Nights Out Events in Edinburgh in May 2026
Scroll down to view the events taking place in Edinburgh during May 2026, or use the filters to narrow down the results.
Events in Edinburgh
Live Music at The Botanist
The Botanist hosts live music from Thursday to Sunday every week! From acoustic singles, duos, trios and full band, we have it all.
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Beethoven Sonatas by Candlelight
Treat yourself and your loved ones to an exceptional early evening piano recital at the beautiful candlelit venue of St Giles' Cathedral!
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Royal Mile Chamber Music Series
The Edinburgh Royal Mile Chamber Music Series returns to St Giles, Cathedral for its second season, following a widely acclaimed launch.
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Vivaldi’s Four Seasons by Candlelight
Enjoy Vivaldi's timeless classic, The Four Seasons, and other magnificent works by Candlelight at St Giles' Cathedral, performed by The Piccadilly Sinfonietta!
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Moonlight Sonata by Candlelight
Experience an enchanting piano recital bathed in the gentle glow of candlelight and set in the awe-inspiring beauty of St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh.
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Royal Mile International Piano Series
Set against the magnificent backdrop of St Giles’ Cathedral — illuminated by candlelight - these concerts promise an unforgettable musical experience!
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Doctor Bonk’s Macarbaret
Dr Bonk, Scotland's silliest surgeon, presents the Macarbaret: a madcap hour of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
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Edinburgh Ceilidh Club at Assembly Roxy
Come and experience Scottish dance the way its meant to be every month at the Edinburgh Ceilidh Club at the Assembly Roxy!
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Chopin & Champagne by Candlelight
Enjoy an exceptional classical concert by candlelight in the beautiful setting of St Mary's Cathedral, that perfectly complements the romantic brilliance of Chopin's music.
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Stand Up Horror
Improvised, macabre tales featuring (voluntary!) members of the audience as actor, writer and tour guide Alex Staniforth invents a horror story every night at Stand Up Horror!
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Out With The Buckleys
James and Clair Buckley are taking their vlog offline and around the UK on an unfiltered, unedited live tour and bring it to the Usher Hall on Friday 1st May!
READ MOREStrictly Come Dancing: The Professionals
Don’t miss your chance to see Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals UK Tour when it returns to Edinburgh Playhouse in May 2026!
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Elkie Brooks - Long Farewell Tour
Having started her career in music in 1960, a remarkable 64 years of performing live, Elkie Brooks will embark upon her ‘Long Farewell Tour’ and brings it to the Usher Hall on 2nd May 2026!
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Josh Widdicombe: Not My Cup of Tea
Has Josh Widdicombe mastered the art of stand-up? Come along and decide for yourself when he brings his new show, Not My Cup of Tea, to the Edinburgh Playhouse!
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Summer Salt
Texas indie pop band Summer Salt bring their EU/UK Reside Tour to The Mash House Edinburgh on Sunday 3rd May.
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Indian Plugin - Summer Electro Fest
Indian electronic music is not just an evolution, but a revolution. 12 Hours of exploring New Era Indian Music. SOUNDS of INDIA where the logic stand.
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Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell, an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music, plays The Queen's Hall Edinburgh on Monday 4th May!
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Sunny Afternoon
Sunny Afternoon, the multi-award-winning musical sensation about one of the greatest bands of all time, The Kinks, is returning for a major UK tour, don't miss it at the Edinburgh Playhouse!
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Cantatas & Concertos
Alexander Chance joins Dunedin Consort for a programme of Bach, Telemann and Graupner.
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The Charlatans
One of the UK's most enduring and best-loved bands, The Charlatans, have announced a tour in support of new album, We Are Love, which will see them headline the Corn Exchange on Wednesday 6th May!
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Dave Formula & Noko
Magazine's keyboard player and guitarist, Dave and Noko, will be touring one more time... performing an evening of Magazine material at La Belle Angele on Thursday 7th May!
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Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Schumann Cello Concerto
Join Principal Conductor Maxim Emelyanychev and exceptional SCO Principal Cello Philip Higham for this varied concert.
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Star Struck
Prepare to be transported into a glamorous world where jazz meets ballet, and the stars align when Scottish Ballet bring Starstruck to the Festival Theatre in May!
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Police Dog Hogan
Police Dog Hogan, one of the country's finest live folk-country acts, bring their UK tour to The Queen's Hall Edinburgh on Friday 8th May!
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RSNO Season 25-26: The Music of John Williams
Join the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for a full-scale symphonic tribute to movie composer John Williams at the Usher Hall on Friday 8th May 2026!
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Festhailes Country
Come along to our family-friendly country music festival in the grounds of Newhailes House on Saturday 9th May.
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Red Hot Chilli Pipers with Ally the Piper (from the USA)
Back by popular demand, the Red Hot Chilli Pipers - the most famous bagpipe band on the planet - are set to light up the stage once again for one night only at the Usher Hall.
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James Morrison
Chart-topping singer songwriter James Morrison returns to the Usher Hall on 10th May to perform the no.1 album 'Undiscovered'!
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100 Years Celebration of Laurel and Hardy - Presented by Neil Brand
Following the success of his 2023/24 tour, Neil Brand invites you to celebrate the centenary of Laurel and Hardy with a brand-new show at The Queen's Hall Edinburgh in May!
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Scottish Chamber Orchestra: Dvořák ‘New World’ Symphony
Join Maxim and the SCO musicians for an electrifying and emotional conclusion to the Season – with one of the most cherished symphonies of them all.
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Cash - The American Recordings starring Henry Wagons
This show, performed by Australian singer Henry Wagons, pays tribute to Johnny Cash's late-career American Recordings albums. Catch it at The Voodoo Rooms on Friday 15th May!
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Rival Consoles
Electronic artist Rival Consoles will headline The Liquid Room in Edinburgh on Friday 15th May!
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RSNO Season 25-26: Nicola Benedetti Plays Elgar
Nicola Benedetti joins Scotland’s National Orchestra for Elgar’s lyrical Violin Concerto.
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Motown Brothers - Soul and Motown
Step back in time to the golden era of soul and rhythm & blues with The Mowtown Brothers, the ultimate tribute band to the legendary Motown sound.
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The Puppini Sisters
In celebration of 2026 marking 20 years since their debut album, The Puppini Sisters have announced a celebratory UK tour in May including a date at The Pleasance Edinburgh on the 16th!
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Lost in Music - One Night In the Disco
Step back into the era of glitter balls and groove – Lost in Music is back with a brand-new, high-energy show that’s bigger, bolder, and more dazzling than ever!
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The Mersey Beatles
The Mersey Beatles – the world’s favourite Liverpool-born tribute to the Fab Four - return to the Assembly Rooms on Sunday 17th May!
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Toots And The Maytals Feat. Leba Hibbert
The Toots and the Maytals legacy lives on with Toots' daughter, Leba Hibbert, now fronting the band. They return for a 2026 UK tour including a show at The Queens Hall on Sunday 17th May!
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The Bodyguard
The international, award-winning smash-hit musical based on the blockbuster film, The Bodyguard is back! Don't miss it when it returns to the Edinburgh Playhouse in 2026!
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Sing The Musicals
Direct from London's West End, the first national tour of the greatest musicals of all time, performed by a sensational live band and character singers, comes to the Usher Hall on 21st May!
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Christopher Cross
Christopher Cross is a respected singer-songwriter-guitar player who continues to share his original music with the world. Catch him at the Usher Hall on Friday 22nd May.
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From the Jam - Greatest Hits Tour
From The Jam have announced a major UK tour for Spring 2026, marking 20 years since their formation, including a date at La Belle Angele on Friday 22nd May!
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The Fabulous Cash & Carter Show
Don't miss a a fantastic, authentic and heart-warming, nostalgic journey reliving the stories, music, and songs of The Great Johnny Cash and June Carter.
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Travellers Tunes: An Evening With Steve Cradock
In his debut tour, Steve Cradock will be playing and singing hits from the Ocean Colour Scene songbook, and much more, at The Queen's Hall Edinburgh in May!
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2:22 A Ghost Story
Direct from London's West End, the edge-of-your-seat, supernatural thriller 2:22 A Ghost Story comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse in May 2026!
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An Audience with Mark and Lard
Don't miss 'An Audience With Mark And Lard', coming to The Queen's Hall Edinburgh on Tuesday 26th May!
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Richard Thompson
Ivor Novello Award-winning and Grammy Award-nominated legend Richard Thompson plays the Usher Hall on Thursday 28th May!
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Craig Hill: Wait ’Til You See My Entrance!
Don't miss Scotland's cheeky, irreverent and uproarious Kilty Comedy Pleasure and join Craig as his hilarious new live tour comes to the Corn Exchange Haddington!
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Grieg Piano Concerto by Candlelight
Enjoy an exceptional classical concert by candlelight in the beautiful setting of St Giles' Cathedral.
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Scottish Opera: The Marriage of Figaro
Sir Thomas Allen revives his much-loved production of Mozart’s unstoppable masterpiece, The Marriage of Figaro, at Festival Theatre in May.
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Debussy by Candlelight
Experience an enchanting piano recital bathed in the gentle glow of candlelight, set within the awe-inspiring beauty of St Giles’ Cathedral.
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Pierre Novellie: You Sit There, I'll Stand Here
It's time for Pierre to do stand-up! It's time for you to watch! Why not just embrace that, for God's sake? All earthly glories fade!
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Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
Ray LaMontagne's Trouble 20th Anniversary Tour is heading to Edinburgh, don't miss him live at the Usher Hall on 31st May!
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Nights Out Events in East Renfrewshire
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On East Renfrewshire:
Travellers Tunes: An Evening With Steve Cradock
In his debut tour, Steve Cradock will be playing and singing hits from the Ocean Colour Scene songbook, and much more at Eastwood Park Theatre in May!
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Cinema Screening: Royal Ballet and Opera - Eugene Onegin
Asmik Grigorian and Igor Golovatenko star in The Metropolitan Opera's evocative production of Tchaikovsky's romantic opera. Conducted by Timur Zangiev.
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Damian Hall - Running Forever
In his first theatre tour, Damian Hall will deliver stories of breaking long-distance running records and representing Great Britain, to running marathons dressed as a toilet and near-fatal mishaps
READ MORENights Out Events in Fife
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Fife:
Susie McCabe: Best Behaviour
The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award winner Susie McCabe is back with her latest tour 'Best Behaviour' and brings it to The Byre Theatre St Andrews on Friday 1st May!
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Stuart Mitchell & Friends: On The Road
The one liners have been sharpened, the quick replies are flowing fast and this time – he's bringing his pals... don't miss Stuart Mitchell & Friends at The Byre Theatre!
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Pixies
Pixies are marking their 40th year together with a UK and Europe tour and bring it to The Alhambra Theatre on Thursday 21st May!
READ MORENights Out Events in Glasgow
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Glasgow:
M60
Catch M60, a rising indie rock band hailing from Manchester, live at Glasgow's King Tut's on Friday 1st May!
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Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals
Catch your favourite Pros as they waltz their way across the UK when Strictly Come Dancing: The Professionals returns to the SEC Armadillo on Sunday 3rd May!
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Lucia & The Best Boys
Lucia & the Best Boys will headline Glasgow's Barrowlands on Friday 29th May for a night of goth tinged electro-rock!
READ MORENights Out Events in Lanarkshire
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Lanarkshire:
Girls’ Night Oot! 2 - Heartbreaks and Promises
The ladies are back for a night full of song and laughter, don't miss the sensational sequel to Girls' Night Oot! at Airdrie Town Hall on Saturday 30th May!
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Yourythmics
Yourythmics is the ultimate full band experience of the works of the Eurythmics and Annie Lennox, don't miss them live at Cumbernauld Theatre on Saturday 9th May!
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Bruce Fummey - Scotland Made The World
Bruce Fummey, the comedian behind the 230k subscriber YouTube channel Scotland History Tours, returns to Cumbernauld Theatre with new show, Scotland Made The World!
READ MORENights Out Events in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Renfrewshire:
Kim Carnie
Award-winning singer and composer Kim Carnie will play a headline show at Paisley Arts Centre on Sunday 24th May!
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An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Wet Wet Wet
An Intimate Acoustic Evening with Wet Wet Wet will see the band perform a full set of reworked Wet Wet Wet classics, with the odd story and anecdote from their history thrown in for good measure!
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Definitely Oasis
Definitely Oasis triumphantly return to The Bungalow Paisley on Saturday 16th May for a headline show and over two hours of non stop monster OASIS hits!
READ MORENights Out Events in Stirling
Here's a selection of Nights Out Events you can find over on our sister site, What's On Stirling:
Susie McCabe: Best Behaviour
The Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow award winner Susie McCabe is back with her latest tour 'Best Behaviour' and brings it to Macrobert Arts Centre on Friday 15th May!
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Karine Polwart - Windblown
A hauntingly beautiful tribute to a palm tree facing its chainsaw demise, Windblown is a spellbinding blend of folk music, conjured sound, intimate storytelling and stunning, immersive visuals.
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Country Hits Live
Performed by a cast of multi award-winning musicians and singers, Country Hits Live will celebrate the atmosphere and energy of an evening in the home of country music.
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