Music lovers and reminiscing revellers will be given a rare backstage pass to venues including King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, where Oasis was famously discovered, alongside SWG3, the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall and a range of night-time tours celebrating the places, people and experiences that have shaped Glasgow's social life after dark.

Hosted annually by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT), the festival's new online programme will launch at 12pm on August 5 and feature 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', celebrates the venues, dancehalls, cinemas, theatres, pubs and community spaces where generations of Glaswegians have come together.

David Cook, CEO of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, 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.”

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 is pleased to welcome the Culture & Business Scotland Fund as a new funder for 2026.

A headline attraction for this year’s event is King Tut's Wah Wah Hut, where visitors can enjoy exclusive 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.

Elsewhere, visitors can 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 exclusive access to dozens of buildings normally closed to the public, including Pollok Stables and the Sawmill Living Heritage Centre.

Bailie Annette Christie, Chair of Glasgow Life and Convenor for Culture, Sport and International Relations for Glasgow City Council, 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.”

Erin Russo, Grants Manager at Glasgow City Heritage Trust, added: “At Glasgow City Heritage Trust, 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, alongside family-friendly activities as part of Explorathon.

GBPT is also delighted to announce McAllister Litho Glasgow Ltd (MLG) as its Official Print Sponsor for 2026. Through its generous in-kind support, MLG has produced the 25,000 festival leaflets, posters and new walking tour flags, that will help to promote the festival across the city.

The organisation has also launched its first-ever Crowdfunder campaign, inviting supporters to help secure the festival’s future and ensure it continues to thrive for generations to come.

To donate to the GDODF 2026 Crowdfunder, please visit: gdodf-2026-crowdfunder.

The free festival will be available to book from 12pm on August 5 via the festival's brand-new website, where visitors can browse events and find details of all openings, walks, talks, workshops and performances.

Details of all festival building openings, walks, tours, workshops, performances and events can be found at www.glasgowdoorsopendays.org.uk.