Doubts over the future of the bonfire parade were raised last year after a poll on the future of the city’s winter festivals, carried out while Covid restrictions were in place, found that “mass gatherings” were one of the least popular elements of Hogmanay . celebrations. Edinburgh has already confirmed reducing its Hogmanay street party to a capacity of 30,000 this year – around half of what it was before the pandemic. However, the city council, which provides most of the funding for the festivities, and the new producers brought in to stage the event this year, both said they hoped the torch relay could return in 2023. The bonfire parade has traditionally opened the town’s Hogmanay festival since the first official events took place almost 30 years ago. Fears over the future of the scale and program of the Hogmanay festival were raised earlier this year after the council failed to confirm any direct funding from the Scottish Government for this year’s program before launching a new tender. Unique Events, the company that launched the festival in 1993, has joined forces with Fringe operator Assembly to form a joint venture, which has secured a £4m contract to take on the city’s world-famous festivities for up to five years. He has announced a series of back-to-back shows at West Princes Street Gardens with Pet Shop Boys, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Altered Images, Tide Lines and Elephant Sessions. However, a growing number of people who had booked trips to Edinburgh for the Hogmanay festival were left wondering why tickets for the torchlight train had not gone on sale. A statement from Unique Events and Assembly said: “We tried hard to find a way to bring the torch relay to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations this year. However, we are very disappointed to confirm that due to the current economic climate and the reduction in available funding, we are unable to go ahead with this event in 2022. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay torchlight procession brought tens of thousands of people to the streets of the city centre. Photo: Ian Georgeson “Our full program of events, including activities for families and children, will be announced later this week. We very much hope to bring the torch relay back to Edinburgh’s Hogmanay program in 2023.” Council leader Cammy Day said: “This is a new chapter for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebration as we continue to build back after the pandemic. I’m sure many will be disappointed that the torch relay didn’t return straight away, but we look forward to seeing it again next year, better than ever. “While I share the disappointment with many that we will not see the return of the torchlight, Edinburgh Hogmanay will still be the best place to welcome 2023. “So far Unique and Assembly have announced an exciting ‘Night Afore Disco Party’ with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the return of the world’s best street party with Pet Shop Boys headlining ‘Concert in the Gardens’ and they’ve with a New Year’s Eve ‘Final Fling’ opening show’. A torchlight procession traditionally opened Edinburgh’s Hogmanay festival.
