The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 1 January 2026

Hogmanay bounces back, Grassmarket pubs hit by 'crippling' power cuts, penguin parade paused over flu outbreak fears + three free Sprogmanay family ceilidhs today

Michael MacLeod

01 Jan 2026 — 5 min read

Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning and happy new year, Edinburgh. We start with Hogmanay coverage. Skip to the 'Other local news' section for the rest of this morning's news. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.

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🎆 After last year's cancelation, Edinburgh's Hogmanay celebrations returned last night as thousands welcomed in the new year. - There's a video of the full fireworks show here.

Thanks to Minute subscriber Julia of Firmament Creative for sharing this video of the eight minute fireworks display condensed in to 87 seconds:

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🎟️ A 40,000 sell-out for the Princes Street street party was declared around 9pm, while a further 10,000 attended events in Princes Street Gardens, the Assembly Rooms and St Giles' Cathedral. - Brian Ferguson, The Herald.

🇺🇸 US news channel CNN was broadcasting live from Edinburgh. Here's their interview with poet Michael Pedersen about why we sing Auld Lang Syne, and more CNN coverage here.

There are photos from the event in The Edinburgh Reporter this morning. There's nothing on Edinburgh Live.
You might've seen some recent pieces about how Edinburgh became the 'home of Hogmanay'. Yes, it used to be at the Tron and now it's more commercial. But none of those pieces really get in to the weeds of the true story beyond that, though. - Except this newly published new deep-dive by Andy Arthur of Threadinburgh.

💃 The celebrations continue today with the free First Footin’ gigs at venues around town. Performers include: Tinderbox Orchestra, Kathryn Joseph, Slix, Quiet Houses and more. - It's all free and details are here + line-up timings are on the event's Instagram page.

🎵 Some concerts are also being live-streamed today from St Giles' Cathedral and Greyfriars Kirk (from 1.45pm). - Tune in here.

🎶 There are three free family ceilidhs around town today:

Sprogmanay at the museum. When: 2pm-5pm. Where: National Museum of Scotland, Free. A packed day of family fun at the National Museum of Scotland, with Unicorn Dance Party, live magic and more.
Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh - Portobello. When: 1pm – 4.30pm. Where: Portobello Town Hall. Free. A family-friendly afternoon of Ceilidh dancing from The Sensational Jimi Shadrix Experience.
Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh - Assembly Roxy. When: 2pm-5pm. Where: Assembly Roxy, Free. Fruin Ceilidh Band provide the family-friendly footstompin’ sets at this free Ceilidh.

🏊‍♀️ It's the 40th anniversary of South Queensferry's Loony Dook this morning from 9.30am. Volunteers from the RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat Station will be on hand. - More details here.

Other local news:

🍻 Bar and restaurant owners in the Grassmarket are warning that the city's reputation is at risk due to a series of power cuts they say are 'crippling' business. - Martyn McLaughlin, The Scotsman / Evening News.

⮑ A group calling themselves the 'Grassmarket Hospitality Operators' published a a joint letter to SP Energy Networks, saying they were 'deeply concerned' about a series of blackouts over the past four years. - Jody Harrison, The Herald.
Yesterday's power cut affected 30 businesses and 'caused a significant loss of trade', writes Angie Brown, BBC News Scotland.
The problem was traced to a 'low-voltage cable joint failure' near Kings Stables Road Lane, writes Kevin Scott, STV News.
SP Energy Networks apologised and said engineers were on standby until the early hours of last night.

💰 More than £55m of unpaid council tax is owed to the council. - Exclusive by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.

🐧 The daily penguin parade at Edinburgh Zoo has been postponed, 'amid rising concern over a possible outbreak of bird flu', writes Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald.

🔮 Will Teviot re-open on time? Which nightclub will shut down? How many more Black Sheep Coffee cafes will open? - The Edinburgh Tab's Khushi Parekh shares some 2026 predictions.

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📌 “New Year's Day (FREE!) family ceilidh in Portobello Town Hall: Come join the party at our Sprogmanay Family Ceilidh for an afternoon of ceilidh dancing and fun on New Year’s Day! The Sensational Jimi Shandrix Experience will provide the foot stompin’ sets to get you dancin’.” - Thanks to Aidan O'Rourke - First Footin' co-curator, for sharing this.

📌 “New year, new hobbies: Kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding with Forth Canoe Club at Harrison Park. From beginners to whitewater, to competing to leisurely pootling.” - Thanks to Sarah for sharing this.

📌 “1st January 2-4pm New Year's Day Yoga Workshop. Join experienced teacher Emma McCready at Hillside Yoga Studio near the top of Leith Walk for myofascial release, restorative yoga, and journaling. The perfect way to settle into the new year.” - Thanks to Emma for sharing this.

📌 “Thursday 1st January - The Conversation Project - A Little Space for Big Conversations at the End of the Year: A small welcome gathering in the outdoors where we'll use specially selected conversation prompts to reflect on 2025 and set intentions for 2026. Attend alone or with friends.” - Thanks to Eileen Inglis for sharing this.

📌 “1pm on Friday 2nd January, Thank Music It's Friday presents Trio Genial - a piano trio who will play a selection of melodic repertoire to kick start the year. Gina McCormack - violin, Clea Friend - cello and Alex Taylor - piano, donations welcomed, Stockbridge Church, EH3 5BN.” - Thanks to Clea Friend - Creative Director, Stockbridge Music Hub, for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 3rd January - Paint & Sip: Edinburgh's Colourful Skyline. Join us on Saturday at Marpole on Leith Walk for a fun 2-hour paint and sip event (all materials included) and paint your own Edinburgh Colourful Skyline. £25 or included in our unlimited 7 day intro offer for £29.” - Thanks to Marpole Retreats for sharing this.

📌 “Wednesday 07 January at 6pm. Yoga for All with Adri at The Art and Spirituality Centre in Gorgie. Come move, breath and meditate with us, all levels and experience welcome! Free spots available!” - Thanks to Adri, founder of Cosmic Path, for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.