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February 3, 2026Edinburgh’s new tourist tax, the Visitor Levy, set to be implemented in July, could potentially fund the revival of significant cultural events in the city, including the Festival Cavalcade and the Fireworks Concert. These iconic events, which have long been a staple of Edinburgh’s Festival celebrations, may return thanks to the funds generated by the levy.One of the key purposes of the Visitor Levy is to support the city’s cultural and community events. A proposal for the funding includes a list of potential projects, to be presented at next week’s meeting of the council’s culture and communities committee. The committee will review these proposals before the full council makes a final decision later this month.A central element of the proposal is the establishment of an Events Investment Fund, aimed at reintroducing popular public festivals and events. The fund could be used to reinstate the Festival Cavalcade, a grand parade featuring bands, floats, and Fringe performers, traditionally held during the opening weekend of the Festival. The report accompanying the proposal suggests replacing the closing Fireworks display with an environmentally friendly alternative, such as a drone or light show. This shift aligns with growing concerns over the environmental impact of large-scale fireworks displays. While the concept of a drone show has been discussed as an alternati …
