About Museum Late: Big Burns Ceilidh

Back by popular demand, our sellout event returns for 2025. Grab your pals for a night of reels and revelry!

We’re welcoming back the fantastic Jacobites Ceilidh Band to get you twirling and birling through Strip the Willow, Dashing White Sergeant and other traditional dances in one of Scotland’s biggest ceilidhs. Dances are all suitable for beginners and our caller will guide you through every dance on the night.

Between dances enjoy drinks, food, activities and explore the museum galleries at night.

It’s big, it’s busy, it’s braw! Dress code: tartan-tastic!

The night will include

Ceilidh in the Grand Gallery from 19:50 – 22:10 plus breaks
Silent Disco
Bagpiping Fae Dafties – demos and talks from musician Cailean Hall-Gardiner
Scottish-themed karaoke
Craft Station – make your own red, red rose corsage
The Great Kilt! - Join experts from Gordon Nicolson Kiltmakers to learn how to pleat and wear the traditional Great Kilt
Highland dance display and lesson from innovative dance company, Flings n Things
Burns-themed activities, from a tartan dress-up station to temporary tattoos
Pay bars serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Museum Kitchen open for food and drink sales from 18:00 – 21:30 (for ticket holders only)
Access to a selection of our galleries at night

Doors open at 6pm for access to our Museum Kitchen for pre-event food and drink sales.

Event pricing information

Ticket prices

Ticket type	Price
National Museums Scotland Members	£20
Adult	£24
Concession (Over 60, Disabled, Unemployed, Young Scot 18-21, Student 18+)	£20

Groups of up to 6 people will receive 10% off when booking standard entry tickets.

Ticketing terms and conditions

National Museums Scotland has a non-refundable and non-transferable ticketing policy.

See our full Ticketing Terms and Conditions.

Accessibility and facilities

We want everyone who comes to our museums to enjoy their time with us and make the most of their visit. 

Museum entrance

There is level access to the museum via the main doors to the Entrance Hall on Chambers Street.

Cloakroom

Two cloakrooms will be available on the night, one in the Entrance Hall and an overflow cloakroom in our Imagine Gallery on Level 1. Queues are likely at the end of the event so please ensure you get your belongings early if you need to leave promptly. Please do not leave coats and bags on object plinths.

Lifts

Lifts are available to all floors of the museum.

Toilets

Toilets are available on most levels of the museum, including accessible toilet facilities. There is a Changing Places (U) toilet in the Entrance Hall on Level 0. 

Borrow a wheelchair

Wheelchairs are available for loan at no charge. On arrival, ask about availability at the Information Desk. Please note wheelchairs cannot be booked in advance.

Small mobility scooters are permitted inside the museum.

Assistance dogs

Guide dogs, hearing dogs and other recognised assistance dogs are admitted. 

Visit our accessibility page for general access information for the National Museum of Scotland.

If you have any questions about accessing this event, please email us in advance at publicevents@nms.ac.uk.

Header image: photo credit Visit Scotland / Kenny Lam