Thousands flock to Merchant City Festival for bumper weekend with more free events and Commonwealth Games screenings still to come
The Merchant City Festival welcomed over 50,000 visitors to Glasgow city centre over the weekend, marking its biggest weekend to date.
Expanded for its biggest year yet through support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival, the event extended across more venues than ever before, with programming taking place at the Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs Square, Merchant Square and, for the first time, The Briggait.
Festival-goers enjoyed everything from free live music and street theatre to family ceilidhs, circus performances and food markets. At the Briggait, visitors explored the new Clydeside Commons programme featuring live DJs, workshops, talks and family activities, while Watershed hosted a series of discussions, exhibitions and film screenings inspired by Glasgow's relationship with the River Clyde.
VisitScotland support has also helped extend wider activity at Candleriggs Square from Monday to Thursday, creating more opportunities for people to enjoy free entertainment and the city-centre festival atmosphere during the week.
As one of only two big-screen Commonwealth Games viewing locations in Glasgow, Candleriggs Square will host free screenings from today until Thursday 30th July between 2pm-9pm. Free family entertainment will take place from 12pm-4pm each day, alongside many of the food and drink traders who featured during the opening weekend.
Visitors will be able to come together to watch live Commonwealth Games action on the big screen and cheer on Team Scotland throughout the week. Subject to the host broadcaster's coverage schedule, screenings are expected to feature some of the Games' biggest moments, including athletics, swimming and cycling events.
Christiana Bisset, Festival Programmer at Merchant City Festival said: “It was great to see so many people enjoying the Merchant City Festival over the opening weekend. There was a real buzz across the city centre as people explored the programme and spent time with friends and family.
"There's still plenty to come this week, with free Commonwealth Games screenings bringing people together to cheer on Team Scotland, before another packed weekend of music, markets, street performances and family activities.”
Festival events continue into the weekend, with a bumper programme of free live music, family activities, street theatre and markets continuing across the Merchant City throughout the final weekend.
The weekend also includes two headline shows at the Old Fruitmarket. The Scottish Alternative Music Awards will host headline performances from VLURE on Friday 31 July, while Glasgow Techno Alliance play on Saturday 1 August, headlined by techno pioneers Slam. Tickets for both events are available from £10.
For more information and to view the full programme, visit https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/merchant-city-festival