THE organisers of Edinburgh’s largestGuy Fawkesnight celebrations have called off the event just weeks before it was set to take place.
The event, which was billed as a “safer alternative” to smaller, ad-hoc events in Edinburgh sold 15,000 tickets last year and hoped to increase the number of tickets sold to 20,000 for the 2025 instalment.
However, organisers have now said that the event – which was slated to take place at theRoyal Highland Centrein Ingliston – will take a “planned pause” and return next year, leaving thousands in the lurch.
They have also said that all 2025 tickets already sold will be automatically refunded within 5 to 10 days.
Organisers were coy about why exactly the event has been cancelled, saying on their website that the “intentional, strategic” decision was taken to “ensure the festival continues to meet the high creative, production, and safety standards it’s known for”.
Organisers say they preferred to axe the event entirely rather than deliver something reduced in scale.
Tickets for this year’s festival went on sale in June, and the full lineup was publicised on 1 October, with the event set to take place on 2 November.
Attendees were set to be treated to performances from Ibiza in Symphony, Bombskare, Ben Walker, and Cal & Ally.
Organisers took to social media to express regret at the disappointment caused by the cancellation of the event but did not go into detail about the reasons for the cancellation.
They said: “Fawkes Festival will be taking a planned pause this year as we look ahead to 2026.
“This allows our team to refresh, evolve and deliver the full-scale experience our audiences deserve.
“All 2025 tickets will be automatically refunded to the original payment method via our ticketing partner See Tickets within 5 to 10 working days, no action required.
“Please keep an eye on your inbox for a confirmation email soon.
“We understand this will be disappointing news to those who had bought tickets and were planning to come along, but we appreciate and value your understanding.”
Several comments underneath the social media post expressed bewilderment at the decision.
One said: “Absolutely gutted. Nowhere does anything close to how good this was last year.”
Another asked: “Why have you just decided this now when you’ve been marketing it months, and why have you given such a vague non-transparent reason?
“We literally planned a trip around this and bought train tickets assuming that at this late stage it would go ahead unless there was significantly bad weather.”
A third replied: “Hardly a ‘planned pause’ or an ‘early decision’.
“I bought our tickets two weeks ago – five weeks before the event was due to take place.
“Poor planning and customer service. If it’s poor uptake and not cost efficient, say that rather than what you’ve done here. Awaiting my refund.”
Another commented: “Why has this just been decided now? You’ve been marketing this for months.”
Fawkes festival said on social media that the festival will return in 2026 with “enhanced production, new partnerships and an expanded programme”.
The Edinburgh Fawkes Festival has been approached for comment.
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