Top Scots music festival HebCelt boosted the Outer Hebrides economy to the tune of £4.4million after a record breaking financial performance. This year’s four-day celebration, which featured Lulu, Tidelines and Skerryvore as headliners in July, generated £400,000 more income for the area compared with its 2024’s event, and was up by almost £700,000 on 2023.
New look bars, investment in tap and go technology, enhanced family fun areas and events, more shows outside the main arena, plus pop up box offices driving sales, and several new sponsorship deals, all contributed to the uplift.
In all 54,567 fans bought tickets over the past three years, firmly cementing HebCelt’s place as Scotland’s third biggest festival of its kind, behind only TRNSMT and Belladrum.
This year attracted 17,218 paying ticket holders among those attending the event, with those travelling solely for the festival staying an average 7.8 days, spending £1,025 each - 81% of that locally. International tourists stayed the longest.
The figures were detailed in this year's Economic Impact Report for the festival. It highlighted sponsorship from long term supporters Lewis Wind Power, SSEN Transmission, and a “vital” three year multi-year funding package from Creative Scotland, and the continued backing of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar who have supported the event since its inception.
Festival Chair Iain Macphail said: “This is a landmark result for HebCelt and for the islands as a whole. The festival has again delivered important and sustainable value to the local economy with an exceptional performance, while remaining firmly committed to our core responsibilities to community, culture and sustainability.
“At a time when too many festivals across the UK are facing major cutbacks, challenges and in the saddest of cases even closure, HebCelt is showing that cultural events still have the ability to grow responsibly with consistent support.
“We are well underway with preparation for next year, but already our thoughts and planning are turning to how we will mark our 30th anniversary in 2027, by which point we expect to have helped generate £40m for the islands across our timeline.
“This is about more than economics. It’s also about the hundreds of opportunities we create for jobs, skills training and for artists who perform, and the much valued collaborations with our close partners An Lanntair, local venues, media and more.
“From the volunteers who make the festival happen to our public funders and sponsors who stand behind us, everyone involved played a huge part in this success, and we are so incredibly grateful for everything that they do.
“Most of all it's about the audience, whether they come from over the road or across the globe to enjoy world class music in perhaps the most picturesque, family friendly setting you can imagine for a festival of this calibre anywhere.”
Of the 44 bands that took part, 79% of them included female performers. In all more than 255 artists participated in 70 performances across Stornoway and its rural community venues, with 43% of those playing based on the islands.
Creative hub An Lanntair in particular hosted a series of performances, ceilidhs and the late night festival club, as it celebrated its 40th anniversary as a cultural beacon for the island and key festival partner.
Gaelic played a central part to programming both at the festival and other venues with taster sessions, musical performances and live broadcasts. Ceilidhs, music workshops, family and relaxed shows also featured heavily, with some 17% of festival attendees aged under 14.
HebCelt 2025 also saw the festival’s most ambitious sustainability programme to date, with new systems and infrastructure introduced to help reduce emissions, protect the fragile island environment and reduce waste.
A temporary micro power grid was installed, comprising a 2.4kW solar array and a 120kWh battery storage system, powering critical infrastructure including the site office, finance hub and control room during build and operation. Hydrogen-powered lighting towers replaced all diesel lighting units across the festival site and access routes, eliminating emissions and improving air quality.
More than 25,000 reusable cups were issued, while compostable foodware, more recycling streams and volunteer-led waste management resulted in 62% of all waste being recycled and a 4% reduction in landfill waste on the previous event.
Significant investment was also made in the long-term protection of Lews Castle Green, the festival’s home, thanks to a Capital Grant from NHS Western Isles to buy industrial-grade ground guards installed across the site to protect turf, prevent erosion and support heavy vehicle movements during build and dismantle.
As a result, festival organisers were presented with the ‘Climate Cup Award’ by Climate Hebrides in October for their efforts, and honoured with an award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism by Visit Outer Hebrides just over a week ago.
It was also shortlisted in the UK Festival Awards, and in two categories for Friday’s MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, including for artist programmer Michelle Shields as Industry Person of the Year.
Festival Operations Co-Ordinator Carol Ferguson said: “HebCelt’s focus is on ensuring the best possible experiences for our audience, sponsors and partners as we continue to evolve and grow, while offering a safe, sustainable and inspirational family friendly space for all.
“At its heart is an incredible programme of music, a celebration of our island culture and an opportunity to create unique festival moments to treasure. Thanks to our funding partners, sponsors and support from our local community, we look forward to what promises to be another amazing summer of music in July.”
Irish legends The Saw Doctors have already been unveiled as first headliners for next year’s festival which takes place between 15 - 18 July in Stornoway. Others include The Tumbling Souls, Peatbog Faeries, Michelle McManus and The Blackhearts, Mec Lir, Jarad Rowan and many more.
Two more headliners are still to be revealed.
Tickets, including payment installments, are available now from www.hebceltfest.com