Edinburgh is full…Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh Arts Festival…the list goes on! Come to Edinburgh and go wild, then disappear off to the outer reaches of Scotland in a campervan and relax or enjoy one of a multitude of other festivals and sporting events taking place around Scotland this month.

Cultural Events in Scotland in August 2026
Edinburgh Festivals
Edinburgh International Festival, the original festival celebrates the best of opera, theatre, dance and classical music and attracts thousands from around the globe. This year it will take place from the 7th to 30th August. Alongside the Edinburgh International Festival is the Edinburgh Fringe. It returns in 2026 between 7th and the 31st August. A rich and diverse selection of theatre, music, dance and comedy as well as a full programme for children and late night selections for those hardy enough to keep going. This year Edinburgh Art Festival runs events celebrating the visual arts throughout the city from 14th to the 30th August. The majority of the events are free.

Each August, the Edinburgh International Film Festival invites cinema lovers from around the world to experience the very best in film culture and storytelling. The 79th edition runs from 13th to 19th August 2026, showcasing new talent, bold storytelling and international cinema across a packed programme of screenings, premieres, discussions and industry events that appeal to both passionate film fans and industry professionals.
The Edinburgh International Book Festival turns the city into a global literary hub every August, bringing together leading authors, thinkers and readers to share ideas, stories and conversations. In 2026, the festival runs from 15th to 30th August 2026. It will feature discussions, readings, workshops and debates designed to spark curiosity, celebrate the written word and connect audiences with both established voices and exciting new talent from around the world.
The world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together music, skill and pageantry to celebrate military tradition against the backdrop of the iconic Edinburgh Castle each August. Running from 7th to 29th August 2026, this spectacular performance blends the stirring sounds of massed pipes and drums with dazzling choreography, dance and dazzling lighting against the dramatic backdrop of the castle. From crowd-pleasing displays of military bands to breathtaking precision drill and nightly fireworks, the Tattoo is a must-see highlight of the Edinburgh festival season that draws audiences from across the globe. A tradition that stretches back to 1950, the Tattoo has grown into one of Scotland’s most famous and beloved cultural events and now showcases performers from around the world.

Islay Book Festival
Community-led Islay Book Festival will take place from 27th – 30th August against the stunning backdrop of this island, famous for its whisky. This volunteer-run festival originally started as a book club! Events and participating authors tend to be announced on Facebook first so follow the Islay Book Festival Facebook page to keep abreast of the latest event details.

The Cowal Highland Gathering is the world’s largest Highland Games. It takes place in Dunoon, Argyll from 27th-29th August and attracts world class competitors from across the globe for dancing, piping, heavy events, athletics and shinty. Thousands flock to the Highlands each year for this spectacular event.

Piping Championships
Glasgow Green plays host to the World Championships for pipe bands in 2026 – awaiting confirmation of dates.

Big Sky Campers Campervans for Hire
Scotland
There’s no shortage of things to do in Scotland in August. Stay in the city for the festivals and then hire one of our all inclusive vans for some rest and relaxation in the Highlands or Islands. All our campervans for hire near Edinburgh come fully equipped with everything you will need for campervanning in Scotland. Everything is included in the price with the exception of a portaloo that you can add to your booking at a small additional charge. We have three different VW automatic campervans for hire – Highlines T6.1s, brand new T7’s with solar or our top of the range deluxe off-grid VW Crafters.
Reviews

Highlight of our trip for sure!!
We spent a week traveling around Scotland, and the camper was easy to set up at our overnight stops. Its size was ideal for navigating some of the tighter roads, and driving it was a breeze—especially since we opted for the automatic transmission. One tip: remember to bring a USBC cable for the CarPlay satnav! We forgot ours, but George kindly loaned us one.
Dropping off the camper was just as easy as picking it up, and the location of Big Sky Campers is very accessible. The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly throughout our rental experience. We’re already looking forward to hiring from Big Sky Campers again in the future!
The stay was fantastic! The van was ideal for this road trip in Scotland, it is super well equipped, you don't have to plan anything. Big Sky Camper remains available quickly if you have the slightest problem with the van.
We recommend with your eyes closed!
A super first impression.
The communications leading up to the hire day were very good and detailed.
On the day we picked up the van we got a full demo of how the van operated etc I’m aware of other companies who just send you a video. We thought this was very important. The van was immaculate when we picked it up.
The van itself had everything you needed for a trip. Cooking facilities, fridge, charging points, bedding, towels.
The van is easy to drive and can be parked in a standard parking space.
We asked a few questions prior to picking the van and always got a prompt response. I got the impression that Rob would try and do whatever he could to ensure his clients had everything they needed to have the best time on their travels,
This was also quite key for us they love dogs and had vans for hire catering for dogs.
All in we had a superb 5 nights and would highly recommend Big Sky Campers,
Paul, Susan and Frankie.
From time to time I encounter exceptional companies. And this is one of them. This is how you do the business. Rob goes beyond and tries to provide great holiday experience for his customers. We didn't need to be afraid of being ripped off or charged extra because of made up damages, strange insurance, extra equipment etc. Which is a common case in rental companies. Instead there is very human approach. The desire is provide a great experience for the customer. Money is not the strongest and the only motivation here. And that we really appreciate.
We wish all the best in the upcoming years! Keep it up :)
Thanks to Rob & Alex for being so helpful during the whole process! Highly recommend :)
Absolutely would rent there again! Warm recommendation for everyone who is looking for van for the holidays.
Great value(almost half price compared to big renting companies!), and they won't scam you out of your deposit!
Despite my first time driving a van, it was super easy. Thank you again to George, who sent us from and to the station, saving us precious time and money. Definitely recommend Big Sky Campers!
The cars are in very good condition.
Thoroughly enjoyed our time away. Thank you.
Quality vans, very good advice for the trip. Quick and efficient exchanges even during the rental and transfers from Inverkeithing or ferrytoll to go to the airport.
Thanks Rob and Alex!!
Everyone at Big Sky Campers was really, really helpful, friendly and professional with excellent customer service and as a plus, their website gives you some great tips for places to visit and how to make the most of your holiday.
Highly recommended, I am already looking to book my next break with Big Sky Campers and if you are looking to book a campervan break, you will not be disappointed!
They picked us up from the train station to the warehouse and vice versa when we returned the van.
Speaking of the van, it was delivered in excellent quality, with everything we needed, as promised.
It made our journey in the Higlands so pleasant.
Thank you so much for your excellent service. I definitely recommend Big Sky Campers for van rental.
Peterhead- Kinloss - Rothiemurchus,Braemar
Thank you
She was absolutely amazing and handled a few of the dodgy roads with absolute ease.
The van was in amazing condition, was comfortable and really was just great fun!
The team also were so helpful and nice to us when we picked the van, a pleasure to deal with.
An all round excellent experience!
Pick-up, hand-over and return of the hire was well arranged and super professional. Thanks to Rob and the team, we always felt in good hands!
Best, Martin and familiy
I can only recommend booking Wallace or one of the other camper vans with Big Sky Campers to explore Scotland! I especially liked the personal and individual style of the cars and service compared to the other car rentals!
Rob is very helpful and you notice right away that he loves what he is doing :)
Can only recommend - 5 stars :)
Car was perfect and we enjoyed it. VW T2 gave us retro celebrity feeling 😀
I can’t thank Big Sky Campers enough for making the whole experience so wonderful. They did a fantastic job in helping us plan our route and we got to see so many incredible sights as a result.
Alex and Rob were extremely accommodating, they answered any questions we had and gave us a thorough tour of the van before setting off. They were also super reassuring as I hadn’t driven a vintage van before and this extra level of care made the journey that much more rewarding ????
Thank you both for such an incredible experience, I will be recommending you to all of my family & friends!!
Right from the start we could not fault the service in any way, from the initial communications sent, the subsequent follow up's, through to the pick up (having never driven a campervan - Rob explained / demonstrated very thoroughly how everything worked), and finally the hand back....there was not a single hitch along the way.
Magnus was brand new and a dream to drive - totally immaculate throughout and very comfortable to sleep in.
Rob and Alex could not have been more helpful and just generally absolutely lovely people - and I really appreciated that they have a secure facility to keep your own car in while you are away.
I wouldn't think twice about recommending Big Sky Campers to anyone thinking about a roadtrip, we'll definitely be back and already planning our next trip away.
Follow us on Facebook
Awards




