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As Scotland gears up to welcome the arrival of 2026, many residents are preparing for adverse weather conditions, as a yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for a large part of the country. Starting at 06:00 on New Year’s Day and lasting until midnight on Friday, forecasts predict heavy snowfall accompanied by gale-force winds. This warning specifically targets regions in the north and north-east of Scotland, including the Northern Isles, Hebrides, Angus, Perth and Kinross, and sections of Argyll and Bute.
Notably, due to safety concerns stemming from the forecasted weather, the traditional New Year’s Day Nippy Dip event in Stonehaven has been cancelled. Stonehaven & District Community Council explained their decision by emphasizing the importance of prioritizing safety in light of the latest weather outlook. Additionally, Northlink Ferries has issued warnings regarding potential disruptions to some of its services from Friday through to Sunday.
Despite this, other Hogmanay festivities carry on as planned. Stonehaven’s celebrated fireballs procession is set to proceed, attracting roughly 10,000 spectators. This event features about 40 participants swinging flaming fireballs around their heads as they parade along the High Street before casting the fireballs into the harbour. This age-old ceremony is believed to chase away the spirits of the outgoing year and bring good fortune for the new one.
The iconic Edinburgh street party, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from around the globe, will culminate in a spectacular firework display above Edinburgh Castle at midnight. Organizers are reusing some of the fireworks initially intended for last year’s cancelled event, offering a six-minute show featuring around 10,000 fireworks synchronized to a custom soundtrack. Will Evans, director of Titanium Fireworks, shared that a “teaser” display at 21:00 will celebrate Scotland and set a positive mood for the evening. The musical lineup for this year includes indie rock band Wet Leg headlining the Concert in the Gardens, with support from Scottish acts Hamish Hawk and Lucia & The Best Boys. Alongside this, attendees can choose among three different music genres at the Street Party Mega Silent Disco. According to Al Thomson, co-director of Unique Assembly, the producer of Edinburgh Hogmanay, “Things are looking great. Looks like it might be a little bit blustery but we’re confident everything will go ahead as planned.”
On New Year’s Day, the 40th annual Loony Dook will see hundreds of participants donning fancy dress to plunge into the chilly Firth of Forth waters at South Queensferry. This quirky tradition began in 1987 as a festive cure for hangovers, with a group of friends taking a dip in the freezing sea. Meanwhile, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations commenced with the Torchlight Procession on Monday night, where approximately 15,000 marchers carrying flaming torches walked through the Meadows toward Edinburgh Castle, accompanied by around 10,000 spectators.
Regarding travel plans, train services will operate on a restricted schedule with the last trains on Hogmanay leaving earlier than usual, and no trains running on New Year’s Day. A revised timetable will be in place from Friday, 2 January. Updates and detailed service information are available on the ScotRail website.
The Met Office has forecasted significant snowfall and high winds, with up to five centimeters (two inches) of snow expected at low levels and up to 30 centimeters (12 inches) on hills and higher ground by Friday. Winds may cause substantial drift, creating hazardous conditions. They have also highlighted the risk of lightning amid the snow showers. The most affected areas include Angus, Perth and Kinross, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar, Highland, Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, and Argyll and Bute. Travelers and residents in these regions are advised to be prepared for potential disruptions and take necessary precautions
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