Scotland’s biggest Bonfire Night celebration has been suddenly called off despite organisers hailing the success of the event last year.
The Fawkes Festival at the Royal Highland Centre, near Edinburgh Airport, was billed as a “safer alternative” to family-run displays when it was launched last year.
However plans to revive the event - which was due to feature a combination of pyrotechnic displays, light shows and laser effects, live music, fairground rides, street food stalls and bars – next month have been abandoned.
Read More:
- Guy Fawkes fireworks festival expected to attract 15,000 visitors
- Edinburgh Council admits firework control zones 'arbitrary'
- Council backs Murrayfield firework ban after AC/DC and Oasis noise
The first event at the Ingliston site attracted more than 15,000 ticket-holders in 2024 and organisers hoped to sell more than 20,000 tickets this year.
They have insisted that ticket sales were not behind the decision to shelve this year’s festival, which has been promoted heavily since its return was announced in the summer and was due to go ahead on November 2.
They have admitted they did not want to stage a “scale-down or compromised” version of the event but have blamed the “significant” rise in the cost of producing events across the industry for the shelving of the planned festival.
Next month’s six-hour event, which was described as a “full-throttle celebration of colour, light and sound,” was expected to feature live performances from acts including the Ibiza in Symphony orchestra, Ben Walker and Bombskare.
Although tickets for this year’s festival went on sale in mid-June, the full line-up for the event was only announced on the festival’s official social media channels on October 1.
However a new statement which has now been posted on the festival’s official website said the event would be taking a “planned pause” this year.
The festival website states: “This is an intentional, strategic decision to give our team time to evolve the event and return in 2026 with an even bigger and better experience.
“We’ve taken this decision early to ensure the festival continues to meet the high creative, production, and safety standards it’s known for.
“Rather than delivering something reduced in scale, we’re choosing to take the time to reimagine and strengthen every part of the experience.
“Fawkes Festival will return in 2026, with enhanced production, new partnerships and an expanded programme. Planning is already underway, and we can’t wait to share what’s next.”
The Fawkes Festival was launched at the Royal Highland Centre last year by director Geoff Crow after his companies were involved in previous light shows and fireworks festivals across Scotland, including at Dalkeith Country Park, in Midlothian, Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry and Gosford House, in East Lothian.
A spokeswoman for the Fawkes Festival told The Herald: “The Fawkes Festival is taking a planned pause in 2025 as part of a long-term strategy to further develop and enhance the event experience.
“While interest and support have been incredibly strong, the rising costs of delivering the scale, creativity, and experience we’ve envisioned have made it challenging to bring the event to life in the way it truly deserves.
“We remain fully committed to the high standards our audience expects and rather than compromise on quality, we’re taking this time to pause, reassess, and reimagine how we bring Fawkes Festival to life - at a level that’s both extraordinary and accessible.
“Planning for the 2026 edition is already underway and we hope to do something even more ambitious, exciting, and unforgettable.”
The festival insisted that it had full permission in place from Edinburgh City Council, which has expanded the use of “fireworks control zones” across the city as part of efforts to “can help reduce noise, stress, littering and antisocial behaviour.”
The festival spokeswoman added: “The decision to pause was a deliberate, creative, and strategic choice focused on the long-term vision for the Fawkes Festival.
“Our goal is to deliver an experience that exceeds expectations while remaining accessible and affordable for families.
“Interest and support have been incredibly strong. This was not a sales-related decision but a strategic one, made to ensure the Fawkes Festival grows sustainably and continues to deliver the world-class standard audiences have come to expect. The goal is long-term success and creative excellence, not short-term compromise.
“The Fawkes Festival is a high-impact, spectacular celebration combining light, lasers, fireworks, live music, family activities, and funfair attractions.
“Due to the significant rise in production costs across the events sector, the Fawkes Festival is taking a proactive and strategic pause to ensure it continues to meet the exceptional creative and production standards our audiences expect.
“Rather than delivering a scaled-down or compromised version this year, the team has chosen to take this time to reimagine and strengthen every aspect of the experience. This approach ensures we return in 2026 with an event that is spectacular, inclusive, and accessible.”
Share