Music takes the stage this summer with free outdoor gigs and £10 tickets in Glasgow over the Commonwealth Games
Looking for an affordable activity this summer? Merchant City Festival is set to bring a packed programme of free live music and £10 tickets for gigs to Glasgow city centre from 24 July to 2 August.
This year’s festival has expanded thanks to support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival, with performances taking place across The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs Square and Clydeside Commons at The Briggait.
The programme includes everything from Gaelic singers, folk musicians and jazz acts to indie bands, emerging Scottish artists and late-night club events. Alongside a series of £10 headline shows at The Old Fruitmarket, visitors can also enjoy free live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout both festival weekends.
Here’s what music fans can expect:
£10 Gigs at The Old Fruitmarket
The historic Old Fruitmarket hosts four special evening events celebrating the breadth of Scotland’s contemporary music scene.
Coorie Doon – Festival Opening Party
A community focused dancefloor experience inspired by legendary house parties, bringing together uplifting sounds from across the musical spectrum on a hand-built soundsystem.
When: Friday 24 July, 7pm – 11.30pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code COORIE
Hen Hoose and Friends
A landmark evening celebrating Scottish women and non-binary artists, featuring performances from Carol Laula, Riley and Radhika, before a special collaborative headline set from the Hen Hoose Collective and guests.
When: Sunday 26 July, 7pm – 10.30pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code MCFHOOSE
SAMA presents VLURE, Chiedu Oraka, Dirty Faces and Jenn Gunn
The Scottish Alternative Music Awards return to the heart of Glasgow with a showcase of exciting emerging talent led by award-winning live act VLURE.
When: Friday 31 July, 7pm – 11pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code SOUND
Glasgow Techno Alliance
A celebration of Glasgow’s globally renowned electronic music scene, headlined by techno pioneers Slam alongside specially curated back-to-back sets from leading local selectors.
When: Saturday 1 August, 6.30pm – 1am
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code SOMA30
Free live music at Candleriggs Square
Free live music will take over Candleriggs Square every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival, with each day celebrating a different part of Scotland’s music scene.
The first weekend opens with a multi-genre showcase featuring Laura Oghagbon, Calum Ingram & Johnny Barr and De Quorum Sax 4tet, before Sound of the Gaels brings performances from Kathleen MacInnes, Josie Duncan and Sian. The weekend concludes with Jazz Day, featuring Rachel Duns 5tet, Viper Swing and Solea.
The second weekend shines a spotlight on independent and emerging artists with the Indie Music Showcase and PITCH Scotland Takeover, before closing with A Celebration of Trad Music, featuring Mairi McGillivray, Evie Waddell and Kaitlin Ross.
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 24 July – 2 August, 12pm–8pm
Where: Candleriggs Square
Price: Free
Glasgow’s DJ Collectives at Clydeside Commons
For the first time, The Briggait becomes a key festival hub, with Clydeside Commons hosting free DJ takeovers alongside street food and a relaxed indoor social space.
Highlights include Parveens Kitchen celebrating Pakistani heritage and local talent, Subcity Radio showcasing its community of broadcasters, emerging artists from Music Space, genre-spanning sets from Junglehussi, and takeovers from Radio Buena Vida and Clyde Built Radio
When: 24–26 July and 31 July–2 August
Where: Clydeside Commons, The Briggait
Price: Free
For more information and to book events here.
See the full Glasgow 2026 Festival programme at glasgow2026festival.com
Looking for an affordable activity this summer? Merchant City Festival is set to bring a packed programme of free live music and £10 tickets for gigs to Glasgow city centre from 24 July to 2 August.
This year’s festival has expanded thanks to support from the Glasgow 2026 Festival, with performances taking place across The Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs Square and Clydeside Commons at The Briggait.
The programme includes everything from Gaelic singers, folk musicians and jazz acts to indie bands, emerging Scottish artists and late-night club events. Alongside a series of £10 headline shows at The Old Fruitmarket, visitors can also enjoy free live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout both festival weekends.
Here’s what music fans can expect:
£10 Gigs at The Old Fruitmarket
The historic Old Fruitmarket hosts four special evening events celebrating the breadth of Scotland’s contemporary music scene.
Coorie Doon – Festival Opening Party
A community focused dancefloor experience inspired by legendary house parties, bringing together uplifting sounds from across the musical spectrum on a hand-built soundsystem.
When: Friday 24 July, 7pm – 11.30pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code COORIE
Hen Hoose and Friends
A landmark evening celebrating Scottish women and non-binary artists, featuring performances from Carol Laula, Riley and Radhika, before a special collaborative headline set from the Hen Hoose Collective and guests.
When: Sunday 26 July, 7pm – 10.30pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code MCFHOOSE
SAMA presents VLURE, Chiedu Oraka, Dirty Faces and Jenn Gunn
The Scottish Alternative Music Awards return to the heart of Glasgow with a showcase of exciting emerging talent led by award-winning live act VLURE.
When: Friday 31 July, 7pm – 11pm
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code SOUND
Glasgow Techno Alliance
A celebration of Glasgow’s globally renowned electronic music scene, headlined by techno pioneers Slam alongside specially curated back-to-back sets from leading local selectors.
When: Saturday 1 August, 6.30pm – 1am
Where: Old Fruitmarket
Price: £10 with code SOMA30
Free live music at Candleriggs Square
Free live music will take over Candleriggs Square every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival, with each day celebrating a different part of Scotland’s music scene.
The first weekend opens with a multi-genre showcase featuring Laura Oghagbon, Calum Ingram & Johnny Barr and De Quorum Sax 4tet, before Sound of the Gaels brings performances from Kathleen MacInnes, Josie Duncan and Sian. The weekend concludes with Jazz Day, featuring Rachel Duns 5tet, Viper Swing and Solea.
The second weekend shines a spotlight on independent and emerging artists with the Indie Music Showcase and PITCH Scotland Takeover, before closing with A Celebration of Trad Music, featuring Mairi McGillivray, Evie Waddell and Kaitlin Ross.
When: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 24 July – 2 August, 12pm–8pm
Where: Candleriggs Square
Price: Free
Glasgow’s DJ Collectives at Clydeside Commons
For the first time, The Briggait becomes a key festival hub, with Clydeside Commons hosting free DJ takeovers alongside street food and a relaxed indoor social space.
Highlights include Parveens Kitchen celebrating Pakistani heritage and local talent, Subcity Radio showcasing its community of broadcasters, emerging artists from Music Space, genre-spanning sets from Junglehussi, and takeovers from Radio Buena Vida and Clyde Built Radio
When: 24–26 July and 31 July–2 August
Where: Clydeside Commons, The Briggait
Price: Free
For more information and to book events here.
See the full Glasgow 2026 Festival programme at glasgow2026festival.com