Record benefit to city of Edinburgh Winter Festival amid 'exceptional' demand for accommodation

The festival, which includes Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, saw economic growth of more than 20 per cent across the past three years to £241 million.

Hotel occupancy peaked at 95.8 per cent on New Year’s Eve this year, one of the highest figures ever recorded for the city, according to an economic impact report published by Unique Assembly, a partnership between Fringe venue Assembly and Unique Events, which runs the festival.

The report revealed a record number of visitors travelled internationally to celebrate Hogmanay in Edinburgh, with a third coming from outside the UK and more than a quarter from outside Scotland.

Wet Leg headlined the concert in the Gardens at the Ross Bandstand on Hogmanay, which saw full-scale celebrations return to the capital after the event was cancelled a year earlier due to extreme weather conditions.

Of those who were visiting from other countries, 100 per cent said they would recommend the festival and attend again, a figure which dropped to 80 per cent among UK visitors.

A total of 2.9 million people visited the festivals’ city centre sites, maintaining near-record footfall following the 3m peak recorded in 2023/24.

The report also found the return on public investment has also increased significantly over the past three years, with the festivals now delivering £297 back to Edinburgh for every £1 invested by the City of Edinburgh Council.

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The directors of Unique Assembly said: “These results underline just how important Edinburgh’s Winter Festival has become - not only to the city’s economy, but to its communities, cultural life and global reputation.

“Delivering £241m in economic impact and some of the highest visitor satisfaction levels we’ve ever seen is something everyone involved can be incredibly proud of.”

Last year, organisers had hoped to expand the festival by adding eight new market stalls and two new attractions in the eastern part of Princes Street Gardens, a move which was blocked by city planners.

The directors added: “It’s fantastic that people are staying longer, we are welcoming more people from around the world, we are giving local communities access to a range of free tickets and events, and we’ve seen a heartening uplift in charitable giving.

“This year shows that Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations and Hogmanay festival are not just world class events, but a festival that is rooted in the city, supports local artists and businesses, and creates experiences people actively want to return for year after year.”

More than 8,500 free tickets and ride passes were distributed to over 160 local charities and community groups over the festivals period. Meanwhile, over 27,500 people attended the free events at the Ross Bandstand across successive weekends and local resident ticket offers sold out.

Jane Meagher, leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It's clear to see that both residents and visitors are continuing to embrace and enjoy the celebrations, which bring such a special atmosphere to Edinburgh each year.

“Looking ahead to next year, we’re committed to building on this success and ensuring Edinburgh’s winter festival continues to deliver unforgettable experiences while creating lasting benefits for our residents, businesses and communities.”