“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.