Humane World for Animals UK (formerly known as Humane Society International UK) will take its campaign to ban farrowing crates to Edinburgh today (14 April) by installing a life-sized animatronic pig named Penny to highlight the harsh reality faced by tens of thousands of mother pigs on industrial farms.
Penny will appear inside a metal crate like those used to confine sows while they give birth and nurse their piglets. The striking installation is designed to show the severe restriction endured by mother pigs kept in these systems.
You can meet Penny at the Mercat Cross today from 10am – 2pm.
As of 2025, Scotland is home to 25,600 sows, about half of whom are kept in indoor pig farms that keep mother pigs in these cages. Under current laws, they can be kept for up to five weeks confined in narrow metal cages every time they give birth, typically two or three times a year.
The cages are so restrictive that the animals are unable to turn around and have little opportunity to engage in natural behaviours such as nest-building or moving freely with their piglets, damaging their physical and mental health.
Polling commissioned by Humane World for Animals UK revealed that 84% of the Scottish public reject the use of farrowing crates for mother pigs.
Over half of respondents (54%) stated they would be willing to pay more for meat from crate-free pigs, indicating opportunities for farmers to benefit from the highest welfare standards financially.
Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns at Humane World for Animals UK, said: “Many people are shocked that such extreme, prolonged confinement is still legal in Scotland.
“Farmers must end cruel caging, not replace old cages with new ones that would condemn millions more pregnant and nursing pigs to future decades of misery. A cage is a cage, and public opinion is clear: mother pigs don’t belong behind bars.
“With the Scottish election fast approaching, our tour is turning public compassion into political pressure. Voters in Edinburgh and across Scotland are demanding change and joining our call for the next Scottish Government to support farmers to put an end to pregnancy cage cruelty.”
DON’T miss Planetarium Lates As part of Edinburgh Science Festival 2026, enjoy an adults-only science night out with classic films inspired by the creatures that roamed the Earth over 65 million years ago in the Planetarium at Dynamic Earth.
Jurassic World (2015) Saturday 11th April 2026 | 8pm
Godzilla (2014) Sunday 12th April 2026 | 8pm
Discover more showings for ages 18+ including ‘Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon’, and stargazing with our in-house astronomers.
Book your ticket with Edinburgh Science Festival, or visit our website:
Edinburgh residents have the chance to share their views on a potential safer drug consumption room for the city.
From today until 1 July 2026, people can share how they feel about having a facility for people to take drugs under the care of medical professionals in the Old Town area.
The consultation is an opportunity for people who live or work in the Old Town area to share their views on the facility. Groups including those with lived experience of problem drug use and families affected by drug use will also be consulted.
The views from the consultation period will help to inform whether a formal business case to establish a facility will be developed for the Scottish Government for a final decision.
This April, immerse yourself amongst the stars with our adults-only Stargazing Late & Live show!
Our resident astronomers will guide you across the cosmos, delving into their favourite sights to see along the way. You’ll gaze up at Edinburgh’s night sky, visit distant worlds and view space through the lenses of state-of-the-art telescopes.
Don’t miss out-of-this-world insights and stunning imagery in Edinburgh’s only Planetarium as part of Edinburgh Science Festival.
Discover our line-up of adults-only Planetarium Lates this April:
On World Storytelling Day (Friday 20 March), TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) is delighted to announce the appointment of Daniel Abercrombie as the new Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. An experienced creative arts producer deeply embedded within the storytelling community in Scotland, Daniel will take up his appointment from April 2026.
Daniel has been Associate Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival (SISF) for the past five years, and at the forefront of the much-loved Scottish Storytelling Centre since 2010.
He has been a key figure in driving and shaping the current resurgence of interest in traditional and contemporary storytelling, and his work, just like a traditional ceilidh is rooted in shared creativity, partnerships and collaboration.
Under Daniel’s guidance, the Scottish Storytelling Centre’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe programme has developed into a thriving platform for storytellers and trad-artists, becoming a must-see programme of first-class creativity each August.
In 2013 Daniel was also part of the team that led the creation of Edinburgh Tradfest.
Raised in Edinburgh, Daniel has a deep understanding of the city’s festivals, but also how the SISF reaches across Scotland and absorbs international friendships. As part of his appointment he will join the Directors of Festivals Edinburgh bringing with him a wealth of experience in working with a wide range of artists and cultural organisations and an educational background in cultural and literary tourism.
SISF was founded in 1989 by former director Donald Smith to promote storytelling, nurture new talent and celebrate community. Today, the festival welcomes audiences in excess of 40,000 participants and connects with new and well-known storytellers from all across Scotland and in other parts of the world.
SISF is the world’s largest annual celebration of storytelling and is organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), the national network for traditional arts in Scotland. In 2026 the festival will run from 21 to 31 October.
Daniel Abercrombie, new Director of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival said: “It’s a great joy to be tasked with continuing the great work of the Scottish International Storytelling Festival.
“I have seen first hand the natural evolution of the festival into the thriving cultural community force it is now and I look forward to being a steward, celebrant and advocate for the great stories, storytellers and traditional artists that make our festival a light in a world in need of stories.”
Beverley Bryant, Chair of the Scottish Storytelling Forum said: “Daniel absolutely understands the importance of storytelling; both the tradition and culture we are preserving and the need for storytelling in contemporary settings.
“He is a passionate advocate of the art form and of the Scottish arts scene more broadly. It will be exciting to see the SISF develop in new ways under his direction.”
Steve Byrne, CEO of TRACS,who led the recruitment process, commented: “I am delighted to welcome Daniel to the TRACS team after many years of working alongside him in partnership, having long admired his innovative programming work at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
“His track record speaks for itself – he is an outstanding candidate whose commitment to traditional arts is first rate. I look forward to seeing SISF flourish under his leadership.”
Centenary tours to go on sale at the Palace of Holyroodhouse
The private apartments used by Queen Elizabeth II when in residence at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the monarch in Scotland, will open to visitors for the first time in 2026 to mark the centenary of her birth.
Available only this year, the tours will run for 100 days and will see small groups taken behind the scenes by expert guides to discover the history of the rooms and learn how they were used by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during her 70-year reign.
Royal Collection Trust email subscribers will be given priority access to book tickets at an exclusive offer price from Monday, 9 March, with remaining tickets going on general sale on Thursday, 12 March.
The Palace of Holyroodhouse was the setting for many significant occasions during the late Queen’s reign. While visiting Edinburgh to meet and celebrate Scots from all walks of life, she and Prince Philip would occupy a suite of private rooms on the Palace’s east side, with stunning views of the gardens and Holyrood Park.
These modestly decorated rooms offer a rare glimpse into the personal, ‘lived-in’ spaces used during private moments between official duties.
The rooms date from the 17th century and have been used by successive monarchs and members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria’s reign. They are furnished with historic objects from the Royal Collection, as well as pieces from Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s personal collections, many of which reflect their longstanding affection for Scotland.
Tours will take visitors through rooms and spaces including the Royal Breakfast Room, where the Queen and Prince Philip would dine privately while in residence. The room is hung with magnificent Flemish tapestries, woven around 1650, featuring a beautiful design of a pergola framing an ornate vase filled with flowers. The tapestries were hung in the room in the 1920s at the request of Queen Elizabeth’s grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary.
In the Dressing Room, giving a sense of how the Queen would prepare for official engagements, visitors will see three ensembles from her wardrobe, each worn during a significant occasion in Edinburgh.
For the official opening of the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 1999, the Queen wore a purple coat made of a silk-wool blend with a green silk-crepe and lace dress, and a shawl of purple and green Isle of Skye tartan, woven on the Island of Lewis.
The ensemble was inspired by the Scottish landscape and reflects the designer Sandra Murray’s interest in her Scottish heritage.
The matching hat, by the milliner Philip Somerville, is trimmed with a bow of the silk-wool fabric of the coat and curled dark-green feathers.
For the Commonwealth Heads of Government reception held at the Palace in 1997, Queen Elizabeth wore a silk evening dress designed by John Anderson.
The entire gown is covered with white, pink, gold and cream beads and sequins, embroidered on to the surface of the garment with gold thread.
In late June or early July each year, the Queen would stay at the Palace of Holyroodhouse during what was known as ‘Holyrood Week’, undertaking a series of engagements celebrating Scottish culture, history and achievement.
These included an annual Garden Party at the Palace for around 8,000 guests. For the Garden Party in 2017, Queen Elizabeth II wore a coat of white tweed fabric, highlighted with accents of pink, yellow and green within the weave, with a pink wool crepe day dress, both by designer Karl Ludwig van Rehse.
The ensemble is completed by a hat by Angela Kelly, which includes the tweed fabric accentuated by an upturned straw brim and is highlighted with floral embellishments.
The tours will conclude in the Sitting Room where the late Queen would work, reviewing the papers and documents presented in the Government red dispatch boxes, as well as using the room for private audiences or resting between engagements, often while watching horseracing on television.
Prince Philip was an enthusiastic collector of contemporary Scottish art and served as Patron of the Royal Scottish Academy of Art. Throughout the rooms, visitors will see highlights from his private collection, including works by 20th‑century Scottish artists, acquired over four decades at the RSA’s annual exhibitions and reflecting his deep appreciation of Scotland’s landscapes and wildlife.
The rooms are also furnished with a remarkable collection of furniture from the Royal Collection, made by the Edinburgh firm of Young, Trotter and Hamilton. The pieces were supplied to the Palace in 1796 in preparation for the arrival of Charles-Philippe, Comte d’Artois – Marie Antoinette’s brother-in-law and the future Charles X of France – who took refuge at the Palace during the French Revolution.
Emma Stead, Curator, Palace of Holyroodhouse said: ‘Queen Elizabeth II’s well-known love for Scotland will be given fresh context through this unique and special access to the private apartments, where visitors will enjoy a new perspective into both the formal and more informal use of Edinburgh’s royal palace.’
After their tour of Queen Elizabeth II’s private apartments, visitors can explore the rich history of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, including the magnificent State Apartments and the historic apartments of Mary, Queen of Scots, all included in the ticket price.
The Real Mary King’s Close is celebrating International Women’s Day with a specially curated Herstory Tour. The underground experience invites visitors to journey underneath The Royal Mile and learn all about the incredible lives of the women who once lived and worked on the now hidden streets of Edinburgh.
The one-hour tour will include fascinating revelations about some of the most famous women in Scottish history. The tour is guided by a former resident of The Close, including Janet Chesney, a member of the last family to leave the historic street behind.
Guests will even get to meet Mary King herself and find out how she obtained voting rights nearly 300 years ahead of her time. They will also hear how revolutionary thinkers like Sophia-Jex Blake and the other medical students who formed the Edinburgh Seven pioneered gender equality.
The Herstory Tour shares stories of the women who faced suppression and persecution over the centuries but also of how Auld Reekie’s most influential women shaped the city’s history and impacted our lives today.
Mary King’s Close is known for having been “a haven for independent women” with 45% of properties having a female head of the household.
The Close is the perfect place to celebrate International Women’s Day, learning about the achievements of the women of the Close.
Paul Nixon, General Manager at The Real Mary King’s Close, said: “Telling stories of the past, shining a light on Edinburgh’s history and those who came before us are things we are extremely passionate about.
“We are delighted to be sharing the less popular stories of some of the remarkable women who once occupied the Close.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone on the Herstory Tour and explore a hidden world together.”
Tours will run on Sunday March 8th at 1400 and 1600.
Prices are £30 per adult / £24 per child (5 to 15yo – no under 5 allowed).
Too many families in Scotland face hunger due to a lack of income.
Join us & the Scottish Food Coalition on 8 April for Scotland’s National Food Debate. Hear how political parties will act to ensure everyone has dignified access to food.
We invite you to take part in Scotland’s flagship ‘National Food Debate’ ahead of the 2026 Scottish Elections.
With the publication of Scotland’s first National Good Food Nation Plan, continued pressure on household budgets, significant public health challenges and a farming sector under severe strain, food policy has become a defining issue for this election.
This pre-election hustings will see party representatives answer questions from a live audience from Augustine United Church in central Edinburgh and will be broadcast online to members of the public across Scotland. The session will be a mixture of pre-selected questions and questions from the audience on the night.
The debate, chaired by Vicky Allan, Environment Correspondent for The Herald, will reach a highly engaged audience of voters, civil society leaders and food-system stakeholders in Scotland, with significant online reach beyond the room.
Who we are:
The Scottish Food Coalition is a diverse alliance of 70+ organisations working for a just transition to a fair, healthy, sustainable food system.
Our members come from across the food system including those concerned with poverty, health, biodiversity, climate change and animal welfare, as well as trade unions, food producers and retailers, international development organisations and faith groups.
Established in 2015, we were instrumental in securing Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act and offer support and expertise to Scottish Government, local authorities and health boards during the journey to achieve our Good Food Nation ambitions.
@KingsTrust are hosting an event for 18-30 year olds that are interested in starting their own business speakers, discussions on the issues/obstacles, networking and refreshments
The Lord Provost Robert Aldridge reflects on the Capital’s response over the last four years:
As we mark this solemn fourth anniversary of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we also draw hope and comfort in Edinburgh’s long history as a proud, welcoming and diverse city.
Our biggest strength lies in those who live here – people from all walks of life, cultures, and backgrounds.
From our long-standing links with the Norwegians and Poles during and after the Second World War to the thousands of Ukrainians, Afghans, Syrians and other refugees and displaced families who now call Edinburgh home, we’re proud to be a city of sanctuary – welcoming all those who come here in search of a better life.
As Kyiv’s twin city, I’m incredibly proud of the role that Edinburgh’s communities have played in helping those fleeing the horrors of Russia’s illegal war, with around 3,000 Ukrainians now residing in the Capital.
Since the first days of the invasion, we’ve been working hard across our services to help assimilate Ukrainians into their new lives here. The wider collective response encompassing the public, private and third sectors represents the very best qualities of our city and our citizens.
Residents, volunteers, and colleagues have worked steadfastly to help our new arrivals, opening their hearts and in many cases their homes to Ukrainians in their hour of need.
Edinburgh continues to be the gateway for the vast majority of Ukrainian arrivals into Scotland. Since February 2022, we have had almost 12,000 Ukrainians pass through our Welcome Hub, first at Gogarburn House and now at Flassches Yard.
On Tuesday morning, alongside representatives from the Scottish and UK Governments, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain and other partners, I laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance.
My thoughts remain with those continuing to fight for freedom, those who have fallen or been injured in defence of Ukraine, and for everyone who has had to abandon their homes and lives.
Whilst this terrible war has endured for longer than any of us could have imagined, my hope remains that we will soon see peace in Ukraine.
To Edinburgh’s Ukrainian population my message is simple. This is your home. You are a valued part of our city and have our full support for as long as you need it.
As part of 
Jurassic World (2015) Saturday 11th April 2026 | 8pm
