2026 Edinburgh People’s Procession – sign up to take part!
Join hundreds of people from Edinburgh’s community in the People’s Procession from Holyrood to St Giles Cathedral
The People’s Procession is part of the conclusion to the spectacular Riding of the Marches event taking place on the Royal Mile in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town on 13 September 2026. Around 30,000 people are expected to line the streets to watch both events, with many more online.
This is an opportunity for groups and organisations in Edinburgh to showcase and celebrate their work and help us to celebrate Edinburgh.
The People’s Procession will consist of groups of people representing Edinburgh’s people drawn from community/civic organisations, and others, together with pipe bands, other bands and dancers, civic dignitaries and Edinburgh High Constables. It will form up at Holyrood (in front of the Scottish Parliament building) and process up the Royal Mile from Holyrood to the Mercat Cross on the afternoon of 13 September before the cavalcade of 250 horses and riders arrive and conclude their day with a civic ceremony to return the Edinburgh flag to the Lord Provost on the ancient Mercat Cross.
There are no motorised vehicle ‘floats’ possible – due to lack of space at the end of the procession – but costumes and banners, including historical dress/uniforms/kit are encouraged. Mobility scooters are of course permitted. Small trolleys that are pushed or pulled by participants may be included.
Registration for 1 ticket is to register your organisation – you will be asked to say how many people you expect to have, or would like to have, in your group after you register. Groups taking part can be any size, but at least 5 is a guide, with a maximum group size of 15 suggested. There is an overall maximum number of people we can safely include in this event and we want to include as many different organisations as possible. It may be possible to increase group size, from 15, on request depending on overall take up of places. Any queries about practicalities or numbers of participants a group may have should be raised with the organisers.
On the day participants should expect to register and assemble at Holyrood by 2pm in time to set off around 2.30pm arriving at St Giles and the Mercat cross in good time to see the cavalcade of 250+ horses which will follow, and the parade of civic dignitaries. The end point for the whole event is expected to be 4.30pm.
This is an outdoor event where participants will be walking/wheeling on road surfaces, including setted areas (cobbles) which can be uneven. We do not expect to call off the event if the weather is wet.
Organisations registering to take part will be sent confirmation of their participation and full joining instructions and FAQs in advance of the event. FAQs will be published here once issued.
Finally the event is not political or intended to promote any political messages.
Registration is an application to take part until the organisers have confirmed your participation. Organisers reserve the right to decline a registration request.
These events are organised by the charity Edinburgh March Riding Association (SC041202), which is entirely volunteer run. The events are made possible with generous support from City of Edinburgh Council, the Incorporated Trades of Edinburgh, other donors and sponsors and year-round fundraising activities to cover our costs.
DETAILS:
Start point: Holyrood (commencing outside Scottish Parliament building EH99 1SP)
End point: St Giles’ Cathedral (EH1 1RE)
Sunday 13th September 2026 • 2pm – 4:30pm
To enter your group/organisation, please apply via out Eventbrite link here.
In 2025 the City of Edinburgh celebrated 900 years of being a City.
We were delighted to be part of the Edinburgh 900 Celebrations in 2025 and our event brought aspects of Edinburgh’s past, present and future citizens to the Royal Mile with the ‘People’s Procession‘!
Featuring 900 Edinburgh citizens, the People’s Procession comprised 900 citizens representative of the City’s rich heritage and vibrant present.
We wanted to bring citizens of Edinburgh together, celebrating local heritage, promoting partnerships and enhancing community heritage groups’ resilience and diversity. The vision we had was that the People’s Procession would include representation of citizens of the past, including the professions who have built this city – legal, architects, surgeons, university, present, including public service workers who serve the city today in essential services and the citizens of tomorrow – students and school pupils.
The modern-day Edinburgh Riding of the Marches event has always strived to reflect our Capital’s gathering of its citizens to protect the foundations for those who made it their home. What better way to celebrate its 900th year as a City, than to put our citizens at the forefront of the stage, as we celebrated our present-day communities who are building the future of Edinburgh for generations to come.
In 1124 King David I created the Royal Burgh of Edinburgh, one of the oldest in Scotland.
Edinburgh 900 was a series of events and activities from a wide range of organisations in the city which told the story of Edinburgh through the centuries from the 12th century City of David right up to the 21st century, the City of Diversity.
Together with partners and community groups across the city, the City of Edinburgh Council curated a rich programme of events, talks, tours and tales to paint the picture of what has made Edinburgh into the internationally admired city it now is.
Discovering our past, celebrating our present and strengthening our future
The Edinburgh 900 programme aimed to:
- improve civic and community pride by celebrating local heritage and community spaces alongside Edinburgh’s iconic city centre
- raise the profile of the City Collections to residents and visitors through innovative and creative use of the city’s public spaces
- promote partnerships between the Council heritage services, major stakeholders, local creatives, schools, and community groups
- enhance the resilience and diversity of the city’s community heritage groups by encouraging attendance at local events, membership and volunteering.
Read more about Edinburgh 900 here.
2025 PEOPLE’S PROCESSION PARTICIPANTS:
We would like to thank all those who took part in our 2025 People’s Procession for their fantastic enthusiasm and community spirit!
Procession Leader: Grant ‘Grand Marshall’ Stott
MPs, MSPs for Edinburgh and the Lothians
City of Edinburgh Councillors
Lord Lyon Court Officers of Arms
Civic Escort
The Society of High Constables of Edinburgh
The High Constabulary of the Port of Leith
Pipe Bands
900 Parade Pipe Band
Glencorse Pipe Band
Community groups and organisations (alphabetical order)
Active Inquiry
African Connections
Ama-zing Harmonie
Association of Ukrainians in GB – Edinburgh (AUGB)
Association of Ukrainian Youth – Edinburgh
AUGB – Pro100 Ukrainian Saturday School
1st Loanhead Boys’ Brigade
Bridgend Farmhouse
Capital Theatres
City of Edinburgh Council staff teams
City of Edinburgh Council Archaeological Service
Chinese Arts Association
Corstorphine Community Centre
Dance@Studio 21
Edinburgh Capitals
Educational Institute for Scotland – Edinburgh
Edinburgh Interfaith Association
Edinburgh Living History Group
Gracemount Mansion
Heart of Midlothian Football Club
Heart of Newhaven Community
Junior Chamber of Commerce International Edinburgh
Lothian Buses
Milan Senior Welfare Organisation
Mission of Innocents
Multi-Cultural Family Base
Museum of Scottish Fire Heritage
Nikkan Dance Academy
Norine Culture
Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre
Pulse of the Place @Victoria
Pulse of the Place Youth Samba Drumming Band
Royal British Legion Scotland
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Sikh Sanjog
Solo Rider representing Legion Scotland and Poppy Scotland
St. John Scotland
Street Assist
Tartan Parade Scotland
The Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh
The Datakirk Community
The Edinburgh Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers
The Grassmarket Community Project
The Heraldry Society of Scotland
The Merchant Navy Association Edinburgh and Forth Branch
The Royal High School Edinburgh
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
The Victorian Schoolroom
Volunteer Edinburgh
Waterfront Dance
WHALE Arts Agency
World Fair Trade Tartan Clan
