News
August 18, 2026

Piping Live! and the Worlds draw 80,000 paying customers, but the contrast has never been greater

What started in 2004 with a smattering of events in and around the then-Piping Centre, attracting a few hundred from a captive audience in Glasgow for the World Pipe Band Championships, grew this year into the most expansive Piping Live! in history, drawing over 30,000 to more than 120 events.
Results
August 15, 2026
Simon Fraser University: 2026 World Champions; Ulster Scottish win Grade 2; Grade 1 drumming champions: SLOT
Results
August 14, 2026
Worlds 2026 Friday: Grade 2 qualifiers form a 12-band Saturday final; Watson’s World Juvenile Champions
Features
August 14, 2026
Worlds Week Question of the Day #3: Should the Worlds regularly move location?
Subscribers
August 14, 2026
Northern songs: Cameron Drummond reviews the 78th Fraser Highlanders 2026 Pre-Worlds Concert
Features
August 14, 2026
The Ladies prepare, a Texas double and drones aplenty: Thursday at Piping Live! 2026, with Iain MacDonald
Results
August 13, 2026
A historic first: Beaumont and Sinclair tie for 2026 Alasdair Gillies Memorial Challenge title
Results
August 13, 2026
Andrew Zhao: 2026 Pipe Idol
Results
August 13, 2026
Pipe Idol Heat 4 won by Andrew Zhao; Grand Final now set
More stories
Features
August 13, 2026

Piping Live! Wednesday: caught in the camera eye of Alister Sinclair

Our intrepid man with the camera, Alister Sinclair, is once again prowling Piping Live! 2026, Nikon at the ready,...
Features
August 13, 2026

Great Music, Piping Legends, and a healthy dose of Donald MacLeod: Wednesday at Piping Live! 2026, with Iain MacDonald

Iain MacDonald (Regina) reports from the epicentre of piping (and drumming) . . .
Results
August 13, 2026

Olivia Corcoran: overall winner of CLASP Grade 1 Piping Live!

The third and final CLASP (Competition League for Amateur Solo Pipers) at the 2026 Piping Live! Festival was for Grade...
Features
August 12, 2026

Worlds Week Question of the Day #2: Should associations regulate the use of AI in competition?

We’re asking one important question each day of Piping Live! 2026. Here are responses from Tuesday, August 12th,...
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From the archives
Features
May 31, 2005
Tom Speirs
A quick profile
This day in history
August 19, 1745
Bonnie Prince Charlie raises the standard at Glenfinnan.
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Almonte, Ontario | August 22, 2026

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Rothesay, Scotland | August 22, 2026
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Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh | August 29, 2026
Captain John A. MacLellan MBE Memorial Dinner-Recital Competition
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POLL

How much does it matter to you that someone judging you or your band is accredited with an association?

  • Essential. I won't be judged by unaccredited people.
  • Important. But I'd probably still play.
  • Not too important. Accreditation doesn't mean much.
  • Unimportant. The only thing that matters is their history of competition success.
  • I don't compete, solo or band
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