Aberdeen this week
Issue date: Friday 24 July 2026
Covering: Friday 24 July 2026 to Wednesday 29 July 2026
The Pirate Trail finishes on Sunday and Gio's booking deadline arrives on Friday, so a few of this week's useful picks are genuinely time-sensitive. Friday may also be the warmest day, making it worth checking outdoor plans before the cooler weekend arrives.
Top 5 upcoming events
1. Aberdeen City Centre Free Walking Tour
Set off from the Mercat Cross at 11am on Friday, 2pm on Saturday, 11am on Sunday or 10am on Wednesday. The tour is free, with donations welcomed, and booking is available for each departure.
2. Aberdeen v Kelty Hearts — Premier Sports Cup
Pittodrie hosts the cup tie at 3pm on Saturday. General-sale tickets are £17 for adults, £12 for over-65s and under-18s, and £6 for under-12s. Digital tickets carry no additional fee.
3. Iconic Bricks Pirate Trail
There is still time to find all 18 brick-built pirate models before this free, self-guided city-centre trail ends on Sunday. No booking is needed, and the map can be downloaded from the official page.
4. 24 Hour Musical
A cast and creative team have just 24 hours to put together a complete musical before the curtain rises at Aberdeen Arts Centre. The one-off performance is at 7.30pm on Sunday; tickets are £24.79 including the booking fee.
5. Jojo Sutherland at Breakneck Comedy
Jojo Sutherland takes the stage at Breakneck Comedy, 28 King Street, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Friday. The show is for ages 18 and over.
Food & drink
New opening or opening update: Falls by Orry Shand: welcomed its first guests in Banchory on 15 July. The 12–15-serving tasting menu is £150, with dinner sittings from Wednesday to Saturday. Card details are required, and cancellations or reductions within 72 hours incur the full menu price. The restaurant cannot cater for vegan diets or some listed allergies and intolerances, so check the full terms before booking.
Deal 1: Gio's by La Lombarda: two courses for two cost from £22 for lunch or £29 for dinner, with a service fee from £1.89. The voucher runs to 31 July, but online booking closes on Friday 24 July and must be made at least 24 hours ahead. Sundays are excluded.
Deal 2: Café Andaluz Aberdeen: bread and olives, five tapas to share and a dessert each cost £39. Advance online booking is required; the deal includes a 90-minute table and runs until 20 September. Bring a printed voucher.
Family-friendly picks
- Family Fun: Art Cart — Coaster Creations: make a coaster in the Sculpture Court at Aberdeen Art Gallery from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday. It is a free drop-in for families with children aged 5–12, with no booking needed.
- CBeebies House Party Live: Friday's performances at His Majesty's Theatre begin at 11am and 2pm and last about 50 minutes. Tickets are £10–£21, and both shows have a BSL interpreter.
Music, theatre and culture quick list
- Works on Paper: Art and Energy: drawings, prints and photographs explore how artists have responded to energy infrastructure from the 1970s to the present. Admission at Aberdeen Art Gallery is free.
- Ladyboys of Bangkok — Full Moon: at the Tivoli Theatre at 7.30pm on Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are £34, and the show is for ages 16 and over.
- Elevated Dreams: see paintings by mixed-heritage artists exploring fantasy and imagined worlds at Aberdeen Art Gallery. Admission is free, and the display continues until 10 January 2027.
Shopping and offers
- H.Samuel — extra 15% off selected sale lines: the extra reduction applies to selected sale jewellery and watches in stores and online until 3 August. Use SALE15 online. It cannot be combined with another offer unless stated, and stock is limited.
- Schuh — up to 60% off sale: selected footwear and accessories are reduced by up to 60%. Stock and available sizes vary.
Small business spotlight
Maryna's Bread: brings traditional sourdough and focaccia to Curated at Bon Accord on Friday. The Aberdeen micro-bakery will be there from the venue's 10am opening, but this is a Friday-only appearance and availability lasts only while the day's bake does.
Looking ahead
- Aboyne Highland Games 2026: Saturday 1 August, with gates open from 10am to 6pm at Aboyne Green. Admission is £13.50 plus fee for ages 16 and over, £4.50 plus fee for ages 5–15, and free for under-fives.
- Aberdeen Restaurant Weeks 2026: save the dates from Monday 24 August to Sunday 6 September. Participating restaurants, menus, prices and booking details are still to be announced.
Quick weather note
Friday could reach around 25°C before the chance of evening rain increases. The weekend looks cooler, cloudier and breezier, with brighter intervals returning early next week; check the latest Met Office Aberdeen forecast before setting out.
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