8 upcoming events in Orkney Islands
September 2026
Orkney International Science Festival
Talks, workshops and family events on astronomy, ancient Orkney and geology held across venues in Kirkwall and Stromness.
Orkney Archaeology Festival
Guided walks, talks and site tours exploring the islands' Neolithic heritage, run across venues near Skara Brae and Kirkwall.
October 2026
Orkney Storytelling Festival at Betty's Reading Room
A single afternoon of traditional Orcadian storytelling at Betty's Reading Room, a scaled-down version of the usual multi-day festival.
December 2026
Christmas Day Ba' Game
Kirkwall's chaotic street ball game between the Uppies and Doonies, thrown up at the Mercat Cross by St Magnus Cathedral on Broad Street.
January 2027
New Year's Day Ba' Game
The New Year edition of Kirkwall's traditional Ba' game, with the Boys' Ba' at 10am and Men's Ba' at 1pm from the Mercat Cross.
May 2027
Orkney Nature Festival
A week-long celebration of Orkney's wildlife and landscapes with guided walks, talks and hands-on activities across the islands.
Orkney Folk Festival
Stromness fills with musicians for gigs, sessions and family events across the town for the 44th edition of this long-running folk festival.
September 2027
Orkney Food & Drink Festival
A celebration of the islands' produce and drink producers held in Kirkwall, returning as a biennial event.