07/27/2026
🍁🏴 Come Ceilidh with Us at the 2026 Festival of the Tartans! 🏴🍁
The skirl of the pipes. The swirl of the kilts. The lively song box of the fiddle. The thrill of Highland athletics. The warmth of community. The joy of family fun.
Whether your roots are Scottish or you simply enjoy great music, culture, history, and hospitality, everyone is welcome to experience the 2026 Festival of the Tartans, August 13–16 in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
Federation for Scottish Culture in Nova Scotia St. Andrews Society of Pictou County Town of New Glasgow Antigonish Highland Games Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Association Ship Hector Passenger Descendants Antigonish Highland Society Pictou County Highland Dance Association
Join us as we celebrate Scottish heritage with:
✨ Impressive Highland dancers
🎶 Stirring pipe bands and champion solo pipers
💪 Awe-inspiring Scottish Heavy Weight competitors
🎻 Outstanding Celtic musicians and vocalists
📖 Expert historians, language and heritage workshops
👑 Festival of the Tartans Skye Queen contestants—past and present
🏴 A colourful tapestry of tartans
🗣️ The beauty of the Gaelic language
🛍️ Quality vendors, clan tents, delicious food, children’s activities and so much more!
As the famous Tartan Army at the FIFA World Cup has shown the world, Scots—and Scots at heart—know how to have fun! Come be part of a weekend filled with music, laughter, tradition, and unforgettable memories.
📅Here are our Festival Highlights
🫖 Thursday, August 13
Tartan Tea (2:00–4:00 p.m.) – Free Admission
📍 Pictou County History Museum
Enjoy tea, sweets, beautiful gardens, and special guests including 2024 Grade 1 World Champion Piper Brady Webb and Mayor Nancy Dicks.
🎉 Friday, August 14
Opening Ceremonies, Procession of Tartans & Skye Queen Crowning (6:00–9:00 p.m.) – Free Admission (Donations Welcome)
📍 Scott W. Weeks Sports Complex (Rain Venue: North Nova Education Centre)
Featuring the Procession of Tartans, Clan Thompson Pipes and Drums, Parker School of Dance Highland dancers, live music, the presentation of the Festival Award of Distinction to Madeline Evans Langlois, and the Crowning of the 2026 Festival of the Tartans Skye Queen. (8:00pm)
🏴 Saturday, August 15
Highland Games Day (8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m.)
📍 Scott W. Weeks Sports Complex
Admission: $10 | Children 12 & Under Free
Enjoy:
• Highland Dance Competition
Primary, Beginner and Novice Begin at 8:30am ( pas de basques, Fling, Sword, Sean Tribubhas, Flora MacDonald’s Fancy)
Intermediate ( Fling, Sean Truibhas, Highland Laddie and Wilt Thou Go to Barracks Johnny) and Premier Begin at 12:30pm (Premier dances are Village Maid, Scottish Lilt, Blue Bonnets O’er the Border, Flora MacDonald’s Fancy, Solo Choregography)
• Scottish Heavy Weight Competitions (9:30 am start)
• A Gaelic Morning including Gaelic language workshops with Robyn Carrigan
9:00am-1:00pm - Gaelic through Fun
10:15am-10;45am-Children’s Gaelic Storytime with Dr. Michael Linkletter. Chair StFX Celtic Studies Department and Dr. Laurie Stanley Blackwell. Presented by Pictou Bee Press
Full Immersion Ceilidh: Gaelic Conversation and Song Circle with Robyn Carrigan
11:20am-12:00Noon- Milling Frolic
Registration for the Gaelic Workshops is $10 per session or all for $20. Email Lynn MacLean at [email protected]
Registration will also be accepted on the field but it is recommended to pre register. Other workshops in the afternoon are free.
• Heritage and Genealogy Workshops with respected local historians and speakers
1:30pm Susan Parker - "Finding Scots: Intro to Genealogy"
2:00pm Veronica MacIsaac - "History of Tartans"
2:30pm John Ashton- "Scottish Soldiers ( Regiments) and Families to Pictou County (American Revolution (1783-84)"
3:15pm James Lees and Rebecca Lees- "Historical Textiles"
• Kitchen Party Under the B**r Tent featuring Pat Spaulding (vocals and guitar) and Mel Harrigan ( fiddle)- stay tuned for one more performer to be announced soon - 1:00pm-5:00pm
Pipebands
• New Scotland Pipes and Drums - 4:30pm RCMP Pipes and Drums & Highland Dancers - 2:00pm
• Vendors, clan tents, food, and a true Highland Games atmosphere
🎻 Saturday Evening – A Saturday Night Ceilidh
📍 Glasgow Square Theatre – for ages 19 years and over
An unforgettable evening featuring headliners Chrissy Crowley & Jason Roach, Mary Beth Carty, along with Amelia Parker, Heather Cameron, and Kenny Stewart.
Doors Open: 7:00 p.m. | Concert: 7:30 p.m.
Admission is $20 plus taxes and fees https://tprogst.ticketpro.ca/en/pages/1698308553
⛪ Sunday, August 16
Kirkin' O' the Tartans & Closing Service (11:00 a.m.)
📍 First Presbyterian Church, New Glasgow
Celebrate the blessing of the tartans with special guests including Mi'kmaq Elder Don Francis, Mayor Nancy Dicks, Gaelic vocalist Robyn Carrigan, piper Brady Webb, Gaelic Choir, and members of the St. Andrew's Society of Pictou County. Reception to follow.
📍 Festival venues include:
• Pictou County History Museum
• Scott W. Weeks Sports Complex
• Glasgow Square Theatre
• First Presbyterian Church, New Glasgow
Rain venue for outdoor events: North Nova Education Centre.
Bring your family, your friends, your tartan, and your Scottish spirit!
Whether you're coming for the music, the dancing, the history, the competitions, or simply the wonderful community atmosphere, there's something for everyone.
See you August 13–16 at the Festival of the Tartans! 🏴❤️
