2026 Edinburgh People’s Procession

We are delighted to welcome community groups and organisations from across Edinburgh as they take their place in a spectacular celebration of our city and the people who give it life.

Now in its second year, the Edinburgh People’s Procession brings together representatives from every corner of the Capital, showcasing the diversity, heritage and community spirit that define Edinburgh.

Inspired by the historic gatherings of citizens who came together to safeguard their city, this colourful procession honours both our shared past and our collective future, celebrating the people whose passion, contribution and pride continue to shape Edinburgh today.

TOGETHER, WE MAKE EDINBURGH.

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.

2026 Edinburgh People’s Procession Participants:

GRAND MARSHAL – SPECIAL GUEST

MP’s and MSP’s 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

Community groups and organisations:

Aksshaya – The AnantaVritti

Andy’s Man Club

Association of Hackney Carriage Drivers of the City of Edinburgh

Bridgend Farmhouse

City of Edinburgh Council staff teams

Confederation of Fujian and Scotland and Mazu Tin Hau Temple

CYM Edinburgh – Ukrainian Youth Association in Great Britain

Dalbeattie Riding of the Marches

Dance Ihayami

Dance Studio 21

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Edinburgh Chinese Arts Association

Edinburgh Chinese Community School

Edinburgh International Conference Centre

Edinburgh Mini March Riders

Endo Warriors West Lothian

Girl Guiding Edinburgh

Grassmarket Community Project

Gruppo Alpini Scozia

Guide Dogs

Edinburgh Interfaith Association

Institution of Civil Engineers – Edinburgh

Junior Chamber of Commerce International – Edinburgh

Latin American Community Edinburgh

Lothian Buses

Lumo Trains

Lynn’s Time for Change

Mini March Riders

Mission of Innocents

Norinemindeyes Culture Connect Incorporated

Oxgangs Neighbourhood Centre

Peruvian Community Association of Scotland

Pro100 Ukrainian Saturday School

Sikh Sanjog

Starpic Project

Street Assist Edinburgh

Solo Rider – John Stuart

Tartan Parade Scotland

The Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain – Edinburgh

The Edinburgh Burgess Association

The Edinburgh Exiles Society

The Heraldry Society of Scotland

The Meeting Place

The Merchant Navy Association – Edinburgh and Forth Branch

The Royal British Legion Scotland

The Royal High School at 900

Ukranian St Margaret’s Saturday School

Waterfront Dance Studio

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