Scotland celebrates culture and communities during Black History Month 2026 with events and exhibitions across the country
Scotland is amplifying the voices of its diverse communities this October, promising to champion their talents long after Black History Month comes to a close.
Across the country, events and exhibitions are shining a spotlight on the often overlooked history right on our doorstep. Our nation has a painful past with racial injustice, but the inspiring annual initiative offers a platform to listen, learn and take action as we shape a fairer future for everyone.
From an energetic music festival to powerful photography showcases, here is a list of seven experiences that honour the lasting influence of Black creativity and talent in Scotland.
White Ground, Black Water
When: Until 1st March 2027
Where: Timespan Dunrobin St, Helmsdale KW8 6JA
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White Ground, Black Water uses videos, performances, installations, photography, sculptures and writing to put Scotland’s relationship with the Caribbean under the microscope.
The exhibition, curated by Dr Cat Dunn, asks how we can reshape ideas of identity by exploring legacies of displacement, racial capitalism and historical erasure. Visitors can expect work by artists including Dr Alberta Whittle, Graham Fagen and Matthew Arthur Williams.
Visit the Timespan website | Follow Dr Cat Dunn on Instagram
The Divine Sky
When: 10th October to 9th May 2027
Where: Wardlaw Museum University of St Andrews St Marys Place, St Andrews KY16 9AR
Sekai Machache’s The Divine Sky invites visitors to enjoy immersive storytelling and photography while exploring spirituality, healing and Black Scottish identity. The project investigates the 12 stages of the indigo dyeing process, an ancient and highly skilled craft with deep roots in West African culture.
Visit the Wardlaw Museum website | Follow Sekai Machache on Instagram
Mandela in Glasgow
When: 1st October to 31st October
Where: Glasgow City Chambers 82 George Square, Glasgow G2 1DU
Street Level Photoworks presents a collection of intimate black and white photographs documenting Nelson Mandela’s visits to Glasgow. The first series from 1993 shows Mandela accepting the Freedom of the City, a high civic honour and public tribute he was awarded after his release from prison in the late 1980s.
The second visit, from 2002, records his visit to HMP Barlinnie and his meeting with Abdelbaset al Megrahi, following Megrahi’s conviction for the Lockerbie bombing.
Visitors can expect a mix of close portraits and documentary images capturing public ceremonies private encounters and the powerful political context surrounding both visits. The exhibition offers a thoughtful humanising view of Mandela’s relationships and roles during two very different moments in his life.
Visit Street Level Photoworks website | Follow Street Level Photoworks on Instagram | Follow Street Level Photoworks on Facebook
Traces of Empire
When: 3rd October to 1st November
Where: Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life Heritage Way, Coatbridge ML5 1QD
Traces of Empire is co-curated by four community groups and explores imperial histories through the lived experiences of diverse communities. It presents stories shaped by those directly affected and examines legacies of the empire still felt today. The exhibition covers themes such as cotton, belonging, language, reclaiming past and future narratives, and collective healing. It aims to offer representation, understanding and pathways to move forward together.
Visit Summerlee Museum website | Follow Summerlee Museum on Instagram | Follow Summerlee Museum on Facebook
The Weather Inside II
When: 30th May to 18th October
Where: Mount Stuart Isle of Bute PA20 9LR
Turner Prize winning sculptor Veronica Ryan is presenting her largest solo presentation in Scotland. The Weather Inside II presents new sculptures and recent works exploring life, death and the spaces between. Set within Mount Stuart house the pieces are woven into the neo-Gothic Scottish mansion. The exhibition offers fresh perspectives on lives inside and outside the house.
Visit Mount Stuart Trust website | Follow Mount Stuart on Instagram | Follow Mount Stuart on Facebook
Beyond Audubon: Exploring the colonial world of The Birds of America
When: 3rd October to 24th October
Where: The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow 232 242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RJ
Beyond Audubon investigates the colonial world behind The Birds of America. Visitors are invited to view a first edition volume of John James Audubon’s masterpiece, one of the best known and beautiful books of ornithological art in the world. The exhibition confronts Audubon’s ties to plantation economies, his use of enslaved people and the Indigenous knowledge that informed his work. Visitors can expect a structured roundtable with historic sources prompts and discussion led by researchers.
Visit the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons website | Follow RCPSG on Instagram | Follow RCPSG on Facebook
Scottish Essence African Beat Music Festival
When: Saturday 3rd October
Where: JOM Charity Art and Culture Centre 26A Station Road, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 8AB
A lively music festival will honour connections between Scottish and African communities, while giving young minority musicians a visible platform. Visitors can expect live performances and workshops for all ages, as well as collaborative sets that blend West African rhythms with traditional pipe music.
Visit the JOM Charity website | Follow JOM Charity on Instagram | Follow JOM Charity on Facebook
Looking for other things to do this autumn? Why not book yourself into one of these golf resorts and luxury stays?
H&IS curates: 9 of Scotland’s best golf resorts and luxury stays
