FAQs

“The best example of an expo event anywhere in the world” (Songlines), Showcase Scotland is an annual five day export showcase and conference that sits within Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival each January. Whilst the full festival is spread across 18 days, Showcase Scotland occupies the middle Wednesday to Sunday inclusive, and offers registered delegates access to all festival performances featuring artists either from or based in Scotland, as well as those of our international partner that year, in a truly live showcase environment.

In the early 2000s, members of the folk music industry began meeting in Glasgow during Celtic Connections organically, and so a move to establish a conference and signposted meeting place was taken by the festival and British Council Scotland. Lisa Whytock and Active Events were appointed producers very shortly afterwards, and built the event into the world-leading showcase it is today. After 25 years at the helm, the baton was handed to Craig Corse of CCM Live to lead Showcase Scotland from its 2027 edition.

Having formed organically and attracting delegates within the Celtic Connections festival, Showcase Scotland’s live evening programme remains solely with the festival’s creative team. Showcase Scotland provides access to the festival’s live programme, ensuring delegates experience a truly authentic showcase experience – with attendees taking in shows from Scottish artists amongst the festival’s regular audiences (most of whom have no idea there is a conference woven through that week’s festival programme).

On average, delegates will have access to around 60 artists across our five days, and in venues ranging in capacities from 150 cabaret, to 2,000+. This breadth of artists and venues amongst the live programme ensures suitability for delegates from a likewise broad range of programming and booking backgrounds.

Alongside the live festival programme, there is a daytime schedule of networking receptions and short afternoon showcases, which are programmed by our respective presenting partners (e.g. Creative Scotland, and British Council Scotland).
As Showcase Scotland sits within a live festival, delegate registrations are strictly limited – since we require tickets to be held from public sale to allow delegate access to the festival’s many live events.

Showcase Scotland takes place over the Wednesday to Sunday of the middle week of Celtic Connections annually. In 2027, our dates are January 20-24, inclusive.

Please apply to attend here.

As Showcase Scotland takes place within the live Celtic Connections festival, our capacity is strictly limited. The festival holds tickets from public sale to enable delegates access, and therefore we must ensure that anyone registering as a delegate is attending in a business capacity, with the intention of working with Scottish artists in their own programmes.


Your delegate pass gains access to all festival performances featuring artists from or based in Scotland during the Showcase Scotland dates, as well as those from our international partner. Artists who do not fit these criteria are not included, and you will not have access to their shows unless you purchase a ticket.

We are pleased to welcome a maximum of two people from any organisation. This is to ensure as broad a delegation as possible, within our limited capacity.


Every person attending Showcase Scotland must have their own delegate registration. It is not possible to share a registration.


Anyone attending Showcase Scotland must be a registered delegate, and therefore attending in a business capacity. If you both work in the arts, then yes – otherwise +1 attendance is not possible. The only exception to this is where a delegate may require an accompanying carer or companion – if this applies to you, please contact us for more information.

Our Showcase programme features all Scottish artists, or those based in Scotland, performing at Celtic Connections over our dates. The only exception to this is a few of the festival’s smallest venues, where it is not possible to hold delegate tickets from public sale.

Celtic Connections announces their first wave of shows in October each year, with further concerts added in the autumn months. This website will host an overview of artists performing during Showcase Scotland when announced by the festival, and the delegates app will feature detailed information on all included.

We provide a conference app, available to registered delegates in the weeks leading up to Showcase Scotland, containing information on all artists as well as stage times (allowing you to create your own itinerary of performances) and contact information to follow-up on performances.

Given the breadth and multi-venue format of Celtic Connections’ programme, and around 60 featured artists, it is rarely possible to see everyone – but you can see lots of them! Your delegate pass gains access to all applicable shows, and the app will list their exact stage times, enabling you to create your own schedule and itinerary around the artists that take your interest. You also do not need to stay in the same venue all night – we actively encourage moving between performances and venues, checking out as many artists as you can.

No, your delegate pass allows access to all eligible shows within the programme. 

We work closely with the Celtic Connections team to both gauge and manage demand upon each show, however there might be the occasional wait or pass-out system to gain entry. If so, this won’t last long, and we appreciate your patience as we work within such a huge live festival. 

Some venues will require a ticket exchange (giving you a specific seat in reserved auditoriums), however this is managed on the night with our dedicated Showcase Scotland team, and it is not possible to reserve any in advance. Full information on applicable shows (typically within the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and Pavilion Theatre) will be sent in advance of the event, and daily throughout the event.


All showcasing artists, whether in the evening programme or our afternoon receptions, will feature in the Showcase Scotland app. As well as biographical information, artist profiles will include links to media as well as contact information.

We would appreciate your attendance over all five days, but understand it can be a very busy time of year. If you know for definite that you won’t arrive until Thursday (for example), please let us know as this helps us manage ticket holds for concerts.

If this is your first time visiting Glasgow, we would recommend arriving a day or two early, or adding some time on afterwards. There will be an optional delegates’ trip, and the spread of venues does facilitate some quick sight-seeing; but we do request your attendance throughout the conference, and there is lots to uncover in our brilliant host city!

We have secured preferential deals with a few hotels in Glasgow City Centre. Click here for more information.

Please visit your hotel first, as we will be unable to store luggage at registration. Since the introduction of Martyn’s Law, in most venues there are strict security measures in place, including for use of delegate passes. At all our venues there may be bag searches on arrival and at most venues only one small hand bag per person is permitted.

Larger bags, including rucksacks and instrument cases, are not allowed into most venues, so please make alternative arrangements. There are no facilities to leave large bags or luggage, so preferably leave them at your hotel or at home.

A delegates directory will be included in the Showcase Scotland app, available ahead of the event. This will include contact information, from those who have consented to share it.

We are pleased to offer a delegates shuttle between late night events (the Festival Club and Late Night Sessions) and our partner hotels. At other times delegates should make their own travel arrangements, however we would encourage using public transport and in particular the Glasgow Subway where possible. Taxis and Uber are also readily available. More info here.

Please contact us and we can reassign your registration.

As we sit within Celtic Connections, our showcase programme is the festival’s live concert programme. All Scottish artists performing over our five days are automatically included. The Showcase Scotland team does not have influence or input to the festival’s concert programme, and all applications to play during the Showcase Scotland dates should be via Celtic Connections.

The only exception to this is our afternoon receptions, which are coordinated by the respective presenting partner. Should they open a call for applications, we will share this news across our channels.

The Showcase Scotland programme includes artists either from or based in Scotland, as well as those selected through our international partnership that year. Whilst there will be a number of other festival concerts taking place during the five days of Showcase Scotland, delegates will not have access to these events.

Delegate registration is not recommended for self-managed artists. If you are playing during Showcase Scotland, you will be contacted by our team to gather information (including your contact details) for the Showcase Scotland app – giving delegates full access to the best means to reach out to you after your performance. There is also a Trade Fair, where artists can take a stand to reach our delegates.