Celebrating Burns Night

Burns Night celebrates the life and works of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. While Burns Suppers commemorating the bard are traditionally held on Robert Burns’s birthday, 25th January, Burns Suppers are often held across Scotland throughout late January.

Who was Robert Burns?

Born 25th January 1759 in a cottage in Alloway, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns was renowned for his works ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘Address to a Haggis’ and ‘To A Mouse.’

From humble beginnings, Burns earned his reputation as an exemplary poet at just 27 years old after publishing his first collection in 1786, many of which would go on to inspire the Romantics such as Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley.

How to spend Burns Night 2026

Burns Night speeches, toasts and poetry recitations work best with company, either in the comfort of your own home or at one of the many exuberant dinner parties hosted across the country.

Burns Night: what to expect

No matter where you are in the country, here’s what you can expect from a traditional Burns Night celebration.

Burns Night food

Any good dinner party has good food at its heart, and rest assured, the Scottish scran central to a Burns Night feast is as wholesome as it is hearty.

Ingredients for these recipes can be found in most large UK supermarkets, although it’s common to order more specific cuts or preparations of meat from a butcher’s shop.

The first course of the night is a traditional soup, typically Scotch broth, cock-a-leekie or Cullen skink.

Next, haggis is served alongside neeps (mashed turnip) and champit tatties (mashed potatoes), either as a main course or intermediate course.

If haggis is served as an intermediate course, the main course is usually Scottish salmon, Scottish beef, a steak pie or game, with a side of potatoes and seasonal vegetables.

Pudding is often a choice between traditional Scottish trifle or cranachan, a dish made of oatmeal, cream, raspberries and whisky, before a cheeseboard is passed around to round off the meal. Attendees can choose from a selection of Scottish cheeses, such as Caboc, Arran Cheddar, Dunlop Cheese and Lanark Blue, accompanied by Scottish chutneys and oatcakes.

Burns Night traditions

Since the first Burns Supper held in 1801, the dinner parties hosted on Burns Night are characterised by a set of quirky customs that celebrate Scottish culture while paying homage to Burns’s literary prowess.

Most suppers begin with the ‘Selkirk Grace’, which, while not written by Burns, was made popular by the poet after reciting it at a dinner party with the Earl of Selkirk in 1794:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be Thankit!

Next comes the ceremonial address of the haggis, where the dish is brought out on a platter and led to the table by a bagpiper. Burns’s poem ‘Address to a Haggis’ is read in Scots by the host or a chosen speaker, and the first cut into the haggis is made at the start of the third verse.

When the traditional Burns Night poem is finished, there’s a toast and a dram of whisky is shared with the chef and the piper, before guests can tuck into their haggis.

Following the meal, there are speeches and entertainment, starting with a toast to the monarch known as the Loyal Toast, followed by the main toast to the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns.

‘A Toast to the Lassies’, reflecting Burns’s ‘appreciation’ of women, is followed by a witty counter known as the ‘Reply to the Toast of the Lassies’, whereafter the women raise their glasses to ‘the Laddies.’

After an evening of speeches and entertainment, a rendition of the final Burns Night poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’ concludes the event, with a final round of cheers before guests make their way home.

Burns Night in Edinburgh

With Avanti West Coast trains making for an easy journey to the Scottish capital, there’s no better way to spend Burns Night than in the bard’s own city. Here are just some of the ways you can spend Burns Night 2026 in Edinburgh.

The Dome, Edinburgh: Essential information

With a red carpet reception and a Ceilidh band to boot, celebrate Burns Night in style at The Dome.

• Dates: Sunday 25th January 2026
• Start time: 7 pm
• Ticketing: £95 per person, bookable online
• Address: The Dome, 14 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PF

Prestonfield’s Burns Supper: Essential information

The Prestonfield House Burns Supper is making a comeback in 2026, promising an evening of wit, whisky and wisdom in support of Prostate Scotland.

• Dates: 22nd January 2026
• Start time: A champagne reception begins at 6:30 pm
• Ticketing: £95 per person, bookable online
• Address: Prestonfield House, Priestfield Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5UT

Edinburgh Castle: Essential information

Got a Burns Supper planned, but want to get to know the bard beforehand? Make your way to Edinburgh Castle to learn more about the life and works of Scotland’s national poet.

• Dates: 25th January 2026
• Performance times: 11:15 am, 12:15 pm, 2 pm, and 3 pm
• Ticketing: Included in normal admission
• Address: Edinburgh Castle, Castlehill, Edinburgh Old Town, EH1 2NG

Burns Night in London

Whether you’re looking to join a jolly ceilidh or fancy a dram or two (or three), Avanti West Coast makes it easy to get to London Euston from anywhere in the UK. Here’s how you can celebrate Burns Night in London.

Ceilidh Club, Burns Night 2026: Essential information

Grab your kilt and get ready to dance the night away at the Ceilidh Club for Burns Night.

• Dates: 23rd and 24th January 2026
• Start time: Doors open at 7:00 pm
• Ticketing: £63 standard ticket or £53 concession ticket, bookable online
• Address: Porchester Town Hall, Porchester Road, London, W2 5HS

Boisdale Restaurant: Essential information

With restaurants in Belgravia and Canary Wharf, every year Boisdale celebrates Burns Night with a show-stopping Caledonian feast complete with Scottish Smoked Salmon, Wild Balmoral Estate Venison, Aberdeenshire dry-aged beef fillet and mini roast Dumfriesshire Blackface haggis.

• Dates: 21st to 25th January 2026
• Ticketing: Table bookable online
• Address: Boisdale of Belgravia, 15 Eccleston Street, London, SW1W 9LX or Boisdale of Canary Wharf, Unit 14, Cabot Square, London, E14 4QT

Celebrating Burns Night across the UK

The country capitals aren’t the only ones celebrating Burns Night in 2026. Here’s what else is going on across the UK.

The Citizen, Glasgow

Take a trip to Glasgow and gang thegither at The Citizen, where the old Glasgow Evening Citizen newspaper offices used to be, for a Burns Supper to remember.

• Dates: 25th January 2026
• Start time: From 7 pm
• Ticketing: £47.95, bookable online
• Address: 24 Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2EU

Murder Maist Fowl – Murder Mystery Event, Glasgow

Travel back to Dumfriesshire, 1792, to solve this murder mystery over haggis, neeps and tatties at ARTA club and restaurant for a Burns Supper with a twist.

• Dates: 24th January 2026
• Start time: 7 pm til 10:30 pm
• Ticketing: £66.25 per person, bookable online
• Address: 62 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1PA

Burns Night Ceilidh at the Carlton Club, Manchester

Swap your Irn Bru for some of Manchester’s finest beers at the Carlton Club’s Robert Burns-themed ceilidh. Tartan kilts are highly encouraged.

• Dates: 22nd January 2026
• Start time: 8 pm til 10 pm
• Ticketing: £13.55 per person, bookable online
• Address: Carlton Club, Manchester, M16 8BE

Helpful tips for Burns Night 2026

Make sure your Burns Night goes off without a hitch with our helpful tips:

• Book in advance: While there’s a chance you might get a last-minute ticket, it’s best to have everything booked long before making your way to the venue, especially if you’re travelling cross-country. To avoid missing out, sort your travel, book your accommodation and buy your event tickets as early as possible.
• Dress warm: With all events listed taking place across January, bringing an extra layer (or two) can help keep away the wintry chill.
• Bring appropriate footwear: Heels and brogues may help you look the part, but can they withstand high-energy ceilidhs? Make sure your footwear is suitable for the event you’re attending, or bring a change of shoes if you’re not sure.
• Check event age policies: While some events can cater to the whole family, keep in mind that whisky is a big part of Burns Night, so some venues may restrict anyone not of legal drinking age.

Whatever your plans are for this Burns Night, booking your tickets and travel is essential to securing the best events and train times for you.

Book in advance for the lowest prices and invest in a Railcard to save a third on ticket prices. If travelling with loved ones, you can save even more with our family fares.

By opting to travel by rail, you’ll also avoid car congestion and parking fees and instead enjoy stress-free, sustainable travel.