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.
![L-r: Kim Betney (10) and Jennifer Douglas (11) took part in a sponsored readathon at James Thin's bookshop in aid of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund charity in October 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjZhMjEzODQyLWEzODQtNDAxOS04MDY2LTYyYTZmOWMwZTc4MzozZTkzZWE3MC0yNWEzLTQ3MTUtYjU0OS00MjgwZDEyNWNlMDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Charity readathon 1986
L-r: Kim Betney (10) and Jennifer Douglas (11) took part in a sponsored readathon at James Thin's bookshop in aid of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund charity in October 1986.Photo: Bill Stout
![A photographer in Mary King's Close, the entrance to which was revelaled by workmen digging up the floor of Edinburgh City Chambers - picture taken in October 1986. The 16th century remains are now a popular tourist attraction.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmIzYjcwZDI3LWQ1MTQtNDQwNS04M2VkLWExOTU4ODVjNDJlZjoxMzZhM2VkYS1lZDU2LTRlOGUtYTgxYS1iZjNjOGIzOWNjNzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. Close encounters
A photographer in Mary King's Close, the entrance to which was revelaled by workmen digging up the floor of Edinburgh City Chambers - picture taken in October 1986. The 16th century remains are now a popular tourist attraction.Photo: Stan Warburton Joe Steele
![ANC member Mrs Suganya Chetty makes a speech at the unveiling of a statue dedicated to South African freedom Fighters in Festival Square Edinburgh. Picture taken July 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjRjYjNhMDA1LTA5ZTQtNDNhOS05YTkwLTlmNDE5MWU2OThkMDo4Y2Q1MTU2Yi1lMGE0LTQ3NjgtYjRjMS03ZTkyZGFiNDZmMzM=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Unveiling Festival Square statue 1986
ANC member Mrs Suganya Chetty makes a speech at the unveiling of a statue dedicated to South African freedom Fighters in Festival Square Edinburgh. Picture taken July 1986.Photo: Jack Crombie
![Edinburgh Lord Provost John Mackay signs a petition to Keep the BBC in Edinburgh at the Greenside Place gap site in January 1986.](https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjUxNmE5OWVjLTRjMDUtNGVjOC04MzY3LTEzNTNhZTgxOTU4Njo5Y2YwNzhmZC0xN2Q0LTQwZTQtYTFmNy1kNDIwZGYyZGI0NDI=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. Channelling anger
Edinburgh Lord Provost John Mackay signs a petition to Keep the BBC in Edinburgh at the Greenside Place gap site in January 1986.Photo: Stan Warburton