Burns Night Events Glasgow 2027: Ceilidhs, Suppers & Where to Book

Quick Summary

• Burns Night is 25 January — Scotland's annual celebration of Robert Burns, built around haggis, neeps, tatties, whisky, and sometimes a ceilidh
• Glasgow's strongest suit is ceilidhs — the city has better dedicated ceilidh infrastructure than Edinburgh, with Òran Mór and Sloans both running consistent annual events
• Book from October 2026 for 2027 dates — ceilidh nights and formal dinners both sell out, particularly the weekend before the 25th
• Burns was Ayrshire, not Edinburgh — Glasgow and the west of Scotland have an arguably stronger cultural connection to Burns than Edinburgh does; the events tend to be less tourist-facing and more community-rooted

Glasgow is sometimes overlooked for Burns Night in favour of Edinburgh's more photogenic Georgian venues. That's the wrong call. Glasgow's Burns Night scene — particularly its ceilidh nights — is better attended, more energetic, and less priced for visitors.

Quick Answer: For Burns Night 2027 in Glasgow, Sloans on Argyle Street and Òran Mór on Great Western Road are the starting points — both run well-organised annual ceilidhs. Formal hotel dinners are available at the Hilton, Radisson Blu, and DoubleTree. Pub trad sessions run at the Scotia Bar and the State Bar. Tickets on Skiddle and Eventbrite from September 2026. Burns Night itself is 25 January 2027; in 2027 this falls on a Monday so most events run on the preceding weekend.

Contents

• When Burns Night is and why it matters more in the west
• Three types of Glasgow Burns Night
• Grand formal suppers
• Ceilidh nights — Glasgow's strongest suit
• Trad pubs and sessions
• Where to stay in Glasgow
• Where to book for 2027
• What to wear and what the night involves
• Frequently asked questions

When Burns Night is and why it matters more in the west

Burns Night falls on 25 January — Robert Burns' birthday, 1759. He was born in Alloway, Ayrshire, twenty miles south of Glasgow. He drank in Glasgow pubs, knew people in the city, and his social circle was largely West of Scotland. The cultural connection is not invented.

In 2027, 25 January is a Monday. Nearly all Glasgow Burns Night events — formal dinners, ceilidhs, pub nights — will run on Friday 23 or Saturday 24 January 2027. A handful of venues will do something on the Monday itself, but the bulk of the ticketed events cluster on the weekend.

Three types of Glasgow Burns Night

Grand formal suppers

Hotel and venue dinners in a consistent format: cock-a-leekie or cullen skink, haggis address and ceremony, haggis with neeps and tatties, cranachan, speeches and entertainment. Glasgow has fewer of the obviously tourist-facing grand-hall options than Edinburgh, which generally means better value and less corporate atmosphere.

Prices: £55–£120 per head. Book from October 2026.

Ceilidh nights — Glasgow's strongest suit

Glasgow has the better ceilidh infrastructure, full stop. Sloans is Scotland's oldest pub-restaurant and hosts one of the most consistent Burns Night ceilidhs in the country; Òran Mór runs a large-capacity event in a converted church that combines dinner with dancing. These events are loud, energetic, and genuinely fun in a way that a formal dinner often isn't.

Prices: £20–£50. Book from September 2026.

Trad pubs and sessions

Glasgow has a strong trad music pub scene — the Scotia Bar (the oldest pub in Glasgow), the State Bar (Hope Street), Oran Mór's lower-level bar, and the Ben Nevis in Partick all have traditions of live Scottish music. Burns Night sessions at these venues are free entry and cost you the price of a dram.

---

The Honest Take

Glasgow Burns Night events are, on balance, better value for money than the Edinburgh equivalents. The city isn't performing for a tourist audience in the same way — the people in the room tend to be Glaswegians who come every year because they enjoy it. The ceilidh at Sloans has a different energy from the Assembly Rooms Edinburgh version: less formal, more drunk, more fun.

The formal dinners in Glasgow hotels are honest products at honest prices. They're not trying to compete on atmosphere with a Georgian ballroom — they're selling a reliable, professionally organised Burns Night with good haggis. That's a reasonable transaction.

The trad pub scene is where Glasgow punches above Edinburgh. The Scotia Bar in particular has a claim to being Scotland's most authentic Burns Night pub experience — it's the oldest pub in the city, it takes the music seriously, and the crowd genuinely knows the words to Auld Lang Syne.

---

Grand formal suppers

Glasgow venues and hotels that typically host formal Burns Night dinners. Check their websites and Skiddle from September 2026 for 2027 tickets and pricing.

Hilton Glasgow (William Street) — one of the city's largest hotel event spaces. Consistently runs Burns Night dinners with a big-room format: several hundred covers, good haggis, a band or entertainment. Mid-range pricing (£75–£100 range).

Radisson Blu Glasgow (Argyle Street) — another reliable hotel option. Formal format, good location near Central Station. More accessible pricing than the Hilton.

Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow (Cambridge Street) — tends to run Burns suppers at the £65–85 range. Efficiently organised rather than atmospheric, but the food quality is consistently decent.

The Grand Central Hotel (Gordon Street) — in the Victorian station building above Central Station. Occasionally hosts Burns Night events in the Grand Ballroom. Worth checking for 2027 — the room itself is worth the ticket if they're running an event there.

Òran Mór (Great Western Road) — a converted church in the West End that runs regular events. Their Burns Night dinner tends to combine formal elements with more informal energy — worth checking for 2027.

SWG3 (Eastvale Place, Finnieston) — a creative arts and events venue that has been known to run alternative Burns Night events (less formal, more eclectic). Check their programme; if they're running something in 2027, it's likely to be interesting.

Ceilidh nights — Glasgow's strongest suit

Sloans (Argyle Street) — the standout option. Scotland's oldest pub-restaurant, and the Burns Night ceilidh in the upstairs ballroom is one of the most consistently enjoyable in the country. Mid-week they do regular ceilidhs year-round; the Burns Night event is bigger. Tickets typically in the £25–£40 range; book early.

Òran Mór (Great Western Road) — the converted Kelvinside church is large enough to run a proper ceilidh with a full band. Burns Night here typically includes dinner plus dancing. Tickets via their website and Skiddle.

Glasgow City Halls (Candleriggs, Merchant City) — worth watching for 2027; they've hosted Burns events in the past and the Merchant City setting is a step up from a hotel function room.

Barrowland Ballroom — occasionally hosts themed ceilidh nights. Not always part of the Burns Night programme, but worth checking their calendar from autumn 2026.

Local community ceilidhs — Glasgow's community halls, golf clubs, and social clubs run hundreds of local Burns Night ceilidhs that never appear on Skiddle. If you have any connections to local organisations in the city, ask around. These are often the best events.

Trad pubs and sessions

The Scotia Bar (Stockwell Street) — established 1792, and Glasgow's claim to the oldest pub in the city. Regular live music including folk and trad. Burns Night sessions at the Scotia are part of the pub's institutional memory; expect musicians from 8pm. Small, busy, cash bar.

The State Bar (Hope Street) — a traditional Glasgow boozer with regular live music nights. Burns Night session is reliably well-attended. Arrive before 8pm for a seat.

Ben Nevis (Argyle Street, Partick) — a long-standing West End pub with a Scottish music tradition. Trad and folk sessions run regularly; Burns Night gets a fuller programme. Worth the Partick diversion.

The Pot Still (Hope Street) — primarily a whisky bar (400+ malts) rather than a music venue, but Burns Night is an occasion to sit with a good dram. No session, but the right atmosphere and the right drinks.

Where to stay in Glasgow

Where to stay near Glasgow

Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of the distillery.

Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to book for 2027

• Skiddle — best single source for Glasgow events tickets. Search "Burns Night Glasgow" from September 2026.
• Eventbrite — strong for hotel dinners and larger venue events.
• Venue websites — Sloans, Òran Mór, SWG3 all have their own booking. Direct booking avoids any resale markup.
• Visit Glasgow — the official city guide occasionally aggregates major Burns events.
• Sloans specifically — book directly through sloansglasgow.com when dates are released.

What to wear and what the night involves

Formal dinner: smart to black tie. Kilts (of any tartan — don't let anyone tell you otherwise) are strongly encouraged and universally welcomed.

Ceilidh: smart casual. You will sweat significantly — wear something you can layer and flat shoes. Heels are technically permitted at a ceilidh; they are however a decision you will regret around the fourth Strip the Willow.

Pub session: pub clothes. That's it.

The Burns supper order of service (the standard version used at formal events):

1. Selkirk Grace — short prayer before eating
2. First course: cock-a-leekie or cullen skink
3. Procession of the haggis (bagpipes)
4. Address to a Haggis (the Burns poem, delivered dramatically with a knife)
5. Haggis, neeps, tatties served
6. Cranachan
7. The Immortal Memory — toast to Robert Burns
8. Toast to the Lassies (traditionally comic)
9. Reply from the Lassies
10. General entertainment, music
11. Auld Lang Syne

Speeches between courses (the Immortal Memory and Toast to the Lassies) are where quality varies most. The best events have a well-prepared speaker who knows when to stop. Budget accordingly for the possibility that they don't.

---

Frequently asked questions

When is Burns Night 2027?

Burns Night is 25 January — Robert Burns' birthday. In 2027 this is a Monday. Most Glasgow events run on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 January. Book from September 2026 for the best availability.

How much does a Burns Night supper in Glasgow cost?

Formal dinners: £55–£120 per head. Ceilidh nights: £20–£50 (usually with some food included). Pub trad sessions cost the price of a drink.

What is Burns Night?

It's the annual celebration of Robert Burns (1759–1796), Scotland's national poet. The occasion is built around a haggis supper, the Address to a Haggis (Burns' poem read aloud with theatrical knife action), and a series of toasts. It's been observed since 1801. See our Burns Night food guide for the full story on the meal itself.

Do I need to know Scottish country dancing for a ceilidh?

No. Ceilidhs have a caller who instructs you through each dance step-by-step. The standard dances (Strip the Willow, Gay Gordons, Dashing White Sergeant) can be picked up in the first 30 seconds. The atmosphere is forgiving; no one is judging.

What whisky should I drink at Burns Night?

Traditionally a Speyside or Highland malt — something approachable and not too peaty for a food-pairing context. See our Burns Night whisky pairing guide for specific recommendations. If you're buying a bottle for a group, a Glenfiddich 12 or Glen Moray 12 will work for nearly everyone.

Is Glasgow or Edinburgh better for Burns Night?

Glasgow, for ceilidh and pub nights. Edinburgh, for formal grand-hall atmosphere. Glasgow's events tend to be less tourist-facing and better value. Edinburgh's Georgian venues are more photogenic. Choose based on what you want from the evening.

---

Sources and further reading

• Skiddle Glasgow events: skiddle.com/cities/glasgow
• Sloans Glasgow: sloansglasgow.com
• Òran Mór events: oran-mor.co.uk
• Burns Country: robertburns.org
• Glasgow City of Burns — Visit Scotland: visitscotland.com