A Shared Celebration of Scottish Pride: LNER To Sponsor the 2026 Edinburgh Tartan Parade
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LNER is proud to again support the highly anticipated 2026 Edinburgh Tartan Parade as headline sponsor.
The vibrant celebration of Scotland and its tartan heritage will return to the Scottish capital for its second year on Saturday 9 May. With Scotland being woven through the history of LNER, colleagues will once again be taking part, draped in the train operator’s own distinctive tartan.
Following a hugely successful inaugural parade in 2025 that saw 1,600 participants march through Edinburgh’s historic streets, organisers say the 2026 event will be bigger and bolder, with up to 2,500 people expected to take part.
Inspired by the world-famous Tartan Day Parade in New York City, the Edinburgh Tartan Parade celebrates Scotland’s rich heritage through a vibrant display of tartans, pipe bands, dancers and supporters of Scottish culture from across the country and beyond.
Thousands of spectators are expected to line the parade route which sets off from the Royal Mile at 1pm, winding down Cockburn Street, across Waverley Bridge, and concluding at the Mound Precinct, creating a spectacular centrepiece in the city’s cultural calendar.
Jake Orros, Community Partnership Manager for LNER, said:
“We’re proud to be the headline sponsor for this year’s Edinburgh Tartan Parade. The event celebrates Scotland and its heritage and culture, bringing people together from near and far – values that align perfectly with the role LNER plays connecting communities up and down our almost thousand-mile route.”
Tania Pramschufer, Founder of Tartan Parade Scotland and World Fair Trade Tartan, said:
“The parade was a huge success last year and this year, it’s going to be even bigger. Tartan Parade Scotland and LNER are excited to showcase this spectacular tartan parade in the heart of Edinburgh – all capped off with a public concert and an exclusive ceilidh for parade participants and volunteers.”
This year’s celebrations will extend beyond the daytime parade with a high-profile evening concert planned at the Usher Hall. The ticketed event will be headlined by viral sensation Ally, described as the ‘world’s greatest bagpiper’ for his modern take on the Great Highland bagpipe, alongside fan favourites The Red-Hot Chilli Pipers. The evening will be hosted by TV star Gail Porter, promising an unforgettable night of entertainment.
Among the participants in the parade is charity Autism Acceptance, which will have a tartan featured in the celebrations. Made up of a gold (AU) stripe and 20 white threads, the colours represent the pride and strength of the autism community and a nod to the 20th anniversary of ‘Number 6 One Stop Shop for Autistic Adults’, a vital service run by Autism Initiatives Scotland.
Kieron Colville, who led the creation of the Autism Acceptance Tartan, said:
“Autism Acceptance Tartan Clan is a group of people who have autism with additional support needs and learning disabilities. We came together in 2023 to raise acceptance and awareness of autism while raising funds and building connections for autism organisations and charities. Our Clan also looks to show that despite having autism, we can achieve anything with support from our families and friends.”
