Scotland’s Human Rights Festival 2026
Save the Date: Scotland’s Human Rights Festival | 9 - 13 December 2026
Scotland’s Human Rights Festival 2026 will be the first national, multi-day festival dedicated to celebrating, explaining and strengthening support for human rights across the country. Taking place from Wednesday 9 to Sunday 13 December 2026, the festival will be delivered Scotland-wide, with a mix of in-person and online events.
Led by Human Rights Consortium Scotland and supported by core partners Art 27 and Libereco, the festival will bring together civil society, artists, communities, academics, policymakers and the wider public through a shared national programme.
Festival Purpose
Human rights is often framed as legal language, political argument or something that only applies to other people. Scotland’s Human Rights Festival exists to close that gap.
The festival has a clear purpose: to make human rights more visible, more accessible and more relevant. It will bring human rights out of policy papers and into stages, streets, screens and conversations across Scotland. Some events will inform. Some will challenge. Some will entertain.
How to get involved
We’re inviting festival partners across Scotland to host events that connect human rights to real lives and issues. As the theme of International Human Rights Day 2026 is rights, dignity and justice, partners will engage with these themes in any way they choose. This could include panel discussions, workshops, training sessions, film screenings, theatre, comedy, music, dance, photography, exhibitions, community food events, youth-led activity and online events.
Any group or organisation wishing to promote human rights is welcome to express an interest in delivering an event as part of the festival. You do not need to be a member of Human Rights Consortium Scotland to participate.
Unfortunately we are unable to offer any funding to groups or organisations who are looking to host an event at the festival.
If you would like to be a part of the festival, please complete the following expression of interest form and we will get back to you as soon as we can: Scotland’s Human Rights Festival Expression of Interest Form – Fill out form
PLEASE NOTE: the deadline for completing the expression of interest form is 31st August 2026.
If you have any queries about the festival or are interested in sponsoring the event please get in touch at events@hrcscotland.org.
About the festival core partners
Art 27 Scotland is a registered charity working at the intersection of arts and human rights. They create and produce art that celebrates and raises awareness of cultural rights, connecting communities, cultural sectors and policymakers.
Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights is an independent European NGO dedicated to human rights in Belarus and Ukraine. In Scotland, Libereco works with the Scottish Government and MSPs to support Belarusian political prisoners and those working toward a free and fair Belarus.
Follow the festival on instagram for updates at @scotlandhumanrightsfestival
