Beltane Fire Festival 2025

Thousands of people made their way to Edinburgh’s Calton Hill last night to celebrate the annual Beltane Fire Festival.

The ancient Celtic tradition, that goes back more than 3,000 years, marks the changing of the seasons and attracts huge crowds every year.

Organised by the Beltane Fire Society, the event was first performed in it’s current form in 1988, and is a reinterpretation of the centuries old ritual that thrills audiences with captivating storytelling, fire spinning, music and dance.

Around 6,800 people attended the event on Wednesday night, where they followed the procession around the historic site, that sees the May Queen and the Green Man lead hoards spectators around Calton Hill as they visit elemental points on the hill and pay respect to the elements.