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.
9. 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
10. '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
11. Roman in the gloamin
Edinburgh University students studying Classics dressed as Roman soldiers set off from the National Gallery for a route march along Hadrian's Wall to raise money for leukaemia research in June 1986. Photo: Alan Macdonald
12. Weir on the march
Hibs' Mickey Weir in action during the Hibs v Hearts Edinburgh derby football match at Easter Road in August 1986. Final score 0-2 win for Hearts. Photo: Stan Warburton Alan Ledgerwood