FESTIVAL OF EUROPE (SCOTLAND) 2026: Events and Activities

The 2026 Festival of Europe (Scotland) featured 40 events and activities, attended by approximately 2500 people.

Europe Day Party, 2 May
Pentland Ukrainian Support Group hosted  a party to celebrate Europe Day and Ukraine's place in Europe, with choirs, singers, dancers and Ukrainian food.

Studies in Photography: Focus on Poland, 7 May
A talk on plans for an exhibition about Polish photography, to be held in Dalkeith Palace in 2027.

Live Music Now: A Spotlight on European Composers, 7 May
A guitar and flute concert at the Scottish National Gallery.

A special ‘mini-series’ of three Spanish films, organised by the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival, 7, 9, and 10 May
Featuring ‘Romeria’, ‘The Captive’, and ‘Always Winter’.

An exhibition on Bulgarian Kukeri Dancing
At Edinburgh Central Library, from May 8 - May 21

European Comedy Film Shorts, May 8
Comedy shorts from 7 European countries, hosted by the French Institute of Scotland.

Connecting Europe Fair, May 9
A variety of stallholders providing information and answer questions on the opportunities they offer to young people to travel, study, and work in Europe.

‘Land’: an exhibition of Contemporary Ukrainian Art, May 9

The Future of UK-EU-US Relations, May 9
A major conference with international expert speakers.

The High North: Scotland and Europe’s Arctic Scotland, May 9
A seminar hosted by the Scottish Council on Global Affairs.

Polish Heritage Day event, in Kelvingrove Park, May 9
A fun day for families and friends to get together, chat in Polish, enjoy Polish food, play games, sing and dance.

European Language Day – Alliance Française & Goethe-Institut, May 9
Including a language speak-dating session, exploring Polish, Italian, Spanish, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, German, French and a European quiz.

Future UK-EU relations – the state of play, May 10
Conference with expert speakers on the proposed ‘reset’ of UK relations, and possible closer links.

Human rights and migration issues in Europe, May 10
Conference on the origins of the ECHR, its real effects and impacts on European citizens, and its future.

A Europe Day Quiz, at the Riverside Tap, Dumfries, May 10
Including questions on European countries, languages, and interesting Euro-facts.

The Changing Nature of European Security Co-operation, 10 May
A Round-Table Discussion on how Europe should look to its own security and defence.

Citizens Rights Project annual conference, 11 May
Looking at the current key issues and concerns of EU and other European citizens in Scotland.

Russia's campaign against Europe: hybrid war, disinformation, influence, 11 May
Talks from leading experts from Poland and Germany on this topic, led by journalist Allan Little.

Reconnecting Scotland to Europe through Erasmus+, 11 May
How Scottish schools can reconnect with Europe through Erasmus+.

Homes or Homecomings? Learning to manage tourism tensions, 12 May
A Cockburn Association event, led by expert speakers from cities across Europe.

Creative Writing Workshop - Bonds, Borders, Belonging, 13 May
Exploring how relationships can change under the pressure of protracted hostile environment.

‘Eurowalks’: guided tours exploring historic local links between Scotland and Europe
In Edinburgh (13 May), Kirkcaldy (17 May), Stirling (17 May)

Accelerating conversion to organic farming in Scotland, 13 May
How Scotland can learn from Austria’s dramatic increase in organic farming.

European Partnerships and Ideas into Action, 14 May
Celebrating European cooperation, including Horizon Europe, research, youth mobility programmes, Erasmus+, cultural exchange.

Lux Audience Awards film screenings, through UK European Parliament Liaison Office
‘It was Just an Accident’, ‘Sorda (Deaf)’, ‘Christy’ 16, 15, 17 May.

European Communities Day, 16 May
Information, stalls, ceilidh and creative workshops for families and children.

European Traditional Dance Workshop, 16 May
An interactive workshop with dancing from 7 different European countries.