Celtic Connections to shine bright this winter as 2025 programme and special Glasgow 850 concert announced

The festival's iconic annual Opening Concert is set to live up to expectations with an epic marking of Glasgow 850, heralding the start of the city's year-long 850th birthday celebration.

'Let Glasgow Flourish' is the motto on the city's coat of arms, and this unique concert will pay tribute to the city's rich artistic heritage and flourishing future through a special night of surprises incorporating music, spoken-word, dance and film.

Celebrating the scale and calibre of incredible musicians, artists and poets Glasgow has produced and inspired, and how this has fed into the very bloodstream of Celtic Connections, the concert will feature unique collaborations from well-kent faces, emerging stars of the future, surprise guests and commissioned performances and film.

Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, said: "We are incredibly proud of Celtic Connections' place as an ecosystem for new music and art. In 2025 we are bringing together international icons with emerging acts to create career-defining performances and never-seen-before collaborations, not to mention great nights out for our audiences.

"Celtic Connections went from being primarily a Glasgow festival, to a national festival, to an international flagship event. Like many acts on our line up, we have expanded in size and ambition over the years, drawing inspiration from the old tradition and the boundless possibilities of contemporary music. Through it all, Glasgow remains at our heart, so to open the festival in celebration of our city's artistic clout is incredibly special. Audiences can expect a night of secret surprises that we hope will bring a real sense of magic and anticipation to the first night of  the festival, setting the tone for the weeks ahead.

"As a forward-thinking festival which always looks to embrace new opportunities and spaces for performance, we're very excited to be staging a pilot music event in the Emirates Arena, creating a new experience for audiences and extending our reach into the east end of the city.

"In the last 20 years traditional music has entered the mainstream, it's embraced in our pubs and biggest venues, and we will once again drive the genre's appeal, profile and potential forward in our 2025 artistic commissions. If you think Glasgow in January isn't the place to be - you just haven't ever been to Celtic Connections."

More information visit Celtic Connections website.