Soundhouse Winter Festival 2026

The Soundhouse Winter Festival 2026 returns to the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh from 26 to 30 November, bringing five days of live music, jazz, Scottish folk, indie bands, and workshops to the city.

Now in its third year, the festival brings together established performers and emerging Scottish musicians, with concerts spread across the St Andrew’s Day weekend. Headliners include Sacred Paws, Heidi Talbot & Boo Hewerdine, Jake Cogan, Matt Carmichael, and Malin Lewis.

The programme also includes a free opening performance by the Soundhouse Choir, celebrating its tenth anniversary, and a newly commissioned work from saxophonist Harben Kay.

Soundhouse Winter Festival 2026: Key Details

Detail	Information
Dates	Thursday 26 to Monday 30 November 2026
Venue	Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, Edinburgh
Music	Jazz, folk, indie, traditional, and contemporary Scottish music
Tickets	Individual performances are ticketed separately
Prices	Vary by concert and workshop; some events are free
Organiser	The Soundhouse Organisation

Festival Line-Up and Highlights

The festival opens on Thursday 26 November with a celebration of ten years of the Soundhouse Choir, founded and led by Heather Macleod. The free concert takes place in the Traverse Bar, giving the choir a chance to mark a decade of music-making and collaboration.

The headline programme includes:

• Heidi Talbot & Boo Hewerdine: The Irish singer and acclaimed songwriter bring their blend of folk, Americana, and acoustic music to Edinburgh.
• Sacred Paws: The Glasgow-based indie duo of Ray Aggs and Eilidh Rodgers perform music mixing post-punk, Afrobeat, and pop, with support from Nani Porenta.
• Jake Cogan: The Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter returns to the stage with music from her previous albums and a preview of material from her forthcoming third record.
• Matt Carmichael: The Scottish saxophonist and composer launches his album Held in the Dark, joined by a seven-piece ensemble.
• Malin Lewis: The award-winning Scottish piper, fiddle player, composer, and instrument maker brings a contemporary approach to traditional music.

More Music, Jazz and New Commissions

Beyond the headline concerts, Soundhouse has programmed several early evening performances and opportunities to discover musicians working across different styles.

Indie-folk group The Deep Blue returns to Edinburgh following an earlier appearance supporting The Waterboys at the Usher Hall. Singer-songwriter Cera Impala will share material from her album Persephone, while guitarist Haftor Medbøe and saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski reunite for a performance drawing on their album Poiesis and new music.

Another highlight is Space for Dreaming, a new commission written by Harben Kay. The piece brings together saxophone, voice, guitar, tuba, bass, and drums, with musicians from different backgrounds collaborating on a specially created festival performance.

The festival’s jazz showcase will feature three emerging acts: nor, Laura Osa, and the Zoe Downs Band. It provides an opportunity to hear new Scottish jazz musicians in an intimate theatre setting.

Workshops and Special Events

Soundhouse Winter Festival is not limited to evening concerts.

Jazz singer and educator Sophie Bancroft will lead a workshop exploring jazz singing, vocal techniques, rhythm, and harmony. Oi Musica will also run a session introducing participants to street band techniques and group music-making.

Workshop places are booked separately, and participants should check the official programme for prices, suitability, and availability.

Tickets and Getting There

The Soundhouse Winter Festival takes place at the Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge Street, beside the Usher Hall and close to Lothian Road.

The venue is within walking distance of Princes Street and Haymarket, with regular bus connections serving the surrounding streets.

Tickets are available for individual concerts and workshops rather than through one general festival admission. Prices vary, and some performances have limited capacity or may sell out.

For the latest programme, performance times, and ticket availability, visit the official Soundhouse Winter Festival website.

Our Tips

• Book headline concerts individually, particularly if you have a specific artist in mind.
• Check the free events too, as some require advance booking despite having no admission charge.
• Allow time between shows if you plan to attend multiple performances on the same day.
• Check whether your performance is in Traverse One, Traverse Two, or the Traverse Bar before arriving.