Merchant City Festival

18/06/2026

So much FREE family fun this summer in Glasgow 😎

Including our Family Days with Imaginate UK on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July in Merchant Square 🦄

Free things to do with kids this summer ⤵️

🛹 Riverside Jam: Urban Sports Weekend at Riverside Museum
BMX, skateboarding, basketball and live performances.
Sat 20 - Sun 21 June, 11am-6pm

📚 Summer Reading Challenge with Glasgow Life Libraries
Collect stickers, prizes and a certificate once little ones complete it. Sign up at your local library.
Sat 20 June - Sun 9 August

🚌 West End Bus Fest at Riverside Museum
Travel aboard a vintage bus!
Sun 28 June, 11am-5pm

☀️ Glasgow Mela at Kelvingrove Park
Live music, dance and street food at Scotland's biggest South Asian festival.
Sun 5 July, 12-8pm

🌈 Pride at The Burrell Collection
Live music, crafts and free face painting!
Sat 11 July, 11am-4pm

🏊 Free swimming, pitches and courts with Glasgow Club
Go for a swim with the family, play some football, table tennis, pickleball or badminton. Booking required up to 8 days in advance on the Glasgow Club app.
Thurs 25 June - Sun 9 August

🌱 Make your own terrarium at St Mungo Museum of Religious Life & Art
Tues 14 - Thurs 16 July, 2-4pm

✨ Imaginate Family Days at Merchant City Festival
Sat 25 - Sun 16 July, 11am-5pm

💃 Circle dancing at the Burrell Collection
Live performance in the courtyard - come and give it a go!
Sat 25 July, 12.45-3.15pm

🫧 Belter bubbles at the Riverside Museum
Ever fancied being inside a bubble? Now is your chance!
Mon 27 and Fri 31 July, 1.30-4pm

🎤 Pop-up Opera: Be a Sport Spike! with Scottish Opera at Victoria Park
Fri 31 July, 30 minute performances at 12.15pm and 1.50pm

17/06/2026

Merchant City Festival, part of Glasgow 2026 Festival, is coming very soon 🎉

Here’s everything you need to know ⤵

📅 Save the dates
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 July
Friday 31 July – Sunday 2 August

🎪 Live Music Stage; Sport Viewing Area; One-Off Foodie Events

3️⃣ Festival Hubs:
Candelriggs Square
The Briggait
Merchant Square

✨ Imaginate Family Day
Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July

🎭 Surge Festival of Street Theatre
Saturday 25 – Sunday 26 July
Saturday 1 – Sunday 2 August

🥙 Street Food and Market Stall Favourites

Will you be going?

12/06/2026

📮 Are you signed up to our MCF newsletter?

Get handpicked festival itineraries straight to your inbox and be the first to hear about new programme drops 🌞🤹‍♀️

Don't miss a thing, sign up now at https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/merchant-city-festival/merchant-city-festival-newsletter

11/06/2026

🎫 Tickets on sale now at https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/hen-hoose-and-friends

⭐️ Hen Hoose & Friends ⭐️
For Merchant City Festival, the Hen Hoose collective will be joined by Horse McDonald, Emma Po***ck, Frances McKee, Lucia Fairfull and Carla J Easton for a special performance celebrating the music of Scottish women and non-binary artists.

The show features well-known songs by Scottish women and non-binary musicians while also highlighting the collaborative work developed through the Hen Hoose collective.

Opening the evening will be special performances from Carol Laula, Riley and Radhika.

Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow
Sunday 26 July, 7pm

Tickets available now
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/event/1/hen-hoose-and-friends

11/06/2026

🚨Workshop Participants Needed🚨

08/06/2026

Merchant City Festival welcomes you to watch, learn, listen and make with a mostly FREE programme of fun🎭🎪

As Scotland's leading outdoor arts festival, we aim to inspire healthier and happier lifestyles, and host a creative space where communities can connect.

We are about creating positive social change for everybody, Glasgow Life is a charity that puts 🌟

04/06/2026

🚨 TICKETS ON SALE TOMORROW AT 10AM 🚨

We are bringing four epic nights of live music and late-night vibes to The Old Fruitmarket for this year’s festival!

Here is your legendary lineup:
🎉 Coorie Doon are kickstarting the festival with their incredible handbuilt soundsystem and an ultimate, open-to-all house party vibe

🎵 Hen Hoose bring a massive celebration of music showcasing brilliant women and non-binary talent, featuring the incredible Horse McDonald, Carla J. Easton, and more

🎸 The Scottish Alternative Music Awards come home to Glasgow with a vital new talent showcase, headlined by the incendiary VLURE

⚡ Slam & The Glasgow Techno Alliance are closing out the festival in style with massive guest slots from Gary Beck, Co-Accused, Quail, LAZLO, and more

Best of all? Every one of these nights is under £20 💸 at https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/merchant-city-festival?eventtype=Music

03/06/2026

So much family fun 🤹🦄

03/06/2026

Excited to be part of this amazing festival 🤩

From events like MCF and Glasgow Mela, to community fun days and art installations at GOMA…check out what else is on in Glasgow this summer👇

Glasgow 2026 Festival is underway across the city 🎉

See the full schedule at glasgow2026festival.com 🗓️

03/06/2026

TWO WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY!
Surge Volunteer Programme: Festival Assistant Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers for SURGE Festival 2026 which takes place on the 25th - 26th July & 1st - 2nd August in Glasgow outdoors in the Merchant City. We are also looking for volunteers to assist with Festival preparation the week leading up to SURGE, week commencing 20th July.
The programme is an annual opportunity for the successful candidates to gain experience of assisting in the running of a major arts festival.

Benefits:
● Building connections with artists, producers and other volunteers
● Full training
● Experience interacting with the public
● Experience of assisting in the running of a major arts festival
● Free meals provided per volunteering day
● Travel expenses covered
● Opportunity to see outdoor street theatre performances at the festival

Dates:
Monday 15th June (5pm): Closing date for applications
Tuesday 23rd June: Volunteer interviews (short, informal interview)
Tuesday 14th July: Training Session (late afternoon/ evening) Merchant City, Glasgow
20th – 24th July: 1 volunteer shift during the week
25th – 26th July: SURGE Festival, both days
And/ or
1st – 2nd August: SURGE Festival, both days
You must be available for the interview, training session and be available to volunteer one shift between 20th - 24th July plus 25th – 26th July and/ or 1st – 2nd August.

Duties will include:
FESTIVAL PREP:
● Assisting with setting up dressing rooms and costumes;
● Running duties.
● Artist Arrival assistance
DURING SURGE:
● Artist liaison;
● Stewarding;
● Welcoming and directing the festival visitors and audience during events and performances;
● Undertaking audience evaluations;
● Assisting with organising the dressing room/workshop spaces;
● Running duties.

The ideal candidates will have an active interest in the arts - especially street arts, physical theatre and circus and an enthusiasm for learning behind the scenes, helping with festival artists and engaging with members of the public.
The chosen candidates will get first-hand experience volunteering with festival performances and performers and shall hopefully take this experience on to future work within the arts.
To apply, please send the following by Monday 15th June (5pm):
● A copy of your CV
● Your availability across the festival dates
● 500-word statement outlining your specific interest in the post, and what particular skills / qualities you will bring to it.

Applications should be emailed by: to Rosa Thomas – Producer - [email protected]

For enquiries, please contact us on 07506721574
Please note this opportunity is open to volunteers who are 18 years +

As this is a public facing role, strong verbal communication skills in English is essential.