HebCelt Festival is in the running for a major prize at one of Scotland’s most prestigious awards ceremonies. It is shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival’ category in the Highlands and Islands Thistle Awards 2025.
The festival will find out if it has been successful at a special awards ceremony on Friday, 3October, at the Drumossie Hotel in Inverness.
Iain Macphail, HebCelt Director and Chair of the Board, said: “To be shortlisted in what are widely regarded as the region’s event Oscars just days before we open the gates to this year’s festival is utterly brilliant news.
“It’s amazing recognition for our team, our volunteers, supporters, sponsors and every single person who plays a part in what we do every year.
“We’re all thrilled, it’s put a real spring in our step as we continue to put the finishing touches to this year’s event which promises to be one of the best yet.”
The nomination comes as tickets sales for next week’s event surge following the opening of the official shop – with thousands of passes being snapped up in the last two weeks alone since doors opened.
And with much of the country being told to brace itself for scorchio temperatures from this weekend, online ticket sales are hotting up too.
Iain said: “The queue has been out of the door pretty much constantly since we’ve opened. We can hardly catch our breath – it’s been amazing.
“Sales have been going crazy, everyone says they are so excited to be coming along, they are buying all our new style t-shirts and other merch too.
“With the weekend forecast as it is, we’ll be lucky if there are any bucket hats left by the time the first concert begins.
“It’s going to be brilliant, we can’t wait to get out there.”
Work on the festival site has also started, with the main tent being readied to take its place on Castle Green as excitement mounts. There will also be a new look to the hospitality bars, a new fast contactless payment system in place, and other new features.
HebCelt has triumphed at the Highland and Islands Tourism Awards before, being crowned Best Festival or Event in 2014, Best Cultural Event or Festival in 2017, and then again as winners for Outstanding Cultural Event in 2023.
This year’s event – which runs from Wednesday to Saturday next week – features headliners Tide Lines, Lulu and Skerrvore.
Others performing includ Eddi Reader, Nina Nesbitt, Trail West, Kassidy, Beluga Lagoon, Tom McGuire and The Brassholes, Alasdair White & Keith Morrison, Astro Bloc, Cala, Cassie and Maggie, Ciorstaidh Beaton, Donnie Dòtaman, Elias Alexander, El Sartel, Fèis Eilean an Fhraoich, Iona Mairead, Isla Scott, Josie Duncan, Laura Silverstone, Lauren Collier, LUSA, Madison Violet, Malin Lewis Trio, NATI., Ruairidh Gray, Samba Sene & Diwan, The Tumbling Souls, and TRIP. In the popular Ceilidh Tent, performances will include
Tosh & Friends, Sam Cain, Emma, Spanish & Stephen Drummond, Sarah Helfrich, Corina, Arabella and Kathleen, and Jane Hepburn Macmillan.
Tickets are available in person at the HebCelt shop in Stornoway, from the pop up box office at Harris Distillery between 10am and 4pm this Monday, for collection aboard the HebCelt Ferry from Ullapool next Wednesday, and online at hebceltfest.com
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