Arts and Culture
Arts Events and Festivals
The Hebrides is the home of a unique, lively and vibrant culture, the true heartland of the Gaels and the Gaelic language.
The Hebridean Celtic Festival, Ceòlas - Summer Music School, Harris Arts Festival, Taransay Fiddle Camp, Faclan - Hebridean Book Festival and Barra Live are pioneering events that attract people to the Hebrides from all over the world.
Traditional arts enrich the cultural life of the islands with the local mods and summer Feisean a focal point for junior and adult choirs, musicians, storytellers, poets and actors. Visitors have the chance to join in with the locals at Highland Games, agricultural shows, ceilidhs and themed evenings in many community centres.
The islands are also home to an exciting local band scene with gigs at pubs and clubs, culminating in the Sounds in the Grounds summer festival in Stornoway. The Western Isles Nu-Music Trust helps to promote the work of young contemporary Western Isles based music artists who are writing and performing their own works in a variety of popular music genres including: Folk, Pop and Rock.
The multi-award winning arts venues An Lanntair in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis and Taigh Chearsabhagh, Lochmaddy, Isle of North Uist put on regular contemporary art exhibitions, art classes and performing arts events – inc. cinema, dance, music and drama - often attracting internationally renowned performers and artists.
A steadily growing community of local organisations including The Islands Book Trust, Theatre Hebrides and Young Musicians Hebrides programme activities and events for all ages.
For event listings please refer to these online guides:
HI Arts guide to what’s on throughout the Highlands and Islands
Thebooth.co.uk – online booking for events across Scotland
Local Western Isles What’s-On Guide
Visit Hebrides Events Calendar
Homecoming Scotland – Western Isles Events
