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Taste of Nairn – Nairn’s Annual Food & Drink Festival
8th – 10th May 2026
Every spring Taste of Nairn delivers a showcase of Nairn’s outstanding producers, growers and hospitality businesses. Featuring an artisanal market, street market and cookery demonstrations.
Taste of Nairn 2026 will run from May 8th – 10th and will incorporate two markets, demonstrations, tastings, and a number of individual events taking place in the seaside town.
The Title Sponsor this year is Nairn’s luxury Hotel and Spa, the Golf View.
The event is run by Nairn Connects BID, the business support organisation for Nairn, with the aim of driving footfall and showcasing businesses from the town and wider region.
This year, Taste of Nairn will host two markets on May 9th – one held in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre and the other in the town centre, run with Moray Markets.
The event is also home to the World Tattie Scone Championships which is supported by Oakwood Cookery. The main event takes place on May 9th across the town and is sure to have something for everyone.
Lucy Harding, Nairn BID manager said: “Each year we make tweaks to the event programme to make sure it is fresh and offers something new. This year’s event will definitely tickle those tastebuds and as well as the competitions, we have some great food and drink demonstrations lined up. Nairn has a fantastic food and drink offering; wonderful bistros and restaurants, takeaways, ice cream shops and of course the bespoke food and drink shops we have on our High Street. We are so proud of our food and drink outlets.”
“We are absolutely thrilled to be working with Golf View Hotel & Spa and are very appreciative of their support. They are a very active member of Nairn BID and want to spread the love to the local community. The hotel team has been involved in Taste of Nairn in past years by doing wonderful cookery demonstrations and hosting their own fantastic events over the course of the weekend.”
“We are so thrilled to be hosting the World Tattie Scone Championship again. It’s a hugely popular event and is a lot of fun. It’s dead easy because all we ask is that entrants provide their own secret ingredient: everything else is provided.”
Full line up TBC.
Other Nairn Events can be found here.
Picture-Perfect Nairn: A Photographer’s Guide
The lovely coastal town of Nairn is blessed with light, landscape, and history—a true haven for photographers. From sweeping Moray Firth views to tranquil riverside paths, here’s where you can capture Nairn’s best angles.
Nairn Beach
The undisputed star is Nairn Beach. The vast, flowing white sands, especially the stretch known as East Beach, offer endless compositions. Arrive for sunrise or sunset to capture the golden hour’s dramatic light reflecting off the wet sand and the tranquil waters of the Moray Firth. Look for the marram-covered dunes and the lone, skeletal tree on the shore for evocative, minimalist shots.
Coastal and Maritime views
For a taste of maritime life, head to Nairn Harbour. The classic stone piers, the moored leisure craft, and the bronze statue of the Nairn Fishwife provide perfect foreground interest for seascapes. The harbour mouth, where the River Nairn meets the sea, is particularly beautiful, offering shots that blend the town’s industry with its natural setting.
Nature’s Tranquillity: Nairn Riverside
Away from the beach you can find natural tranquillity along the Nairn Riverside. The river path, starting at the Maggott car park, offers a completely different photographic experience. Here, you can capture the calm, flowing water, framed by mature trees and lush greenery. Look for reflections on still sections of the water, especially on a clear day, or focus on close-up details of the moss and ferns that line the banks. The footbridges that cross the river provide excellent vantage points, allowing you to capture the perspective of the water moving toward the sea.
Whether you’re capturing the play of light on the Moray Firth or the gentle flow of the river, Nairn guarantees a stunning photo opportunity to share and inspire.
When is the best time to visit Nairn? What’s On in 2026
What’s on in Nairn and when in 2026?
A year round review of everything happening in this hidden gem of a place!
When planning a holiday, whether it’s a day trip, a staycation, or a grand tour, knowing the best time to visit is essential. Luckily in Nairn, there’s always something going on!
Nairn has a lot to offer visitors all year round, and 2026 is shaping up to be a great year for events, large and small.
To start the ball rolling there is the Taste of Nairn on 8th to 10th May, a 3-day food and drink festival with events being held in businesses all over the town and an artisan market held in the Nairn Community and Arts Centre featuring stalls, demonstrations, and contests.
Spring/Summer 2026
The Bandstand Beer and Music Festival – 30th April – 4th May 2026
A fabulous local festival from the CAMRA Highlands and Islands Pub of the Year 2021 & 2023 – with beer, food, music and more. Guest ales are served inside and outside the pub in a marquee in the garden and it’s a very popular event!
The Summer market will be held on Saturday, 11th July 2026 along Nairn High Street where once again the High Street will be a thoroughfare for stalls and shops opening their doors wide to welcome everyone. Reducing the traffic on the High Street from time to time really helps to create that relaxing atmosphere allowing everyone to get out and about and meet up with friends.
Nairn Show – 01 August 2026
The Nairn Show is back at Davidson Park where there will be stalls, livestock and plenty of fun to be had. There is a huge flower and produce show with many classes of entry from knitted goods to oatcakes – fascinating!
Late Summer
Nairn Highland Games – 15 August 2026
The Highland Games – with Piping, dancing and athletic contests including the Nairn Road Runners Half Marathon, there’s something for everyone, a great day out. It’s thought to be the last free Highland Games in the country and always a big draw for returning Nairnites from all over the world!
Autumn
Nairn Book and Arts Festival – 29 August to 6 September 2026
Nairn Book and Arts Festival is the town’s nine – day celebration of the arts and the huge variety of creative talent we have here in Nairn and the Highlands. Featuring a packed programme of accessible outdoor performance, live music and creative events for all the family, author talks – tours, workshops and exhibitions, and at least one day when fancy dress will be obligatory! Follow them on social media: Instagram or Facebook. Volunteer for, or sponsor the festival: [email protected]
Wheels of Nairn – 19 September 2026
Wheels of Nairn is a classic and modern vehicle show set with the stunning backdrop of the Moray Firth. Stalls, entertainment and refreshments are also featured at the show.
Other Attractions
Of course, you don’t need an event as a reason to visit Nairn, here are some of the attractions open locally for you to visit all year round (opening days/times may vary so please make sure to check in advance).
Visit Scotland, which lists Nairn as number one in the top 11 best places to stay in the Highlands, lists sights and activities for the area along with suggestions for accommodation, eating out and events.
Countdown to Christmas 2025
Saturday, 29th November 2025
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and Nairn is getting ready to celebrate the Countdown to Christmas!
Join us as we kick off the festive season in style with the Nairn Christmas Light Switch On on Saturday, November 29 from 10am.
It’s a day packed with festive fun, local entertainment, and Christmas cheer for the whole family.
Here’s what you can enjoy:
10am – Town Centre and Community Centre Markets officially open.
10am to 1.45pm – A Santa’s Grotto in the Nairn Library
From 10.20am – Stage entertainment outside The Royal Hotel Apartments on the High Street (See full stage line up below)
10.45am to 12.15pm – Paws and Claus, the Nairn Festive Dog Show, supported by Moray Coast Vet Group.
Midday – Get those dancing shoes on for a Ceilidh on the Brae with Dave Godden aka The World’s Smallest Ceilidh Band
12.15pm to 1.30pm – Circus Skills Workshop with Fly Agaric Performing Arts at the top of the High Street on the corner with Leopold Street
2.00pm – Fireshow by Fly Agaric Performing Arts at the top of the High Street on the corner with Leopold Street
3.15pm – Circus Skills Workshop with Fly Agaric Performing Arts at the top of the High Street on the corner with Leopold Street
3.45pm – The Nairn & District Pipe Band will welcome Santa and his helper to the stage for the light switch on.
4pm – The Light Switch On
Stage Entertainment:
10.20am Ardersier Forte
11.00am Penguins Tuxedo
11.20am Mellow Yellow
12.20pm Feis Inbhir Narainn
1.00pm Elmaz
2.00pm Nairn Gaelic Choir
2.30pm Sophie Boyne
3.10pm The Sound Guys
3.45pm Nairn Pipe Band will welcome Santa and his helper to the stage for the light switch on.
4.00pm The Lights will be switch on.
Indoor Christmas Market at Nairn Community & Arts Centre from 10am to 3pm – gifts, crafts, charity stalls, face painting and more!
Also see the Nairn BID website HERE for more information.
There are loads of other things going on at Christmastime in Nairn – all Events can be found here
Christmas Events in Nairn 2025
Nairn is a great place to visit all year round and you will find some fantastic events throughout the year, but especially around Christmastime!
So get into the festive spirit and discover all Nairn has to offer! Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts, enjoy our bars and restaurants and come along to one of the many events taking place around the town throughout December.
Christmas Carols at the Wallace Bandstand, Nairn Links
Thursday, 18th December 2025, 7pm – 8pm
Join us for a free community singalong with Highland Brass, Mellow Yellow Creative Arts and singers from all over Nairn! Free carol sheets for all. Bring a torch, a warm jacket and good cheer!
Pantomimes
Sleeping Beauty at Nairn Little Theatre from Monday 1st December until Saturday, 13th December 2025.
Dick Whittington at Nairn Community and Arts Centre on Friday, 12th and Saturday, 13th December.
Nairn Tractor Run
Saturday, 6th December 2025 at Nairn Links and around Nairnshire
Join us on Saturday 6th December as we visit various spots around Nairnshire with decked out illuminated tractors to raise money for charity.
After touring around Nairnshire the tractor run will then gather at The Links where a very special visitor will be waiting in his sled!
Logie Steading Christmas Market
Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th December 2025, 10am – 4pm
Logie Estate will welcome a whole host of local makers and producers to the Steading! It’s the perfect opportunity to not only buy unique gifts, but to meet the people who created them. The shops who call Logie home will also be putting their best festive foot forward and offering lots of opportunities to help you find amazing gifts this Christmas. With hot food, drinks and festive entertainment, a visit to Logie Steading is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit while supporting small, local businesses this Christmas.
Golf View Christmas Fayre
Sunday, 7th December 2025, 11am – 3pm
Enjoy a relaxing Sunday with some retail therapy, have a coffee and a scone and get your seasonal gifts all in one place.
And if you still have the energy, you can join Nairn Road Runners for their annual Turkey Trot 5K on 26th December – free entry for runners in full fancy dress!
For more details and a list of all events in Nairn, go to our Events Calendar HERE.
Halloween 2025 in Nairn
Nairn’s Spooky Side: Celebrating Halloween in the Highlands
While Nairn is famous for its stunning beaches and sunny disposition, the town and surrounding area take on a delightfully eerie feel as autumn deepens and Halloween approaches. More than just costumes and sweeties, Halloween in Scotland is a celebration of community, local folklore, and ancient traditions.
Step into the spirit of the season with a stroll through the town, where you’ll find houses decorated with ghoulish glee. But for a true taste of Highland Halloween, you need to look to the past. The tradition of “guising,” the Scottish version of trick-or-treating, involves children dressing up and performing a song, joke, or poem to earn their treats. This practice has roots in ancient Celtic festivals, where people disguised themselves to blend in with spirits believed to be roaming the earth.
For those who love a good scare, the area’s rich history offers plenty of spooky sites. The ruins of Rait Castle are said to be haunted by the ghost of a handless maiden, while the shifting sands of Culbin Forest hold a buried village, a place where some say a ghostly voice can still be heard. These local legends, passed down through generations, add a truly authentic and chilling layer to the Halloween festivities.
The community spirit of Nairn shines through in its events, from family-friendly craft sessions at the local arts centre to spooky-themed parties for the adults. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Halloween in Nairn is a time to embrace the strange and the supernatural, all while enjoying the warmth of a close-knit community.
2025 Halloween Events in Nairn
Find details of all Halloween events and more in our Events Calendar.