Hotels near the Merchant City Festival

The Merchant City Festival fills the spectacular Victorian architecture of Glasgow with theatre, visual arts, comedy, film, dance and fashion. Founded in 2001, the festival's second decade finds it filling some 75 venues with over 300 events.

Distinct from the rest of Glasgow City Centre, the Merchant City contains some of the city's most famous and splendid buildings such as the unique Tolbooth Steeple. Originally home to many of the early "tobacco lords" and their fine mansions, the area fell into decline in the 1960s only to be reinvigorated in more recent times.

Audiences throng the Festival's seven markets, as well as street theatre (in 2012 including an 8-metre high man) and myriad events.  Help celebrate 30 years of Womad or spend an afternoon playing games in Parnie Street.