25th anniversary
The Scottish Parliament was reconvened in May 1999. The Scottish Parliament building was officially opened in 2004.
During 2024, we reflected on these two anniversaries.
Regional visits
What does the Scottish Parliament mean to you? This is the question we're asking people to better understand how we can engage with communities across Scotland.
Starting in 2024, we are visiting all 8 parliamentary regions, and hosting events with local organisations. During these sessions, we're reflecting on what the Parliament has achieved over the last 25 years, and what we can do to improve for the future.
The learning from the programme will be used to inform how the Parliament involves people. We'll do this by:
- reviewing the issues raised and the outcomes from the programme with participants
- producing a Community Engagement Strategy
- reviewing the Public Engagement Strategy
- displaying the graphic notes produced at each of the events in the Parliament
Details of each visit will be added to this page as they are completed. Tap on the arrow for more information.
South Scotland
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The following reports have been produced from this visit:
Burnfoot Community Futures (3MB, pdf) posted 31 October 2024
Borders Community Action (2MB, pdf) posted 31 October 2024
The Presiding Officer visits Galashiels
As part of our activities to mark the Parliament’s 25th anniversary, we visited the South of Scotland region to meet with local people to chat about what the Parliament means to them.
Highlands and Islands
The following reports have been produced from this visit:
Shetland Community Bike Project (5MB, pdf) posted 19 December 2024
Voluntary Action Shetland (5MB, pdf) posted 19 December 2024
The Presiding Officer visits Lerwick
The second of these regional visits took place in August 2024, in Shetland.
Glasgow
The following reports have been produced from this visit:
Glasgow Council for the Voluntary Sector (5MB, pdf) posted 04 February 2025
Willowacre Trust (5MB, pdf) posted 04 February 2025
The Presiding Officer visits Glasgow
The third of these regional visits took place in September 2024, in the Glasgow region.
North East
The following reports have been produced from this visit:
Grampian Regional Equality Council (2MB, pdf) posted 04 February 2025
Stella's Voice (2MB, pdf) posted 04 February 2025
The Presiding Officer visits Aberdeen
In November 2024, the PO made her fourth regional visit, this time to Aberdeen.
Highlights from 1999
Watch highlights from our first Opening Ceremony, which took place on 1 July 1999.
Helping Mesh Survivors
What difference does the Scottish Parliament make? We're looking back at some of the ways we've made a positive difference to the lives of people across Scotland. In this video, find out how our petitions system helped women affected by medical mesh.
Protecting Languages
What difference does the Scottish Parliament make? We're looking back at some of the ways we've made a positive difference to the lives of people across Scotland. In this video, find out how passing legislation helped to protect and promote Gaelic and British Sign Language.
Meet the silversmith who made our mace
Michael Lloyd designed and created the Scottish Parliament's mace 25 years ago, in time for our first Opening Ceremony. We caught up with him to chat about his inspiration, and to reflect on the work.
25th anniversary event
Watch the recording of the event that took place on 28 September, to mark our 25th anniversary.
Panel discussion: 20 years of Holyrood
Hear more about the inspiration, the drama and the behind-the-scenes stories of a Parliament, the main masterpiece of Enric Miralles and his Barcelona studio, that is intended to be viewed as ‘growing out of the land’. From the Festival of Politics.
Panel discussion: The Scottish Parliament at 25
The Scottish Parliament has passed world-leading legislation and imbued a self-confidence in its electorate since 1999. So, what are its strengths and achievements and where can it do better? Watch this panel discussion, which took place as part of the Festival of Politics.
Panel discussion: where are the young women?
Women represent 52% of the Scottish population but only 46% of MSPs. Join the panel from the Festival of Politics to discuss what needs to be done in the next 25 years to break down barriers to political participation and increase representation.
In Conversation with Benedetta Tagliabue
Join the Presiding Officer in conversation with Benedetta Tagliabue, architect, partner and widow of the visionary creative Enric Miralles, who along with their own EMBT and fellow Scottish architectural company, RMJM, designed the Scottish Parliament building.
