Nightlife nostalgia will be firmly in the spotlight this September, as the Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival offers a backstage pass to many of the city’s legendary venues, nightclubs and dancehalls.
Hosted annually by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, this year’s festival features more than 150 participating venues and hundreds of free events taking place across the city from September 17.
This year’s festival theme, ‘Glasgow Goes Out: The Places That Made Us’, focuses on the places where generations of Glaswegians have come together to socialise and be entertained.
CEO of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, David Cook, said: “Through this year’s theme, we’re inviting people to revisit the venues that provided the soundtrack to their lives, rediscover forgotten gems and uncover the stories behind the spaces that have brought generations of Glaswegians together.
“Whether you’re returning to an old favourite or discovering somewhere completely new, we hope the festival inspires people to reminisce, reconnect and celebrate the places that make Glasgow so unique.”
A headline attraction for this year’s event is King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, where visitors can enjoy behind-the-scenes tours of one of Scotland’s most celebrated live music venues.
Guests will be able to step onto the famous stage, visit the green room and production spaces, and experience the venue from the perspective of the artists who have performed there.
The festival will also enable visitors to go backstage at SWG3; discover Glasgow’s lost nightclub heritage through specialist walking tours and talks; step inside the renowned Timorous Beasties print studio; and enjoy access to dozens of buildings normally closed to the public, including Pollok Stables and the Sawmill Living Heritage Centre.
The festival is made possible through the continued support of Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Heritage Trust, Glasgow City Council and the University of Glasgow, and welcomes the Culture & Business Scotland Fund as a new funder for 2026.
Chair of Glasgow Life, Bailie Annette Christie, said: “The festival is a fantastic opportunity to discover the buildings, places and stories that make our city so special.
“With free events taking place across the city, it offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a lifelong Glaswegian or visiting for the first time, it’s a wonderful chance to explore the city.”
Glasgow City Heritage Trust’s Erin Russo added: “Our work is about helping to repair and promote the city’s historic buildings and places. A building’s fabric is only half the story: its value also lies in the intangible heritage it holds – the memories, culture and communities it has sheltered over time.
“This year’s Doors Open Days programme is a reflection of this. We hope the theme ‘Glasgow Goes Out’ encourages a deeper appreciation of both the spaces that have been lost over time and those that continue to serve the city today.”
This year’s programme also introduces a new mini-festival hub at Edward House in partnership with the Sauchiehall Street Heritage & Culture District, while the Advanced Research Centre at the University of Glasgow once again serves as the festival’s central hub for talks, exhibitions and workshops.
GBPT has McAllister Litho Glasgow Ltd (MLG) as its Official Print Sponsor for 2026, producing 25,000 festival leaflets, posters and walking tour flags to help promote the festival across the city.
The free festival is available to book from 12pm on 5 August via the festival’s brand-new website, where visitors can browse events and find details of all openings, walks, talks, workshops and performances.
