Community Magic: Fair Saturday 2026 highlights

Since 2018, an annual one-day event has offered Scotland a coordinated opportunity to resist the imported hyper-consumerist madness of Black Friday. Started in Bilbao in 2014, Fair Saturday is a global movement that platforms culture, social projects, community and support for charity. It’s about people working together for a more equitable society, offering hope in counterpoint to the preceding day of billionaire profit, extraction and waste.

Suzy Ensom, Fair Saturday’s regional manager for Scotland, is naturally excited about this year’s programme. What does she hope to see? “Really a sense of community and shared enjoyment of the arts. People learning new skills or trying something new or discovering an artist or discipline that's new to them that they love. Most of all, a sense that the arts are for everyone and that culture can really have a huge impact.” On a personal level, she’s felt that impact during previous years’ events. “Sometimes I have been to Fair Saturday events that have opened my eyes to a totally new perspective on life.”

How has the programme evolved since its inception? “More events by and for communities, and more events across a much wider geographical area across Edinburgh, including areas of high deprivation. We have worked really hard to make Fair Saturday more diverse and inclusive and provide cultural events to those who are often excluded.”

Barnton Bunker. Image: Rob Lockwood.

Events will pop up in established arts venues – a whole programme at Traverse, an opening bash in the Scottish Storytelling Centre – as well as community hubs and more idiosyncratic spaces (Trinity tunnel hosts an intriguing natural mural painting workshop). Opportunities abound to develop skills, experiment creatively and connect with family, friends and the broader community. It’s also a chance to spotlight events that happen throughout the year – libraries in particular are amplifying the day-to-day activity that might fly under the radar. Think LEGO clubs and Bookbugs (saviour of parental leaves across the nation), craft and songwriting sessions. The Fair Saturday programme really celebrates things that could enrich your life year-round.

Looking forward, Ensom is keen to keep broadening the horizons. “The relationship between the artists, the audience and the social project or community is what makes Fair Saturday really special. We really hope to build on this in the future in some new exciting ways.”

Five Fair Saturday Highlights

Edinburgh Printmakers Winter Print Fest
Edinburgh Printmakers, 28 & 29 Nov, £5
Short 45-minute workshops for all ages will introduce participants to the fun and engaging techniques of printmaking, allowing them to bring home a print they made themselves under the guidance of an expert printmaker and artist.

Campy Ceilidh
Edinburgh Student Housing Co-operative, 28 Nov, 7-11pm, £8 in advance, £11 on the door
This promises to be a night filled with whimsy and wonder helmed by the Piped Piper Ceilidh, a trans-led band supporting queer musicians and performers. All cash will be donated to relief funds for Palestinians. No experience or partner needed.

Campy Ceilidh. Image: Suzy Ensom.

Kaizen 
Barnton Bunker, 28 Nov, 10am-5pm, free, please book in advance
A community art building adventure in a (currently, this week at least) disused nuclear bunker! Visitors are invited to create eight to ten artworks for the eerie subterranean spaces. The theme combines the Japanese concepts of ‘kaizen’ – literally ‘change for the better’, how small actions over time can make a difference – and ‘kintsugi’, the art of mending broken pottery to celebrate its cracks.

The Soundhouse Winter Festival
Traverse Theatre, 26-30 Nov, various times 
A new five-day festival showcasing some of the best artists from or based in Scotland. This year catch Sacred Paws (27 Nov), Malin Lewis (30 Nov) and many more. 

WHALE Arts Winter Fayre
WHALE Arts, 28 Nov, 12pm-4pm, free, drop-in
There’s something for everyone, with free wreath-making and winter crafts, live music from Big Noise Wester Hailes, and a hairstyles workshop with SCOREscotland. Small ones can enjoy fun activities with Starcatchers, sensory play and a mini maze bringing your favourite fairytales to life.

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Fair Saturday Scotland, venues across Edinburgh, 28 Nov
standrews.fairsaturday.org