The multi-award winning Hebridean Celtic Festival (HebCelt) has been a key feature in the cultural
landscape of the Outer Hebrides since 1996.
This internationally renowned event has a unique setting in the Scottish Hebridean island of Lewis, the heartland of the Gaelic language and culture.
Its welcoming and friendly atmosphere reflects the ethos of the dedicated team of volunteers who have created a festival with global appeal and a strong community identity.
HebCelt passionately protects and promotes its heritage, including the vibrant Gaelic and traditional music that is both part of its history and its contemporary life. It mixes the best local talent with leading Scottish, UK and world artists and brings together household names and emerging talent to provide a feast of music to appeal to all ages.
The result is a diverse blend of sights and sounds that is true to Celtic traditions but also welcoming to new ideas and influences.
HebCelt is a cultural phenomenon for its community, it offers a sense of homecoming to those islanders returning to meet family and friends and it extends a Hebridean hand of friendship to visitors who invariably come back for more.
During the pandemic years, the HebCelt team had to adopt a different approach presenting content that represented the ethos of the event, promoting our diverse local talent and maintaining engagement with our loyal global audience.
Seisean HebCelt was produced in July 2020 and the team delivered Survival Sessions, a hybrid programme (live and digital) during 14-17 July 2021.
The Trust came back with a bang for HebCelt in July 2022 to Celebrate 25 years of HebCelt with a record breaking year. 2023 was another incredible year for HebCelt as we welcomed friends old and new back to Stornoway 12th - 15th July.
Dates for 2025 are 16th - 19th July. Join the mailing list to hear the news first or follow us across Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
The festival has achieved many accolades over the years including:
- Winners of Highlands & Islands Thistle Award 2023 for Outstanding Cultural Event
- Winners of the Outer Hebrides Tourism Community Award – Best Green & Sustainable Business 2023
- Recipient of Glasgow Lewis & Harris Association – Award of Honour for Contribution to the life of the Islands 2023
- Green Family Travel Awards 2023 - Highly Commended
- MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards - Event of the Year 2022
- Scottish Thistle Award Winners – Best Cultural Event of Festival 2018
- Festival of the Year and Grand Prix Winners – Scottish Event Awards 2017
- Greener Festival Award 2017 – Highly Commended
- Best Cultural Event or Festival – HITA Awards 2017
- Winner of the Best Festival or Event – Highlands & Islands Tourism Awards (2014)
- Shortlisted for Best Independent Festival in the AIM Independent Music Awards (2013) - a publicly voted award
- Winners of the Scottish Event Awards, Best Large Festival category (2011)
- Winners of the Scot Trad Award (2004, 2009) - a publicly voted award
- Twice shortlisted for the Scottish Thistle Awards (1999, 2002)