World-renowned Glasgow festival Celtic Connections will once again light up stages, venues and dark winter nights from Thursday 18 January to Sunday 4 February 2024, for what will be one of its biggest-ever capacity festivals.

Proudly known as Europe’s premier folk, roots and world music festival, and the home of spectacular musical showcases and one-off collaborations, Celtic Connections has continued to expand into a multitude of genres over its 30-year history. This year will see the festival stage another ambitious programme of incredible performances in Glasgow spanning acoustic, traditional, indie, Americana, Jazz, blues, orchestral, experimental and more.

Glasgow’s status as a UNESCO City of Music will be well and truly on display as more than 300 events bring 25 venues across the city to life, welcoming a host of unmissable music across its 18 days.

Aileen Reid, Jenn Butterworth and Laura Beth-Salter of folk powerhouse Kinnaris Quintet launch the programme for Celtic Connections 2024

Much-loved venues, such as the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Barrowland Ballroom, as well as The Pavilion Theatre and Barony Hall, will be providing audiences with a warm Glaswegian welcome, and organisers are encouraging anyone who has never attended what is the biggest winter festival of its kind, to come and experience its magic for themselves.

Celtic Connections boasts a diverse line-up that caters to a wide range of musical tastes. From the high-energy rhythms of bands fusing contemporary sounds with traditional music, to intimate and soulful settings of acoustic performances, this festival offers something to satisfy every musical palette.

Treacherous Orchestra at Old Fruitmarket, Celtic Connections 2023 (photo credit: Gaelle Beri)

Like the anticipated 110,000 attendees, musicians will descend on Glasgow from near and far. From just along the road to all corners of the globe, including North America, West Africa, India, Australia, Ukraine, Norway, Sweden, France and Ireland, international artists of the highest calibre are once again lining up to play a sought-after Celtic Connections slot.

Celtic Connections 2024 programme highlights include the Celtic Connections Opening Concert, which is famed for its expansive and genre-defying cultural spectacle and will have Glasgow Royal Concert Hall audiences marvelling once again as it stages the European premiere of ATTENTION! The new symphonic work from American Grammy winner Chris Thile - referred to by Billboard Magazine as “the best mandolin player in the world” - will also welcome the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

GRIT at Barrowland Ballroom, Celtic Connections 2020 (photo credit: Gaelle Beri)

American double bassist and composer Edgar Meyer, a world-leading instrumentalist, will cross the Atlantic for a live European premier alongside the trailblazing string group the Scottish Ensemble. Hailed as “the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively un-chronicled history of his instrument” (The New Yorker), Meyer will perform his Concertino for strings and double bass.

As part of the festival’s continued hosting of world music stars Angélique Kidjo - a four-time Grammy Award winner, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and one of the greatest artists in international music today - will celebrate 40 years of wowing audiences by bringing her undeniable creative force and irresistible mix of West African roots and Afro-beat grooves to the Celtic Connections stage.

Festival-goers can also look forward to a mix of screenings, workshops, late night sessions and pop-up performances at the Festival Club, as well as a thriving education programme that will benefit thousands of children across Glasgow.

RHLF and Simon Neil, Celtic Connections 2021 (photo credit: Gaelle Beri)

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: “It’s that time of year where we lift the lid on the incredible shows and events we have in the works for Celtic Connections. Celebration and collaboration are at the heart of the festival and once again we will bring the world’s music to Glasgow audiences this winter.

“I’m very excited that our 2024 edition will welcome a huge portion of international talent back to our stages, particularly our transatlantic cousins in America, and that we will be back to staging one of our biggest ever capacity festivals. We would encourage audiences old and new with a love of music to discover all that this diverse programme has to offer and spend the dark winter nights with us.”

Celtic Connections began in 1994 when it offered 66 events at one venue. It has since grown more adventurous, experimental and diverse each year, with an unwavering ambition to showcase the very best traditional folk, roots, Americana, jazz, soul, indie and world music and nurture unique local, national and international cultural partnerships.

Janet Redler, Managing Director of Janet Redler Travel, added: “This year’s Celtic Connections is set to be bigger than ever, with dozens of incredible musicians from all over the world coming together in Glasgow. The diverse programme means there will be something for all musical tastes, and the festival is sure to lighten up the winter days in Scotland.”

If you or your group would like to enjoy a tailor-made Culture Tour of Scotland, including a visit to Glasgow for Celtic Connections 2024, please do contact our friendly team today.