Monday November 9th 2026
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will headline the DJ stage at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party as organisers announce a host of new acts for this year’s celebrations.
The singer will perform alongside her husband, Richard Jones, bassist with The Feeling, as the DJ duo ‘Me & Mrs Jones’ take over the Waverley Stage on December 31.
The pair will play a mix of dancefloor classics, indie favourites and party anthems for the crowds welcoming in 2027.
Ellis-Bextor, whose hits include *Murder on the Dancefloor* and *Get Over You*, previously performed in Edinburgh at the city’s Night Afore Party in 2022.
She said: “I have wonderful memories of New Year’s in Edinburgh back in 2022 when I played with my band, so Richard and I are very excited to return for a very special DJ set at this year’s Street Party.
“’Me & Mrs Jones’ will be bringing the dance floor classics and party tunes to see out 2026 and ring in 2027 in style. I’ll have a little sing, too. Can’t wait!”
The announcement also sees Scottish artists corto.alto and LF SYSTEM added to the Hogmanay in the Gardens line-up, joining headline act Underworld.
Dumfries-born musician corto.alto will perform a one-off club show, combining jazz, electronica, hip-hop and UK club culture, with special guests from Scotland’s jazz scene.
The producer, who has been nominated for both the Mercury Prize and Scottish Album of the Year Award, was recently named one of BBC Radio 6 Music’s Artists of the Year 2026.
He said: “I’m absolutely buzzing to celebrate this year’s Hogmanay beneath Edinburgh Castle. We’re putting together a special one-off corto.alto Club show, with some guests joining us on stage.
“I really can’t believe we’re part of this amazing line-up alongside the legendary Underworld. Going to be mental, buzzing for it!”
West Lothian dance duo LF SYSTEM will open the Hogmanay in the Gardens programme on December 31.
The pair topped the UK charts in 2022 with *Afraid To Feel* and are known for their distinctive sound, which samples disco records from the 1970s and 1980s.
Underworld will headline the Gardens event, with a midnight fireworks display set to accompany the duo’s live soundtrack of their iconic track *Born Slippy*.
There will also be plenty of Scottish talent at the Street Party, with folk group RURA, fiddle band Bella McNab’s Dance Band and genre-blending group ASTRO BLOC joining the Scottish Stage line-up.
Bella McNab’s Dance Band will lead a mass ceilidh on Princes Street, while RURA will bring their contemporary take on traditional Scottish folk music. ASTRO BLOC will perform a mix of influences from Scotland, Ireland and beyond.
Glasgow DJ duo Pretty Ugly will also join Ellis-Bextor and Jones on the Waverley Stage.
Award-winning Scottish comedian Susie McCabe will return to host this year’s celebrations, beginning at Hogmanay in the Gardens before heading to the Waverley Stage to lead the countdown to midnight.
Councillor Margaret Graham, Culture and Communities Convener, said: “Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is always a truly special occasion, bringing people together to celebrate the start of a new year. It’s wonderful to see Scottish talent taking centre stage, and I’m sure they’ll be a fantastic addition to this year’s line-up.
“With everything from the Bairns Ceilidh Club to the Candlelit Concert, there’s a brilliant mix of events for all ages and tastes, making it a celebration for everyone to enjoy.”
The Scottish Welcome will once again bring a taste of traditional Scotland to the Street Party, with massed pipes and drums, drumming groups, street theatre and Highland dancers.
The Night Afore Party on December 30 will also feature Edinburgh band Fright Years, who have been announced as support for The Fratellis. BBC radio presenter and DJ Vic Galloway will host the event and play between acts.
The wider Hogmanay programme includes a number of events taking place across the city in the days surrounding New Year.
These include An Unbiased Hogmanay, featuring football commentator Allaster McKallaster, at McEwan Hall on December 30.
The show follows a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe and will feature an hour of live commentaries and football stories, with McKallaster joined by ‘biased England fan’ Hugh McHugh, played by Vic Galloway.
The annual Candlelit Concert will return to St Giles’ Cathedral on December 31, with the cathedral choir and young soloists performing works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms.
McEwan Hall will also host the Hogmanay Ceilidh Club, featuring live bands and callers to keep guests dancing into the New Year.
Families can enjoy the Bairns Ceilidh Club from 2.30pm on December 31, with ceilidh band The Jimi Shandrix Experience leading the celebrations.
The Torchlight Procession will take place on December 29, marking the start of the city’s New Year celebrations, while First Footin’ will return on January 1 with a programme of free and ticketed music events, outdoor concerts, indoor ceilidhs, comedy and family activities.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is produced by Unique Assembly on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, with support from title partner Halo.
Tickets for the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens are on sale now at edinburghshogmanay.com.
Tickets for Hogmanay in the Gardens, headlined by Underworld, start at £79, including booking fees and a £1 charity donation.
The full programme is available at edinburghshogmanay.com.
Tweet Share on Facebook
