Glasgow 850th Celebrations.

Glasgow 850 Celebrations Launch 20 January, 2025 with events continuing throughout the year.

View the full programme and remember there are lots of ways to get involved in Glasgow 850 – information on attending events, organising your own event, volunteering and much more.

In 1175 the small settle of Glasgow was granted the status of a burgh by King William 1 of Scotland, marking a change in status whereby the city had the right to trade, hold markets, and, to some extent, the right to govern itself.

Since those medieval days the city has seen a dramatic change. While Glasgow no longer enjoys the thriving trade and shipbuilding, which brought prosperity to the city in 18 – 20 century,  it is today an important cultural hub. a world renowned UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow is home to Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the National Theatre of Scotland. It has a vibrant music scene with modern venues including Royal Concert Hall, the Hydro, S.E.C. Armadillo and older established venues such as the Kings Theatre and the Pavilion and the iconic Barrowland.

It is the location for important cultural events such as Celtic Connections, international celebration of Celtic music, and Aye Write, Scottish Book Festival, the Glasgow Film Festival plus a series of local festivals that run throughout the year.

The city has wonderful galleries and museums including the iconic Kelvingrove, Glasgow University’s Hunterian Museum, the Burrell Collection, the Transport Museum and, soon to be refurbished, People’s Palace and Winter Gardens.