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Diwali events in Edinburgh 2026

Diwali 2026: Sunday, 8 November 2026

On Diwali, Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 4:17 pm (GMT) in Edinburgh. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark. Sunset in other cities in the UK

3 Diwali events are listed in and around Edinburgh for 2026, from 7 to 15 November. The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.

Diwali events in Edinburgh3 listed

Hindu temples and gurdwaras near Edinburgh for Diwali

Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.

Hindu temples and gurdwaras in the UK: the guide →

Where to celebrate Diwali in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Diwali, the free celebration that opens the city’s winter festivals, is on Sunday 15 November: a parade through the New Town to the Ross Bandstand in West Princes Street Gardens, then an afternoon and evening of music and dance. Earlier, on Saturday 7 November at 5pm, Sahara Studio hosts a Diwali concert of Indian classical music.

New Indian events near Edinburgh, by email

Once a week, and only when something new is on within 10 km of where you live — garba nights, Diwali melas, meetups, concerts. Free, and one click switches it off.

Diwali in Edinburgh is better with people near you

The Namaste Community app finds what is on around you in Edinburgh and everywhere else — free.

  • Groups near youJoin the Indian community groups in your city — chat, plans and people who get it.
  • Events near youEvery Diwali mela, festival and meetup, ranked by distance, with RSVP and reminders.
  • Buy and sellSarees, kurtas, furniture, kitchen things — from people a few streets away.
  • Rent near youRooms and flats from the community, with the person behind the listing one tap away.
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What Diwali is

The biggest night of the Indian year: lamps, sweets, new clothes and fireworks. Abroad it is celebrated over the surrounding weekends, with one large public event in most big cities.

If it is your first one

  • Book restaurant tables two weeks ahead — the Diwali weekend fills every Indian restaurant in town.
  • Check local fireworks rules before buying any; most European towns restrict them to New Year.
  • Sweets (mithai) can be ordered from Indian grocers a week ahead; many deliver nationwide.
  • The big city events sell tickets in advance and sell out; children under a certain age are usually free.

Questions people ask

When is Diwali 2026 in Edinburgh?
Diwali 2026 falls on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Community celebrations in Edinburgh are held on the weekends around it.
What time does the sun set in Edinburgh on Diwali 2026?
On Sunday, 8 November 2026, the sun sets at 4:17 pm (GMT) in Edinburgh. That is for the city centre with a flat horizon, as every published table gives it; behind buildings or hills it appears a few minutes later. Lakshmi Puja is performed in the evening after sunset, in the pradosh period — roughly the first two and a half hours after it; the lamps are lit as it gets dark.
Where can I go to a temple for Diwali in Edinburgh?
1 temple or gurdwara is listed within 20 km of Edinburgh, among them Edinburgh Hindu Mandir & Cultural Centre. Most mandirs hold Lakshmi Puja on Diwali evening and many hold Annakut the day after; gurdwaras keep Bandi Chhor Divas the same night. Each temple sets its own times, so check its page before you go.
What Diwali events are there in Edinburgh?
3 Diwali events are listed on this page so far: Diwali Concert - An evening of Indian Classical Music; Diwali celebration at the Sikh Gurdwara; Edinburgh Diwali 2026.

Diwali events in other cities in the UK

Belfast · Birmingham · Bristol · Coventry · Glasgow · Leeds · Leicester · London · Manchester · Milton Keynes · Newcastle upon Tyne · Nottingham · Oxford · Reading · Slough · Wolverhampton

Organising something?

Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.