Senior Events Lead – Glasgow 2026 Festival

Creative Scotland; Scotland; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cultural organization in Scotland seeks a Senior Events Lead for the Glasgow 2026 Festival. The role involves managing large-scale events, leading a festival team, and ensuring effective stakeholder engagement. Ideal candidates will have a degree in event management and proven success with high-profile events. This position offers a competitive salary and the chance to contribute significantly to Glasgow's cultural and sporting legacy.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of delivering large-scale, high-profile events.
• Experience controlling budgets of £1M+.
• Ability to lead teams.

Responsibilities

• Scope, build, and lead a festival delivery team.
• Coordinate with internal colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Ensure governance and budget management are robustly managed.

Skills

Event management

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Degree or equivalent experience in major events or festival management

Job description

Senior Events Lead – Glasgow 2026 Festival

Glasgow Life

Deadline: 17 August 2025 at 23:59

Lead Glasgow 2026 Festival for Glasgow Life. Working with Glasgow 2026 Ltd, deliver a citywide programme celebrating culture, sport and community which inspires, engages and creates lasting legacy.

£53,024.70 - £61,456.46
35 hours per week
Location: Commonwealth House, 38 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1LH
Ref: GLA13992

Glasgow Life is a charity dedicated to inspiring and supporting citizens and visitors through access to culture, sport and learning. Glasgow Life are looking for a Senior Events Manager - Glasgow 2026 Festival to join on a 35hour full time, fixed term contract for a period up to 30th September 2026.

You will be joining Glasgow Life’s in-demand Events team as part of a dedicated team supporting the delivery of Glasgow’s commitments to hosting the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

As Senior Events Manager – Glasgow 2026 Festival, this role represents a unique opportunity for an exceptional candidate with a range of multi-disciplinary skills in festival programming and curation; event management and delivery; and place-based participatory programming to make a key contribution to maximising the opportunity presented by Glasgow’s hosting of the Games to deliver on the objectives of the city’s Culture, Events, and Physical Activity and Sport strategies.

Working collaboratively with Glasgow 2026 Ltd, the successful candidate will scope, build and lead a festival delivery team, coordinate with internal colleagues and external stakeholders, and ensure governance, budget management and knowledge transfer are robustly managed.

Essential criteria include a degree or equivalent experience in major events or festival management, a proven track record of delivering large-scale, high-profile events with multiple partners, and experience controlling budgets of £1M+. You will demonstrate excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, the ability to lead teams, and strong strategic planning and reporting abilities.

Join us to play a key role in positioning Glasgow as a world-leading cultural, sporting and events destination. Help us deliver a festival that inspires communities, celebrates creativity and leaves a lasting legacy for the city.

The deadline is Sunday 17 August 2025 at 23:59.