It was an eventful year in the city as the Commonwealth Games returned to the city, financial companies readied themselves for the ‘Big Bang’, and Heart of Midlothian came within a whisker of lifting the Scottish league title, only to blow it on the final day of the season.
Also in 1986, the city’s iconic pooch, Greyfriars Bobby, was put back on his pedestal following a restoration of his statue.
Scroll through our picture gallery for a nostalgic trip back to 1986 – and let us know your own memories in the comments section before you go.
Scroll through our picture gallery for a nostalgic trip back to 1986 – and let us know your own memories in the comments section before you go.
![Tents and marquees were set up in the Castle terrace gap site for Fringe performances during Edinburgh festival 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjg2MTFjYzk0LTVlYjItNDc3NC1iYTVmLTFiM2JhOTk3NmI2ODo1N2QzMDIxOC05NmZhLTQ4OTgtYWIzMC0wNjNiNTQ4NWFhMmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
5. Gap in the marquee
Tents and marquees were set up in the Castle terrace gap site for Fringe performances during Edinburgh festival 1986.Photo: Joe Steele
![American artist Vera Simons created an inflatable sculpture for the National Gallery of Scotland during Edinburgh Festival 1986](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmUzODlmZmYwLWYyODUtNDMzZC05ZjZhLTc2YWI3YjgyMDdlNToyM2NlZmZmZC00YTI1LTRhODQtYmZkOC00ZTgzZTIwM2U4ZTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
6. Thatcher era inflation
American artist Vera Simons created an inflatable sculpture for the National Gallery of Scotland during Edinburgh Festival 1986Photo: Stan Warburton
![With accommodation at a premium during the Edinburgh Festival, a dozen or more Fringe performers shared one bedroom in August 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjM3Mzc2MDVhLWY5OTUtNDQ0Mi05YjBhLTU5YmQ2YWE2MTM5MzphNWZmMjkzMC1lZDMyLTRiMjQtOWE3ZC1iZGUzYmVkYzE2NDE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
7. Close quarters
With accommodation at a premium during the Edinburgh Festival, a dozen or more Fringe performers shared one bedroom in August 1986.Photo: Denis Straughan
![Womwn in the cosmetics department of Frasers department store at the West End of Princes Street Edinburgh, January 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjc0MWZmMjIxLWE1NzYtNDBlZi04MDIzLTRhYzg3MWVhYTAzYzo2NWE1ZTc2ZS02NzQ5LTRhMTQtOTRmOS05ZWY0NjBhY2I4NzE=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
8. 'It's Edinburgh's biggest cosmetics department'
Womwn in the cosmetics department of Frasers department store at the West End of Princes Street Edinburgh, January 1986.Photo: Stan Warburton