Congratulations to Edinburgh International Harp Festival who has / have been nominated in Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Edinburgh International Harp Festival now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Rachel of Edinburgh International Harp Festival the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
The Edinburgh International Harp Festival is a five-night, four-day springtime celebration of all things harp. A must-visit festival for harpists worldwide, the Festival attracts hundreds of participants each year.
Organised by The Clarsach Society, with Scotland’s own clarsach and music at its heart, the Festival transforms Edinburgh’s George Watson’s College into a vibrant hub of concerts, courses, workshops and music-making.
A concert programme combining internationally renowned performers and the best of Scottish talent is balanced with learning with over 50 courses and workshops, informal sessions and opportunities for shared music-making.
Above all, we are proud to be a festival with an international reputation and a distinctly Scottish heart, renowned as much for our friendly, inclusive atmosphere as for the world-class music we share.
Any particular career highlights?
In March 2020, we were one of the first festivals cancelled due to Covid, but quickly bounced back as one of the first to go online. Our virtual concerts and workshops forged lasting friendships across the globe, with many online participants since joining us in Edinburgh.
Fast forward to 2026, when we celebrated our 45th Festival, welcoming participants from an incredible 32 countries for 9 concerts, 150 hours of courses and workshops and a host of other events.
We also once “plucked” our way into the Guinness World Record book for the world’s largest harp ensemble! 201 harpists played (and tuned…eek!) some 6,800 strings at our “Host of Harps” concert.
From record-breaking ensembles to friendships forged across continents, it’s the people and the music that make the Festival so special!
What are your plans for the future?
We’re busy putting the finishing touches to our 2027 Festival, with another fantastic line-up of international and Scottish harping talent, exciting new music and a packed programme of courses and workshops!
Two particularly special events are in the works. We’ll be bringing together harp ensembles from branches of The Clarsach Society for a celebration of harping, alongside an exciting youth project uniting young harpists from Scotland and Ireland to learn, collaborate and perform together.
We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to Edinburgh in April!
Edinburgh International Harp Festival Social Media
Website: https://www.harpfestival.co.uk
Facebook: @EdinburghInternationalHarpFestival
Instagram: @harpfestival
Listen to music: http://
The 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 5th December 2026 in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here).
Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night will welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including Valtos, Gnoss, Sian, Fèis Phàislig, Spodo Komodo and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Rachel Groves and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.