January

Burns Night Celebrations
Celebrate the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, with a traditional meal of haggis, neeps and tatties accompanied by poetry, song and a few drams at a Burns Supper anywhere in Scotland on the 25th of January. BBC Burns

Up Helly Aa
Britain's biggest fire festival and torchlight procession takes place in Lerwick on the last Tuesday every January. Over 900 colourfully dressed "guisers" follow the Jarl's squad of Vikings and their longship through the darkened streets of the town to the burning site. Here the official ceremony ends in a spectacular blaze as 800 flaming torches are thrown into the galley. www.visitshetland.com

Celtic Connections Glasgow
Scotland’s premier celebration of the music of the Celtic world. www.celticconnections.com

February

Glasgow Film Festival
Over one hundred films will be showing over ten days at this successful new festival. Alongside its previews and premieres, gala nights and guest appearances, the Film Festival showcases a range of innovative and exciting films as well as the best from some of the world's greatest filmmakers. www.glasgowfilmfestival.org.uk

Fort William Mountain Festival
During the best winter walking and climbing conditions of the year, the Festival offers a varied and very full programme of lectures, films, activities, exhibitions, plays and music to entertain visitors to the UK's outdoor capital. www.mountainfilmfestival.co.uk

March

Glasgow Art Fair
Glasgow Art Fair has grown in stature since its inception to become one of the most prestigious contemporary art fairs in the UK, outwith London.www.glasgowartfair.com

Inverness Music Festival
Inverness Festival Association runs the Inverness Music Festival, a competitive festival, which provides opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to develop their potential in a wide range of musical events. The Festival runs each year for 10 days in March. www.invernessmusicfestival.org

April

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Themed on Whisky, Food, Music and the Heritage & Culture of Speyside, the Festival offers a wide array of quality events. www.spiritofspeyside.com

Dumfries and Galloway Wildlife Festival
Welcome to the 7th Dumfries & Galloway Wildlife festival taking place from 2nd to 18th April. This is the biggest festival ever with over 60 events. Look out for species such as geese, badgers, salmon and of course red kites! Guided walks, poetry, music and whole range of family activities are also on the programme. www.wildlifefestival.org.uk

Beltane Fire Festival
Celebrating the arrival of summer, the Beltane Fire Festival is one of the most spirited and dramatic dates on Edinburgh's events calendar, with a exuberant mix of fire, costume, drums and pagan ritual on the dramatic setting of Calton Hill. www.beltane.org

May

Islay Festival of Malt and Music
Feis Ile – the Islay Festival of Malt and Music – was founded by the local people of Islay in 1986 to celebrate the heritage and culture of Isle of Islay and to provide a pan cultural and activity based series of events. www.theislayfestival.co.uk

Ullapool Book Festival
A three day literary gathering in a pleasant highland town on the shores of Loch Broom. Nice balanced programme with readings, talks, workshops. www.literaryfestivals.co.uk

Aviemore & Cairngorms Walking & Mountain Festival
Attend guided walks through the magnificent scenery of the Cairngorms, including a mini expedition involving spending two nights in mountain bothies- traditional shelters in the Scottish countryside that are left unlocked and free to use for any travellers passing by. www.aviemorewalking.com

June

Royal Highland Show
The Royal Highland Show is a large agricultural show that attracts over 140,000 visitors over four days in June. Highlights of the show include displays of over 5,000 animals, food and drink exhibitions, a flower show and craft goods. www.royalhighlandshow.org

Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival celebrates the best in British and World cinema. Come and see some of the most entertaining, challenging and inspirational new movies around and meet the artists involved in movie-making. www.edfilmfest.org.uk

Flavour of Shetland
A celebration of the very best of Shetland on Lerwick's Victoria Pier. The islands will be buzzing with music performances, a taste of the islands'award-winning food and drinks, craft displays and cultural performances. www.flavourofshetland.com

July

T in the Park
T in the Park is Scotland’s premier rock music festival. Each year over 50 thousand fans brave the unpredictable Scottish summer to take in a host of top rock artists in an open air concert held in Balado, by Kinross in July. www.tinthepark.com

Lomond Folk Festival
This traditional and folk-music festival is held annually at Balloch on the shores of beautiful Loch Lomond. Featuring sessions, singing, instrument workshops, craft fairs, street entertainment and children's show. www.lomondfolkfestival.com

August

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the world's most spectacular Tattoo will host a celebration of talent from four continents including pipers, gymnasts, singers, dancers and an amazing motorcycle display team. www.edintattoo.co.uk

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
The world's biggest celebration of the arts takes over Edinburgh for three weeks in August in a massive explosion of cultural and artistic expression. The programme is a vibrant mix of art forms - theatre, comedy, music and musicals, dance, events and exhibitions and children's shows, all attracting up-and-coming talent and established names from around the world to take part in this most famous of festivals. www.edfringe.com

Edinburgh International Festival
Each summer people visit Edinburgh from every corner of the globe and enjoy three exhilarating weeks of the very best in international opera, music, drama and dance. Although crowded, the city is a great place to visit during these weeks. www.eif.co.uk

Cowal Highland Gathering
The Cowal Highland Gathering is the largest and most spectacular Highland gathering in the world. From the very first event in 1894, the Cowal Gathering has become a world famous institution and has gone from strength to strength. Cowal attracts more than 3500 competitors. www.cowalgathering.co.uk

September

The Braemar Gathering
Perhaps the most celebrated of all the Highland Games in the world, and the only one which guarantees the presence of a member of the royal family, the Braemar Gathering prides itself on its reputation for friendship and hospitality. www.braemargathering.org

October

Royal National Mod
The Mod celebrates the Gaelic language, literature, music and culture every year and this year returns to its birthplace - Oban -where it all began in 1892. www.acgmod.org

November

Whisky Live
Whisky Live brings all the very best Scotch whisky to one event for the enthusiast and the novice alike. With expert advice on hand and the chance to learn about whisky basics, Whisky Live Glasgow offers the ultimate whisky experience with varied tastings, masterclasses, live music and regular nose-off competitions. www.whiskylive.com

December

Edinburgh Hogmanay
Four fabulous days and nights of amazing events kick off the world's greatest New Year party. With the traditional torchlit procession, street performers, fireworks, concerts, ceilidh, the big Hogmanay party itself and a New Year's Day run to blow the cobwebs away. www.edinburghshogmanay.com