This week in Parliament
Summer recess begins
The Scottish Parliament is in recess from 27 June to 30 August. No parliamentary business will take place, but the building remains open to visitors six days a week, and we’ll be running guided tours and kids’ arts & crafts sessions on most days.
Opening Ceremony highlights
Last Saturday, we held an Opening Ceremony to formally mark the start of the Parliament’s Seventh Session.
The event included several performances celebrating Scotland’s rich culture and heritage. This included a specially commissioned poem for the day delivered by Scotland’s national poet, Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh.
Their Majesties The King and Queen also met with “local heroes” who were chosen to represent constituencies and regions across the country. These local heroes were nominated to attend as a special guest of their MSP for making an extraordinary contribution to their community.
- Watch the event in full
- Watch a 5-minute highlights package
- Listen to interviews with local heroes
- Listen to an interview with Makar Pàdraig MacAoidh
Festival of Politics 2026
Tickets continue to sell for our flagship event for public debate and discussion: the Festival of Politics, taking place on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August.
Join us at Holyrood for more than 20 thought-provoking panels with expert speakers and inspiring voices, unpacking the issues that matter most.
Download programme (PDF)