't miss a night of music with the Hamilton Caledonian Bowling Club Male Voice Choir and the Coalburn Bronze Band at Blantyre Old Parish Church on Friday 20th March!

AR26 Charity's Free Football For All Sessions are running between January and April, offering free fun and football on weeknights to kids between 6 and 14 years!

International crime expert David Swindle brings his gripping live show Murder: A Search for the Truth to The Tolbooth Stirling on Friday 20th March!

Young Creatives at The Stirling Smith is an exhibition of portfolio artwork from the seven high schools across the region showcasing the extraordinary talent thriving within school art departments.