Highland Games in Scotland in 2021
Scotland is renowned for its Highland Games and Gatherings which are some of the most popular events on the summer calendar for tourists and locals alike. The season stretches from May to September up and down the country. Annual agricultural shows and country shows are another occasion for the local community to gather and celebrate their successes so we've included them on this page.
You may wish to read our blog about the history of Highland Games.
Sadly none of the annual Games could take place in 2020 due to Covid restrictions, but we hope some large events will be possible once more in 2021. Please check with event organisers if you are intending to travel specifically for an event.
We hope you will book your accommodation with Scotland's Best B&Bs - simply Check Availability and Book Online
May 2021
Gourock Highland Games
tbc May 2021, Inverclyde
Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair
16 May 2021 near Fochabers in Moray
Events all weekend. Vintage Village, music, local food producers, unique crafts and gifts, gun dogs, terrier racing, falconry displays, rare breeds, Clydesdale horses, and racing pigs.
Fife Show
22 May 2021, Kinloss House near Cupar
A great day out for all the family with events including pedigree cattle, sheep, poultry, wild fowl, heavy horse breeds, show jumping, game fair. Demonstrations of falconry, ferret racing, gun dogs and angling. Pet show, countryside tent with fun activities. Cookery theatre with demonstrations. Food and Drink marquee by Fife's speciality producers.
Blackford Highland Games
29 May 2021
Near Gleneagles and Auchterarder in Perthshire
Drymen Agricultural Show
29 May 2021, Drymen, Loch Lomond
West Lothian Highland Games
29 May 2021
Highland Gathering and Atholl Highlanders' Parade
29 - 30 May 2021 at Blair Castle, Perthshire
June 2021
Helensburgh & Lomond Highland Games
5 June 2021
Cornhill Highland Games
5 June 2021, Aberdeenshire CANCELLED
Angus Show
tbc 5 June 2021 at Brechin.
Annual agricultural show with live stock, fun fair, trade stands, craft marquee, horse and hound, tractor pulling, dancing displays, pipe bands and lots more.
Markinch Highland Games
6 June 2021, Fife
One of the oldest Games in Scotland. Always the first Sunday in June.
Burntisland Highland Gathering
tbc 6 June 2021, Burntisland, Fife
Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games
12th June 2021, East Dunbartonshire.
Free entry.
Strathmore Highland Games
13 June 2021, Glamis Castle, Angus
Ardrossan Highland Games
tbc 13 June 2021, North Ayrshire
Aberdeen Highland Games
tbc mid June 2021
Royal Highland Show
17 - 20 June 2021 at Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Annual agricultural show with arena attractions, Scottish food exhibition, pedigree livestock, flower show, show jumping, craft fair and much more.
Oldmeldrum Sports & Highland Games
19 June 2021, Aberdeenshire
Also known as the Sunshine Sports. First held in 1930.
Cupar Highland Games
20 June 2021, Fife - CANCELLED
Drumtochty Highland Games
26 June 2021 at Drumtochty Castle, Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire
Ceres Highland Games
26 June 2021, Ceres village, Cupar, Kingdom of Fife
The oldest free games in Scotland, always held on the last Saturday of the month of June.
July 2021
The Scottish Game Fair
2 - 4 July 2021
Set in the grounds of Scone Palace (Perthshire) with displays, stands, demonstrations. Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Gairloch Highland Gathering
tbc 3 July 2021, Wester Ross
Luss Highland Gathering
3 July 2021, Loch Lomond
Thornton Highland Games
3 July 2021, Thornton, Kirkcaldy, Fife
Doune and Dunblane Show
tbc 3 July 2021
Annual agricultural show in Perthshire
Forres Highland Games
3 July 2021, Moray
Kenmore Highland Games, Perthshire
7 July 2021
The Famous Alva Games
10 July 2021
Traditional Highland games in Johnstone Park near Stirling
Tain Highland Gathering
10 July 2021, north Highlands
Jedburgh Border Games
tbc mid July 2021
St Ronan's Border Games
tbc mid July 2021, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders
St Ronan's Border Games and Cleikum Ceremonies week.
Inverness Highland Games
tbc mid July 2021
Annual Highland Games in the capital of the Scottish Highlands.
Lochcarron Highland Games
17 July 2021, Wester Ross
Kirriemuir Agricultural Show
17 July 2021, Kirriemuir, Angus
Tomintoul Highland Games
17 July 2021, Tomintoul, Moray
Loch Lomond Highland Games
tbc 17 July 2021 at Balloch, Loch Lomond
Taynuilt Highland Games
tbc 17 July 2021, Taynuilt (11 miles from Oban)
Kirkcudbright Country Fair
tbc mid July 2021, Dumfries & Galloway
Spectacular programme of events with guest performers and display teams at one of the region's major annual events.
Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering
18 July 2021, near Faslane, Argyll
Stonehaven Highland Games
tbc 18 July 2021, Aberdeenshire
Inveraray Highland Games
20 July 2021, Inveraray Castle, Argyll
Braemar Junior Highland Games
24 July 2021
Enabling children from 5 to 18 to participate in games events normally reserved for adults. Family Ceilidh in the Village Hall in the evening.
Balquhidder, Lochearnhead & Strathyre Highland Games
24 July 2021, Lochearnhead, Perthshire
Airth Highland Games
24 July 2021, near Falkirk
St Andrews Highland Games
25 July 2021
Arisaig Highland Games and Clan Ranald Gathering
28 July 2021, West Highlands
On the scenic Road to the Isles between Fort William and Mallaig. Games day is preceded by a ceilidh night.
Stranraer Show
28 July 2021
Annual agricultural show.
Isle of Mull Highland Games
tbc late July 2021, Tobermory
Durness Highland Games
tbc late July 2021, Sutherland, north-west Highlands
Sutherland County Show
tbc late July 2021, Dornoch, Scottish Highlands
Border Union Show
30 - 31 July 2021, Kelso
Annual agricultural show and equestrian event in the Scottish Borders
Dufftown Highland Games
31 July 2021, Speyside
Halkirk Highland Games
31 July 2021, Caithness
August 2021
Glamis Country Fair & Horse Trials
tbc 30 July - 1 August 2021
A new event first hosted at Glamis Castle in 2019.
The Mey Games
tbc early August 2021
The Royal British Legion Mey Games take place near the Castle of Mey (former home to HM The Queen Mother) every August with the patronage of Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay
The Scottish Alternative Games
tbc 1 August 2021, New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway
The Lowland alternative to the more traditional Highland Games is a fun day out for all the famil
Mallaig & Morar Highland Games
tbc 1 August 2021, West Highlands
Killin Highland Games
4 August 2021, Perthshire
Wigtown Agricultural Show
tbc 4 August 2021, Bladnoch Park, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway
Isle of Skye Highland Games
4 August 2021, Portree, Isle of Skye
Black Isle Show
4 - 5 August 2021 near Muir of Ord, just north of Inverness.
This is the largest agricultural show in the North of Scotland. It attracts over 2,000 cattle, horse and sheep entries, more than 300 trade stands and over 25,000 visitors to the show each year. There is plenty to see and do, craft fair, food fair, 'On the Farm' exhibition for the kids, agricultural stands, vintage rally and sheep shearing.
Dornoch Highland Gathering
6 August 2021, Sutherland, north Highlands
Dumfries & Lockerbie Show
6 - 7 August 2021
Annual agricultural show.
Perth Show
tbc 7 August 2021
A great day out in Perth for all the family including the Grand Parade of Livestock, local artisan crafts, Perthshire on a Plate with celebrity and local chefs, entertainment, trade stalls and much more.
Nairn Show
tbc 7 August 2021
Livestock exhibitions, craft fair, food stalls and amusements is held at Kinnudie Farm, Auldearn, near Nairn.
Skye Agricultural Show
tbc 7 August 2021, Portree
Newtonmore Highland Games
7 August 2021, Newtonmore, Cairngorms, Highlands
Aboyne Highland Games
7 August 2021, Aberdeenshire
Join with clansmen and women who will be heading to the north east from across the globe to the village green in the centre of Aboyne where the games have been held since 1867. The games have been noted worldwide for being a centre of excellence for the traditional disciplines of Highland Games. Not only is Aboyne recognised for this, but also as a gathering venue for a dozen clans indigenous to the North East of Scotland
Aberlour Strathspey Highland Games
7 August 2021, Strathspey
Inverkeithing Highland Games
7 August 2021, Inverkeithing, Fife
North Berwick Highland Games
7 August 2021, East Lothian
Brodick Highland Games
7 August 2021, Isle of Arran
Bridge of Allan Highland Games
8 August 2021, near Stirling
Ballater Highland Games
12 August 2021, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire
Grantown Show
12 August 2021, Grantown-on-Spey
An agricultural show with livestock (including Highland Cows), food stands, farmers’ market, tractors and much more. A great day out for all the family.
Assynt Highland Games
tbc 13 August 2021, Lochinver, north Highlands
Atholl & Breadalbane Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering
13 - 14 August 2021, Aberfeldy
Highland games and agricultural show with cattle, horse, sheep and pet show.
Strathpeffer Highland Gathering
14 August 2021, Strathpeffer, Highlands
Enjoy this traditional Highland Gathering in the sylvan setting of the grounds of Castle Leod on the edge of the village of Strathpeffer.
Abernethy Highland Games & Clan Grant Gathering
14 August 2021, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire
Morebattle Highland Games
tbc 14 August 2021, Kelso, Scottish Borders
Glenisla Highland Games
20 August 2021, Glenisla, Angus
Nairn Highland Games
21 August 2021
Stirling Highland Games
21 August 2021
Isle of Bute Highland Games
21 August 2021
Helmsdale Highland Games
21 August 2021, north Highlands
Glenfinnan Highland Gathering
21 August 2021, Lochaber, west Highlands
Lochaber Agricultural Show & Family Fun Day
tbc 21 August 2021, Inverlochy Castle Farm, near Fort William
Galloway Country Fair
21 - 22 August 2021 at Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway
Crieff Highland Games
22 August 2021, Perthshire
Argyllshire Gathering (Oban Highland Games)
26 August 2021
Cowal Highland Gathering
26 - 28 August 2021
The world's largest Highland Games at Dunoon
Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair
26 - 29 August 2021, Blair Atholl, Perthshire
Scotland’s premier equestrian event is held annually in one of Scotland’s most scenic locations. Four days of International Eventing takes centre stage while the Bruar Country Fair offers something the non-horsey visitor.
Birnam Highland Games
tbc 28 August 2021, Little Dunkeld, Perthshire
Over 150 years old.
Glenurquhart Highland Games
28 August 2021 at Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness
Lonach Highland Games
28 August 2021, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire
Moffat Show
28 August 2021
Annual agricultural show in Dumfries and Galloway.
Perth Highland Games
29 August 2021
Grantown Highland Games
tbc late August 2021, Cairngorms
Kirkcudbright Floodlit Tattoo and Fireworks
tbc late August 2021, Dumfries & Galloway
September 2021
Dundee Flower and Food Festival
tbc 3 - 5 September 2021, Camperdown Country Park, Dundee
Dundee's big floral and foodie event of the year.
Dalmally Agricultural Show
tbc 4 September 2021
Annual agricultural show in Argyll.
The Royal Burgh of Peebles Highland Games
4 September 2021, Peebles
Pipe band contest, Highland dancing, traditional heavy events, trade stands, craft tent and beer tent.
Braemar Gathering
4 September 2021, Braemar
International athletes will be among those taking part in the "heavy" and "track" events. Pipers and dancers will be of the usual high standard while teams from H.M. Forces will compete in the InterServices Unit Tug of War Championship and in the Services Medley Relay Race.
Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games
5 September 2021, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
Traditional Highland game events including heavyweights, running, Highland dancing, piping, etc. Also includes the International Highland Games Federation Stones of Strength Scottish Final.
Pitlochry Highland Games
11 September 2021, Recreation Ground, Pitlochry, Perthshire
Traditional Highland games with piping, Highland dancing, heavy events, track and field, grand pipe band contest for grades 1 to 4 and novice juvenile. There will also be a grand finale of massed bands.
