A major highlight of the partnership will be the world premiere of The Golden Road at Celtic Connections 2026, a unique collaboration inspired by William Dalrymple’s award-winning book. Following its debut in Glasgow, The Golden Road will evolve and return in an expanded form for a landmark performance at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August 2026. The journey from Celtic Connections to the Book Festival will see the project grow and develop, offering audiences a fresh and ambitious reimagining of the work at each stage.
Dalrymple will appear at the Citizens Theatre on January 31 alongside India Alba, a collective of Indian and Scottish musicians whose fusion of Indian classical and Scottish traditional backgrounds has created a unique exploration of world culture. Their debut album Reels and Ragas (2009) and follow‑up High Beyond (recorded in the Himalayas) revealed striking resonances between raga gats and Highland melodies, with the drone sounds of bagpipes and tampura forming a shared musical language.
For Celtic Connections 2026, India Alba will be joined by renowned cellist Su‑a Lee, guitarists Ali Hutton and Graeme Stephen, and further guests to be announced.
READ MORE:
New sponsor Ian Rankin helps Edinburgh International Book Festival bounce back
Celtic Connections festival to expand to new-look Citizens Theatre
My 10 early concert picks from the 2026 Celtic Connections line-up
Alongside the headline commission, audiences can enjoy Rhymes and Reels on January 27 at the Mackintosh Church in Glasgow. The special performance will revive two EIBF-commissioned works and premiere a new Celtic Connections collaboration.
Harpist Esther Swift will present her musical settings of Jackie Kay’s poetry, with Kay herself reading from The Heartstrings of Poetry, commissioned by EIBF and first premiered at the 2025 festival. Award‑winning poet and novelist Angus Peter Campbell will appear with his daughter Brìghde Chaimbeul, blending readings in English and Gaelic with accompaniment from small pipes, while former National Poet of Scotland Liz Lochhead collaborates with renowned Highland fiddler Duncan Chisholm in a brand‑new Celtic Connections commission.
Jenny Niven, Director of Edinburgh International Book Festival, said: “We’re delighted to embark on this multi‑year partnership with Celtic Connections, uniting two of Scotland’s most dynamic festivals in a celebration of creativity and collaboration. This new era for the Book Festival is about opening doors—bringing together writers, musicians, and audiences in ways that spark new ideas and reach further into our communities. Our recent Thistle Award win is a testament to the power of innovation and partnership, and we look forward to building on that momentum as we explore the rich intersections of Scottish literature and music together.”
Donald Shaw, Creative Producer for Celtic Connections, added: “Celtic Connections has always been about forging new paths and bringing artists together across genres and traditions. We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with the Edinburgh International Book Festival, allowing us to celebrate the stories, sounds, and voices that make Scotland’s cultural scene so vibrant. By working together, we’re creating space for ambitious new work and for audiences to experience the magic that happens when music and words meet on equal terms.”