Hotels
Where to stay for Hogmanay in Edinburgh 2026, by the street party
Edinburgh's Hogmanay runs from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, and on New Year's Eve 45,000 people fill Princes Street before the fireworks go up from the Castle at midnight. These are the hotels closest to the party, with walking times and guest ratings.
7 November 20266 min
Picolo Editorial
In short about Hogmanay in Edinburgh 2026
Edinburgh's Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year, runs over four days, from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. The highlight is the Street Party on Princes Street on New Year's Eve, from 8pm, which ends with the Midnight Moment fireworks from Edinburgh Castle. Stay on or just off Princes Street and you can walk back to your room the moment the fireworks end.
Our first choice: The Balmoral, a minute from Princes Street under its own clock tower, with 9.8 out of 10 from guests. Check availability and prices at The Balmoral
What happens at Edinburgh's Hogmanay in 2026?
29 December: the Torchlight Procession, from the Meadows through the Old Town.
30 December: the Night Afore Concert at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens.
31 December: the Hogmanay Street Party on Princes Street from 8pm, for 45,000 people, with the Midnight Moment fireworks from the Castle. The British electronic band Underworld headline Hogmanay in the Gardens.
1 January: free events across the city, including the First Footin' culture trail.
On 7 November, the official site said tickets for the 2026 Street Party were coming soon. Sign up on Edinburgh's Hogmanay to hear when they go on sale. Only ticket holders get on to Princes Street during the party, so ask your hotel how guests get in and out on the night.
When should you book a hotel for Hogmanay?
Book now if you have not already. The hotels on and around Princes Street are in high demand over Hogmanay, and some may set a minimum stay. Choose a rate with free cancellation where it is offered, and buy your Street Party tickets as soon as they are released, because the hotel booking does not include them.
The hotels closest to the Street Party
Walking times to Princes Street are from Hotels.com.
The Balmoral
The lobby at The Balmoral, with a chandelier above the gallery.
The Balmoral: one minute to Princes Street
The Balmoral stands at the east end of Princes Street, under the clock tower that looks down on the whole street. It has a pool, a spa and a whisky bar, and guests rate it 9.8 out of 10 on Hotels.com. The Royal Mile is four minutes away and the Castle ten. It suits anyone who wants to be at the heart of Hogmanay.
The Caledonian
The Caledonian stands at the west end of Princes Street.
The Caledonian: one minute to Princes Street
The Caledonian is the red sandstone hotel at the west end of Princes Street, a minute from Princes Street Gardens. It has a pool and a spa, and guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 on Hotels.com. The Castle is about ten minutes' walk away. It suits anyone who wants Princes Street on the doorstep, with a pool and a spa.
Check availability and prices at The Caledonian
Kimpton Charlotte Square: two minutes to Princes Street
Kimpton Charlotte Square fills a row of Georgian townhouses on Charlotte Square, at the end of George Street. Princes Street and the Gardens are about two minutes away. It has a pool and a spa, and guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It suits anyone who wants a quieter square to come back to after midnight.
Market Street Hotel
A terrace at Market Street Hotel, with the city beyond the glass.
Market Street Hotel: three minutes to Princes Street
Market Street Hotel is between the Old Town and Waverley Station, about three minutes from Princes Street and one from the Royal Mile. It has a restaurant and a bar, and guests rate it 9.8 out of 10 on Hotels.com, level with The Balmoral. The Castle is seven minutes away. It suits couples who want a modern hotel close to both the party and the Old Town.
Check availability and prices at Market Street Hotel
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh: six minutes to Princes Street
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is in the Old Town, a minute from the Grassmarket square and the Royal Mile and about six minutes from Princes Street. The Castle is six minutes away. Guests rate it 9.6 out of 10 on Hotels.com. It suits anyone who wants the pubs of the Grassmarket for the rest of the night.
Check availability and prices at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
What Picolo would choose
What Picolo would choose: The Balmoral to be at the centre of Hogmanay, Market Street Hotel for the same 9.8 rating by Waverley, and The Caledonian for a pool and spa on Princes Street.
Why: The Balmoral and Market Street both score 9.8 out of 10, and both are within three minutes of Princes Street. The Caledonian has a pool and a spa a minute from the Gardens. The trade-off: Virgin Hotels has the liveliest surroundings, but it is six minutes from the Street Party.
For more hotels in the city, see the best hotels in Edinburgh. For New Year elsewhere in Britain, see New Year breaks in the UK and New Year's Eve in London.
Our pick for Hogmanay in Edinburgh
The Balmoral: Hogmanay under the clock tower
The Balmoral is the hotel we would choose for Hogmanay. It stands at the east end of Princes Street, where the Street Party takes place, and you are back in the lobby a minute after the fireworks from the Castle. The whisky bar is the place for a dram before midnight, and the pool and spa are there for New Year's Day. Guests rate the hotel 9.8 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Frequently asked questions about Hogmanay in Edinburgh
When is Edinburgh's Hogmanay in 2026?
Edinburgh's Hogmanay runs from 29 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. The Torchlight Procession is on 29 December, the Night Afore Concert on 30 December, and the Street Party on Princes Street on New Year's Eve from 8pm. New Year's Day has free events across the city.
Do you need a ticket for the Hogmanay Street Party?
Yes, the Street Party on Princes Street is a ticketed event. On 7 November 2026 the official Edinburgh's Hogmanay site said tickets for 2026 were coming soon. Your hotel booking does not include a ticket, so sign up for the official newsletter and buy as soon as they are released.
Which hotels are closest to the Hogmanay Street Party?
The Balmoral and The Caledonian are about a minute's walk from Princes Street, according to Hotels.com, and Kimpton Charlotte Square about two. Market Street Hotel is three minutes away. All four have guest ratings of 9.2 or higher. Ask the hotel how guests get in and out while the street is closed.
Where can you see the Hogmanay fireworks?
The Midnight Moment fireworks are launched from Edinburgh Castle at midnight. The Street Party on Princes Street has the best view, and you need a ticket for it. Many people also watch from other parts of the city with a view of the Castle, so the hotels around the Old Town are a good choice.
Sources
The Hogmanay programme and dates come from Edinburgh's Hogmanay and edinburgh.org. Walking times, facilities and guest ratings come from Hotels.com, last checked 7 November 2026. The picks in "What Picolo would choose" are Picolo's own.
This page contains affiliate links. If you book through them, Picolo earns a commission at no extra cost to you. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
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