Glasgow’s winter music festival, Celtic Connections, has officially revealed the programme for its 2027 edition. Running from 14 to 31 January 2027, Europe’s premier winter roots and world music event will bring 18 days of concerts, special collaborations, and world premieres to venues across the city.
Coming off a record-breaking 2026 festival that welcomed 114,000 attendees to 300 events, the 34th edition expands even further. The 2027 bill features artists from more than 20 countries spanning folk, roots, Americana, world, orchestral, jazz, and indie genres.
Arena Spectacles & Intimate Headliners
Celtic Connections 2027 is pairing massive arena productions with ultra-intimate acoustic sets:
- Glasgow International Arena Takeover: Irish folk-rock legends The Saw Doctors head up a massive Friday night headline show. On Saturday, Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman joins forces with British talents Rushil Ranjan and Abi Sampa for Rangreza, an orchestral cross-cultural performance marking its UK debut outside London’s Royal Albert Hall.
- Intimate Acoustic Sets: English singer-songwriter Newton Faulkner will play two exclusive, intimate acoustic shows at the 110-capacity Recital Rooms in City Halls.
- Concert Hall & Club Icons: Swedish indie-folk star José González takes the stage at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, while legendary Irish accordionist Sharon Shannon brings her Big Band to the O2 Academy alongside special guest Bob Geldof.
Symphonic Folk, Beatles Hits & Heritage Tributes
Orchestral fusions and historic tributes form a core pillar of the 2027 festival line-up:
- Opening Concert: The world premiere of the newly evolved Scotland’s GRIT Orchestra, conducted by Greg Lawson, will open the festival with symphonic reimagining of classical folk repertoire and tunes by the late Martyn Bennett.
- Beatlemania Comes to Glasgow: The annual Roaming Roots Revue presents The Beatles: When I’m 64. Curated by Roddy Hart, a star-studded lineup of guest vocalists will perform iconic tracks backed by the Lonesome Fire Band and the RCS Orchestra.
- Orchestral Cross-overs: Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds join forces with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, King Creosote collaborates with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and experimental piper Bríghde Chaimbeul pairs up with the Scottish Ensemble.
- Tributes to Legends: Special tribute nights will honor Scottish folk legend Archie Fisher at City Halls, Glasgow icon Matt McGinn at the Tron Theatre, and folk-rock pioneer Sandy Denny (presented by her daughter Georgia Rose Lucas). A multi-artist celebration of Joni Mitchell will also take place inside the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
New Venues & £1 Tickets for Young Fans
Alongside returns to iconic spaces like SWG3, Saint Luke’s, and the Old Fruitmarket, the 2027 festival expands its footprint with first-time gigs aboard the historic Tall Ship Glenlee.
To keep festival nights accessible, Celtic Connections is introducing New Roots—a £1 membership scheme for music lovers under 26 that grants up to 50% off tickets for selected performances throughout the festival.
Trad Giants, Americana Stars & Global Sounds
- Trad & Folk Champions: High-energy headline sets include Scottish and Irish trad favourites Trail West, Elephant Sessions, Siobhan Miller, Kris Drever, Julie Fowlis, Breabach, Kim Carnie, and Beoga.
- Americana Imports: Transatlantic highlights feature bluegrass virtuoso Sierra Hull, Grammy winners Punch Brothers, indie-folk duo Milk Carton Kids, and Seattle’s The Brudi Brothers.
- Global Connections: Sudanese singer and oud player Sulaf makes her Scottish debut at Òran Mór, while India’s Raghu Dixit Trio closes out the festival at Drygate. Additional global highlights include Mauritanian trance-blues artist Noura Mint Seymali and West African musician Momi Maiga at the Tramway.
- International Showcase: The Spanish region of Asturias serves as the 2027 official international partner, spotlighting the principality’s rich Celtic folk heritage.
Ticket Drop & On-Sale Schedule
- General On-Sale: Thursday, 8 October 2026 at 10:00 AM via celticconnections.com.
- Weekly Drops: New show announcements will go live every Thursday throughout October.
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