The organisers of Edinburgh's Hogmanay festival are expecting 75,000 revellers at the world-famous event this year.
Unique Events, which runs the event which brings £40m to the city's economy, have also announced some changes to the events, including a new series of activitiee for children and an arm-band system for the torchlight procession.
Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini will headline the main Concert in the Gardens, which will be his only festival performance in 2016, while other performers elsewhere include The Charlatans, Salsa Celtica, Manran, Guilty Pleasures, James Brown is Annie, and others.
It is not yet been decided, organisers said, whether the public will be able to access Calton Hill for the fireworks spectacular on December 31.
The other festivals of Edinburgh, including the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe, are also likely to be part of the events, as 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of the formation of the EIF.
The celebrations begin on Friday 30 December with the Torchlight Procession, which will have 30,000 participants, including 10,000 torchbearers.
This year to take part in the Torchlight Procession and access to Calton Hill on that night, new event wristbands have to be purchased.
A donation from the sale of both torches and wristbands will be given to the official Edinburgh’s Hogmanay charity UNICEF, which last year received over £50,000 from Edinburgh’s Hogmanay fundraising to help children affected by the war in Syria.
Of his concert, Mr Nutini, from Paisley, said: "When they offered us the gig, I was made up, as it was 10 years ago that we had shown up at the castle, lined up to play alongside the Pet Shop Boys and unfortunately it was a washout ... forcing the powers that be to cancel.
"We went back as a three piece in ‘08 to play a small set before legging it to Glasgow for George Square but this now gives us a chance to make up for lost gigs. "We had no plans for any shows this year after Wales but this was the only one that over the years I hoped that we would get another shot at.
"Edinburgh is electric at that time of year and I'm glad we get a chance to be a part of it. Let's dance ladies and gentleman."
The Charlatans will be joined by special guests to be announced shortly.
Tim Burgess, leader singer, said: “Nowhere in the world sees in the New Year like Scotland.
"I've been to Edinburgh before for Hogmanay and it's always brilliant. Looking forward to another big night.”
This year, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay also introduces Sprogmanay, which offers a series of events for children too young to enjoy the traditional Hogmanay parties, with a free family ceilidh and other events based around the National Museum of Scotland.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Edinburgh’s Festivals and Events champion, said the Hogmanay celebrations would set the tone for 2017 where both the EIF and the Fringe are marking their 70th anniversaries.
He said: "Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is going to kick off 2017 as we mean to go on."
Tickets go on general sale on Friday 30 September.
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