Top events and festivals

Glasgow Science Festival (June 1 - 11)

Glasgow Science Festival brings a packed programme of over 100 events to over 50 venues. Highlights will include physics lessons with trapeze artists, virtual reality (VR) tours of the human body and much more. Check out the full programme at gla.ac.uk.

WestFest (June 2 - 25)

Taking place in the bohemian neighbourhood of the west end, WestFest will see around 200 events take place across 60 venues. There will be a mix of concerts, performances, recitals, galas, exhibitions, talks, guided walks and more. Visit westfest.co.uk for details.

Riverside Festival (June 3 - 4)

The Riverside Festival will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year. The line-up has been announced for the dance festival that takes place at the stunning setting of the Riverside Museum, by the River Clyde. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased via riversidefestivalglasgow.com.

The Reeling (June 10 - 11)

The brand new music festival The Reeling will take place in Rouken Glen Park just outside of the city. With a line-up that includes the likes of Peatbog Fairies, RURA and Blazin' Fiddles, the festival will have a strong link to traditional Scottish music. Check out the full line-up at thereeling.com.

Glasgow Jazz Festival (June 14 - 18)

The 37th annual Glasgow Jazz Festival will bring multiple music events across city venues. Last year’s festival saw performances from some of the biggest names in jazz, blues, soul, funk, R&B and world music. Visit jazzfest.co.uk for news on this year's line-up.

Refugee Festival Scotland (June 16 - 23)

Hope is the theme of this year's Refugee Festival Scotland. Over 100 events take place across Scotland, with a large proportion taking place in Glasgow. Check out the line-up at refugeefestivalscotland.co.uk.

Bard in the Botanics (June 21 - July 29)

For brilliant outdoor theatre in a parkland setting, check out Bard in the Botanics' 2023 summer season. The troupe will perform two of Shakespeare's history plays - Julius Caesar and Henry IV. Plus two Victorian classics to mark the 150th anniversary of the Kibble Palace opening - Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest and Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde. Get tickets now at bardinthebotanics.co.uk.

Mela (June 25)

Glasgow Mela is Scotland's biggest free multicultural festival. It takes place each June in Kelvingrove Park, bringing music, dance, arts and vibrancy to the west end. Follow Glasgow Mela on Facebook to find out more.

TRNSMT (July 7 - 9)

Pulp, Sam Fender and The 1975 have been announced as the headline acts for TRNSMT 2023. They will be joined by the likes of George Ezra and Kasabian with many more acts to be announced. The festival takes over Glasgow Green each July attracting tens of thousands of fans. Tickets can be purchased at trnsmtfest.com.

Summer Nights at The Bandstand (various dates, July/August)

Summer Nights is the city's most scenic music festival, set in Kelvingrove Bandstand in Kelvingrove Park. Acts confirmed include The Delgados, Anastacia, Kassidy, Del Amitri and Sugababes. Follow Summer Nights at The Bandstand on Facebook.

UCI World Cycling Championships (August 3 - 13)

The biggest cycling event in history will arrive in Glasgow this year. The UCI Cycling World Championships brings together 13 different cycling disciplines into one major championship for the first-ever time. From BMX to indoor to cross country, cycling fans are in for a treat. Visit cyclingworldchamps.com.

Piping Live! (August 12 - 20)

The week-long celebration of piping, Piping Live has a line-up of gigs, workshops, tours, talks and more. Visit pipinglive.co.uk for more details.

World Pipe Band Championships (August 18 - 19)

The World Pipe Band Championships sees bands from around the globe battle it out to be crowned champions over one weekend in Glasgow Green. Visit theworlds.co.uk for more detail.

The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run (September 30 - 31)

The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is a weekend celebration of running for all ages and levels. There is a 10k and half marathon, as well as a junior and mini event. With a city centre start and finish, thousands of runners set off on a route that takes in the architecture, green spaces and personality of Glasgow. Sign up at greatrun.org.

Celtic Connections (January 18 – February 4)

Glasgow's annual folk, roots, and world music festival celebrates Celtic music and its connections to cultures across the globe. Head to the Celtic Connections website for updates for the 2024 festival!

World Indoor Athletic Championships (March 1 - 3, 2024)

The 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships arrives in Glasgow in March next year. Expect to see the world's best athletes as they battle it out for the top medals, as Glasgow shows once again that it is a top choice for global sporting events. Visit worldathletics.org for info.

Glasgow International Comedy Festival (March 3 - March 31)

Save the date! The 2024 dates for Europe's biggest comedy festival have been announced. Visit glasgowcomedyfestival.com for future announcements.

Article last updated: May 2023