Exhibitions events in Edinburgh

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.

Dear Library

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

Guided Looking: An Artwork Audio Described

Join Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse!

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!

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.

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!

Fleeting Glimpses

Fleeting Glimpses at The Atelier Gallery brings together long-time gallery favourites Stanley Bird, Lesley Skeates, and Gillian Henshaw alongside Gillian Westland and Lindsay Turk.

Unlocking the HES Archives

Unlocking the HES Archives is an exhibition celebrating the achievements of the Move Ready Project while also including images of favourite items as selected by archive staff.

Joan Eardley: The Nature of Painting

Step inside the mind and brush strokes of much-loved Scottish artist Joan Eardley with a fresh insight into her powerful and expressive paintings in a new exhibition at National Galleries of Scotland!

Edinburgh Tradfest: Exhibition - Highland Story Quilt

Don't miss this unique exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as artist Lizzie McDougall breathes new life into Highland stories using scraps of discarded fabric!

Anke Roder: Atmosphere

Anke Roker returns to &Gallery this April for her second solo exhibition, Atmosphere, where she explores the horizon as a place of light, silence, and reflection!

Edinburgh Science Festival

Exploring the theme Going Global, Edinburgh Science Festival 2026 will showcase the research and innovation created through international partnerships that address shared challenges!

The Maltings Exhibition

Cramond is one of the oldest continuously occupied places in Scotland, and The Maltings is your gateway into that extraordinary story, from 8,500 BC right through to the Victorian era!

Eric Cruikshank: Space for Your Words

Leith School of Art are delighted to announce the opening of their new show, Space for Your Words - a solo exhibition of work by Eric Cruikshank!

Banknote Bonanza: Spring Holiday Fun

Join Museum on the Mound for fun, free, family-friendly activities throughout the Spring holidays where you can explore the family trails and discover the secret world of banknotes!

Incontri: A Scots-Italian Photographic Archive

Join the Italian Institute of Culture for a glimpse into the rich and diverse narratives of Italians in Scotland with a curated collection of photographs and images!

Extraction

Extraction at Jupiter Artland explores how energy systems shape culture, land and belief, through work by artists Carol Rhodes, John Gerrard, Marguerite Humeau, Siobhan McLaughlin and John Latham.

Cellular Exhibition

This April, the artists and makers of the Drill Hall emerge from their individual workspaces to present their annual showcase exhibition, a ten-day celebration of the community spirit!

Academy Late

Experience live music, powerful performances, and artwork as you enjoy the New Contemporaries Exhibition after dark in the stunning surroundings of the Royal Scottish Academy Galleries!

ANECDOTE

Head to Summerhall for two day exhibition ANECDOTE hosted by seven photography students each creating projects in relation to their personal experiences and exploring causes close to them!

Holyrood Art Club - Annual Exhibition

Holyrood Art Club is holding its 68th Annual Exhibition at the Edinburgh Photographic Society from 18th to 25th April, original paintings will be on display, and also for sale!

Ocean of Her

Ocean of Her is Edinburgh artist Jessica Kirkpatrick's new exhibition of drawings and cyanotypes inspired by her recent residency in Teotihuacan, Mexico!

Summerhall Arts Group Show

Discover bold, thought-provoking, and diverse work from some of today's most exciting creative voices at this year's Summerhall Arts Group Show!

BSL Tour: Herbology

Come along to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of the exhibition Herbology, led by Trudi Collier on Sunday 19th April.

Cherry Blossoms Art Exhibition

Celebrate a centuries-old tradition and have your spirits lifted with Edinburgh artist Vicky Paul's Cherry Blossoms Art Exhibition at the Cockburn Collective!

The Edwardians: Age of Elegance

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!

The Highlands and Islands Exhibition - New Work by Ann Campbell and Rob Bruce

Experience the dramatic scenery of the Highlands and Islands through painting and photography at this joint exhibition by Ann Campbell and Rob Bruce at Dundas Street Gallery this April!

The Vertigo Project: Book Launch, Screening & Performance

Enjoy an evening of books, film, and live performance as The Vertigo Project showcases its creative and therapeutic journey for people living with dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders!

Exhibition: Coordinated

Genesis Studio Edinburgh on Multrees Walk, will host Coordinated, a brilliant new exhibition celebrating the stylish, sustainable designs of talented Edinburgh College of Art fashion students!

James Lumsden: Solus bho Thuath / North Light

James Lumsden returns to &Gallery with his exhibition Solus bho Thuath / North Light, presenting a series of paintings developed over the past two years, mainly in his Hebrides studio.

Join the Dots

Scottish artist Lucy Johnstone works mainly in oils but other media including music and video and she is holding an exibition at Whitespace from 2nd to 7th May!

Scottish Road Runners Charity Motor Show

Have a fun day out with the family at the inaugural Scottish Road Runners Charity Motor Show at Conifox, with proceeds going to Brain Tumour Research and Edinburgh Children's Hospital Charity!

Edinbrick - A LEGO Model Show

Edinbrick is back for 2026! Edinburgh's biggest LEGO Model Show, will be held on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May at Meadowbank Sports Centre.

The Scottish Kennel Club: Double Championship Dog Show

The Scottish Kennel Club is delighted to be holding, once again, its double (All Breed & General) Championship Show in May 2026.

The Biba Story: Director Tour

Join Director Celia Joicey for a tour of Dovecot's Biba exhibition, celebrating the 60s and 70s lifestyle label that revolutionized British fashion and remains influential to this day!

Jean F. Watson: An Artistic Legacy

This exhibition at City Art Centre celebrates Jean Watson's brilliant legacy, showcasing a century of Scottish masterpieces as part of the Royal Scottish Academy's spectacular 200th-anniversary!

British Pipe Band Championships

The pipes are calling you to the Royal Highland Centre on 30th May for the British Pipe Band Championships.

EXPOSED: Graduate Photography Exhibition

Edinburgh College brings EXPOSED 26, the highly anticipated annual showcase featuring the breakthrough work of its graduating photography students, back to Out of the Blue Drill Hall in June!

James Hutton at 300: A Celebration of Geology

Discover the legacy of Geologist James Hutton and celebrate his tercentenary with free, drop-in short talks, mini-tours and object handling at the National Museum of Scotland!

Edinburgh Zoo Memories Week

Head along to Edinbugh Zoo and enjoy a special exhibition in Lemur lodge celebrating the Zoo's rich history and rediscover its most treasured memories through rare photographs and stories!

The Royal Highland Show

One of Scotland's most iconic events, The Royal Highland Show, returns to Edinburgh's Royal Highland Centre in June for another four day celebration of farming life!

Scotland’s First Warriors

Discover the thrilling origins of ancient combat through rare treasures, including the stunning Carnoustie Hoard, in this must-see journey through Scotland's prehistoric warrior past!

Costume Couture: Exhibition Preview

Celebration of sixty years of costume house Cosprop's creativity as you join the Dovecot team and the curator for a special exhibition preview event before it opens to the public!

Costume Couture Preview: Curator Talk

Join curator of Costume Couture, Keith Lodwick, to delve into the history of famed costume house Cosprop and how they have worked on iconic screen productions such as Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders!

Costume Couture Preview: Exhibition Tour

Join Dovecot Exhibitions Manager Heather Carroll for an exclusive peek at iconic outfits from Downton to Pride and Prejudice in this preview tour of 'Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop'!

Truckfest Scotland

Scotland's biggest and best truck show returns to Edinburgh's Royal Highland Centre on the 1st and 2nd August 2026, it's a great day out for the family!

Edinburgh Festival Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe returns from 7th to 31st August 2026 with artists and performers taking to hundreds of stages all over the city to present shows for every taste!

Edinburgh International Festival: The Legacy of Slavery

Discover a comprehensive history of the legacy of slavery and racial injustice – from Scotland to America – in the first international exhibition from the Legacy Museum this August.

Lauriston Links: Special Tour of Museum Collections Centre

Join Nico and Tracy for a special tour at the Museum Collections Centre to see items from the city collections from the time of the Reids and earlier owners of Lauriston Castle!

Tabletop Scotland

Tabletop Scotland, a board game, card game and roleplaying game convention, returns to the Royal Highland Centre between Friday 4th and Sunday 6th September!

Edinburgh Model Railway Exhibition

Edinburgh and Lothians Miniature Railway Club return to George Watson's College in September with the Edinburgh Model Railway Exhibition, a fun day out for collectors, enthusiasts and families alike!

Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

Whether you're planning a major renovation, a self-build, or just seeking fresh inspiration, Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show in Edinburgh has everything you need to kickstart your project.

Flora, Fauna & Fabric, Where Art Meets Fashion!

Scottish artists/designers Adrienne Kerr and Elizabeth Martin unite their shared love of nature, storytelling, and textile in this exhibition at Dundas Street Gallery!

Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival

The Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival is back and it's bigger and better than ever before! Don't miss this celebration of rural life at the Royal Highland Centre on Saturday 17th October!

Comic Con Scotland

Comic Con Scotland, one of Europe's largest pop culture conventions, returns to the Royal Highland Centre on 24th and 25th October 2026!

Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire

The 'Roman Scotland: Life on the Edge of Empire' exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland will reshape society's understanding of Scotland's relationship with the Roman world.

Exhibition on Screen is delighted to bring Frida Kahlo back to the cinema for the attention it deserves, don't miss it at Eastwood Park Theatre on Wednesday 20th May!

All the fun of the fair in miniature rolls into town when Kirkcaldy Funfair Model Show returns for 2026 on Saturday 18th April!

Open Studios North Fife is back... explore the areas creative scene by meeting local artists in their studios to chat, be inspired, and even find a unique piece to take home!

Re-connect With The Ocean at Limekilns Parish Church is an exhibition showcasing a variety of artworks that incorporate various products gained back from the ocean.

Glasgow Blythswood Festival, held between Friday 1st and Sunday 17th May, blends arts, music, performance, exhibitions, heritage and culinary delights in this celebrated area of Glasgow city centre!

The Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust opens its Bridgeton Bus Garage to the public for their Super Sunday events throughout the year!

Still Glasgow at the Gallery of Modern Art is an extensive new exhibition which has photography at its core and looks at Glasgow, past and present.

Ship Ahoy! is an exciting and unique event from Scottish Maritime Heritage including displays of model ships, ship photographs and historic video footage, as well as displays of working model ships.

Don't miss a major new exhibition of paintings exploring Scotland's landscapes through the distinctive vision of John Lowrie Morrison OBE (Jolomo) at The Strathearn Gallery!

ACCORD Hospice's Annual Art Exhibition returns - bigger and better than ever before - bringing together the best local and national artists to celebrate all forms of art and creativity!

Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, Paisley Patchers return to Paisley North Church on Saturday 25th April with their annual Quilt Exhibition!

Urban Sketch at The Art Department in Paisley is a month-long exhibition featuring work by artists from the Urban Sketchers movement!

Held on selected dates through the year at McLaren High School, Callander Toy Fair is a must visit event for any collector of toys and models!

Rev up for a brilliant day out as the Stirling Classic Car Show returns to Bridge of Allan on Sunday 10th May, featuring over 800 stunning vehicles and stalls in aid of charity!

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.