Band performing at King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
Glasgow Life / Cameron James Brisbane
UNESCO Creative Cities
Scotland’s four UNESCO Creative Cities celebrate the ideas, talent and creative energy that give the country its spark.
What is a UNESCO Creative City?
UNESCO Creative Cities recognise places where creativity plays an important role in the cultural, social, and economic life of the city. The global network brings together cities that have left their mark on creative fields as diverse as literature, music, design, crafts and folk art, architecture, and more.
Scotland is home to four Creative Cities, which form part of the wider Scotland UNESCO Trail connecting Scotland’s renowned cultural and natural places.
Edinburgh - UNESCO City of Literature
Stories are written into Edinburgh’s streets. Explore the closes and wynds that inspired writers from Robert Louis Stevenson to JK Rowling, browse independent bookshops, or discover literary landmarks celebrating writers from Sir Walter Scott to Muriel Spark.
Edinburgh became the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature in 2004, recognising a literary heritage that endures through its libraries, festivals, and storytellers.
Things to experience:
Het Writers' Museum, Edinburgh
Scottish Storytelling Centre
Het Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh
De Topping & Company Bookshop, Edinburgh
Portobello Bookshop
Glasgow – UNESCO City of Music
Music is Glasgow’s heart and soul. Hear emerging bands in intimate venues, experience folk and traditional music, take your seat for a world-class orchestral concert, or join thousands of fans at one of the city’s major stages.
Glasgow’s music scene stretches across genres, from classical and Celtic to rock, pop, and electronic music, with venues, record shops, festivals, and live performances found across the city.
Things to experience:
De Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow
Celtic Connections, Glasgow
© Glasgow Life / Gaelle Beri
OVO Hydro at night
Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Dundee – UNESCO City of Design
Dundee is a city that lives and breathes design. Begin at its transformed waterfront, home to the V&A Dundee and its fascinating collections, or delve into one of many other creative stories told through textiles, comics, video games, and even street art.
Once known for jute and shipbuilding, Dundee has transformed into a hub for design and innovation. Its creative heritage includes journalism, iconic comics such as The Beano and Dandy, and globally successful video game franchises, including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto, which both began in the city.
Things to experience:
Het V&A Dundee
Het kunstcentrum Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA), Dundee
Cheddar Gorgeous in een pak van Liquorice Black, 2017
© V&A Dundee, Cheddar Gorgeous
De Open Close Dundee Street Art Trail, Dundee
Verdant Works, Dundee
Perth – UNESCO City of Crafts and Folk Art
Discover a city shaped by making. Perth and the surrounding area have a rich tradition of craft, alongside a thriving community of contemporary makers working and innovating across a range of disciplines and mediums, keeping traditional skills alive.
Explore museums and galleries, meet local makers, browse independent shops, or get hands-on with Scotland’s creative traditions at workshops and events.
Things to experience:
Het Perth Museum, Perth
De Perth Art Gallery, Perth
© Sally Jubb Photography
De River Tay Public Art Trail, Perth
The Trojan Unicorn at Perth Museum