Celtic Connections goes beyond the music

We deliver an international festival, but Glasgow remains at its heart.
School children seen from behind, cheering and clapping during a concert in a dimly lit hall with warm stage lighting.

A festival which positively impacts Glasgow

Celtic Connections is the biggest traditional music festival on the planet. It welcomes the world to Glasgow and benefits our city and the people who live here.

The event is more than music. It's school concerts, learning programmes, and a chance for people to volunteer.

School concerts

The festival's free school concert programme is open to schools across Scotland. The atmosphere at the gigs is always buzzing. Around 7,000 kids from all over the country enjoy the concerts every year.

They are also many young people's first time experiencing live music. And what better place to do it than in the iconic Main Auditorium of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall?

Update your cookie preferences to view this content.

What do school pupils think of the concerts?

Hear the thoughts of children from St Cuthbert's and Aultmore Park Primary Schools.

"The best part was all the dancing and the Scottish instruments, I’ve not seen a couple of them, but I liked it. My favourite were the bagpipes because it’s just my favourite and I liked the sound of it. I was up dancing, I was just jumping about crazy.”
Nico St Cuthbert’s Primary School pupil

Celtic Connections school concerts

Two young girls with their arms around each other, watching a performance in a concert hall with blue and red light.
Two children dancing during a schools concert.
Close-up of two young children in a concert audience, one wearing a high-vis vest, reaching their hands up in excitement.
Kids enjoying a gig in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
A high-angle view of a packed concert hall audience watching a band perform on a stage with the "Celtic Connections" logo.
A schools concert taking place in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall

Learning programme

Traditional musicians also lead in-school workshops for primary 7 classes in Glasgow.

The sessions are in partnership with Glasgow CREATE. They aim to develop musical skills and introduce children to Scottish traditional music.

They include workshops in:

  • Scots and Gaelic song
  • Pipe band drumming
  • Bodhran
  • Fiddle
  • Scottish stepdance

Since it started, over 300,000 children and young people have taken part in the learning programme.

Notification

Did you know?

Celtic Connections 2025 was worth £4.9 million to Glasgow's economy. It also supported 169 jobs in the city for the duration of the festival.

Get involved

Check out how you can support Celtic Connections

  • Donate

    Help others experience the music you love.

    Five children smiling on the balcony of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, they are all wearing red school jumpers and one kid in the middle has both hands in the air.

  • Buy tickets

    Experience the magic of Celtic Connections for yourself.

    Balcony shot of Karine Polwart performing on stage at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall with musicians and a choir.

  • Volunteer

    Support the smooth running of Celtic Connections

    A large band performs under dramatic blue and white lights, with the Celtic Connections logo projected in the background.

Sign up for our Glasgow Life newsletter

Keep up to date with all the exciting news across Glasgow Life

Sign up