Highland Games

Highland Games in Scotland in 2023

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.

After most of the Highland Games and local festivals were cancelled in 2020 and 2021, we are pleased to list the dates for 2023. Please check with event organisers to confirm dates 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 2023

Gourock Highland Games  
14 May 2023, Inverclyde

Fife Show  
20 May 2023, 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.

Gordon Castle Highland Games and Country Fair  
21 May 2023 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.

Blackford Highland Games  
27 May 2023 
Near Gleneagles and Auchterarder in Perthshire

Drymen Agricultural Show  
27 May 2023, Drymen, Loch Lomond

Highland Gathering and Atholl Highlanders' Parade  
27 - 28 May 2023 at Blair Castle, Perthshire

Carmunnock Highland Games  
tbc 28 May 2023, Carmunnock near Glasgow

June 2023

Helensburgh & Lomond Highland Games  
3 June 2023

Cornhill Highland Games  
3 June 2023, Aberdeenshire

Markinch Highland Games  
4 June 2023, Fife 
One of the oldest Games in Scotland. Always the first Sunday in June.

Angus Show  
10 June 2023 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.

Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games 
10 June 2023, East Dunbartonshire. 
Free entry.

Strathmore Highland Games  
11 June 2023, Glamis Castle, Angus

Ardrossan Highland Games  
11 June 2023, North Ayrshire

Oldmeldrum Sports & Highland Games  
17 June 2023, Aberdeenshire 
Also known as the Sunshine Sports. First held in 1930.

Cupar Highland Games  
tbc 18 June 2023, Fife

Aberdeen Highland Games 
18 June 2023

Royal Highland Show  
22 - 25 June 2023 at Ingliston, Edinburgh. 
Annual agricultural show with arena attractions, Scottish food exhibition, pedigree livestock, flower show, show jumping, craft fair and much more.

Drumtochty Highland Games  
24 June 2023 at Drumtochty Castle, Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire

Ceres Highland Games  
24 June 2023, Ceres village, Cupar, Kingdom of Fife 
The oldest free games in Scotland, always held on the last Saturday of the month of June.

European Pipe Band championships  
24 June 2023, Aberdeen  
This annual large gathering of pipe bands is coming to the Granite City for 2023.

July 2023

The Scottish Game Fair 
30 June - 2 July 2023 
Set in the grounds of Scone Palace (Perthshire) with displays, stands, demonstrations. Organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust.

Gairloch Highland Gathering 
tbc 1 July 2023, Wester Ross

Luss Highland Gathering  
1 July 2023, Loch Lomond

Thornton Highland Games 
CANCELLED 1 July 2023, Thornton, Kirkcaldy, Fife

Doune and Dunblane Show  
1 July 2023 
Annual agricultural show in Perthshire

Forres Highland Games  
tbc 1 July 2023, Moray

Kenmore Highland Games  
5 July 2023, Perthshire

The Famous Alva Games  
8 July 2023 
Traditional Highland games in Johnstone Park near Stirling

Jedburgh Border Games 
tbc 8 July 2023

St Ronan's Border Games 
tbc 15 July 2023, Innerleithen, Scottish Borders 
St Ronan's Border Games and Cleikum Ceremonies week.

Inverness Highland Games  
15 July 2023 
Games day in the capital of the Scottish Highlands.

Lochcarron Highland Games  
15 July 2023, Wester Ross

Morvern Highland Games 
15 July 2023, Lochaline on the Morvern peninsula

Loch Lomond Highland Games 
tbc 15 July 2023 at Balloch, Loch Lomond

Kirriemuir Agricultural Show 
15 July 2023, Kirriemuir, Angus

Tomintoul Highland Games  
15 July 2023, Tomintoul, Moray

Kirkcudbright Country Fair 
15 July 2023, Dumfries & Galloway 
Spectacular programme of events with guest performers and display teams at one of the region's major annual events.

Stonehaven Highland Games  
16 July 2023, Aberdeenshire

Burntisland Highland Gathering  
17 July 2023, Burntisland, Fife

Rosneath Peninsula Highland Gathering  
CANCELLED - July 2023, near Faslane, Argyll

Inveraray Highland Games  
18 July 2023, Inveraray Castle, Argyll

Isle of Mull Highland Games  
20 July 2023, Tobermory

Balquhidder, Lochearnhead & Strathyre Highland Games  
22 July 2023, Lochearnhead, Perthshire

Airth Highland Games  
22 July 2023, near Falkirk

Braemar Junior Highland Games  
22 July 2023

Sutherland County Show  
22 July 2023, Dornoch, Scottish Highlands

Taynuilt Highland Games  
23 July 2023, Taynuilt (11 miles from Oban)

Arisaig Highland Games and Clan Ranald Gathering  
tbc 26 July 2023, West Highlands 
On the scenic Road to the Isles between Fort William and Mallaig. Games day is preceded by a ceilidh night.

Stranraer Show  
tbc 26 July 2023 
Annual agricultural show.

Durness Highland Games  
tbc 28 July 2023, Sutherland, north-west Highlands

Border Union Show  
tbc 28 - 29 July 2023, Kelso 
Annual agricultural show and equestrian event in the Scottish Borders

Dufftown Highland Games  
29 July 2023, Speyside

Halkirk Highland Games 
29 July 2023, Caithness

Nairn Show  
tbc 29 July 2023 
Livestock exhibitions, craft fair, food stalls and amusements.

St Andrews Highland Games  
30 July 2023

Glamis Country Fair & Horse Trials  
tbc 28 - 30 July 2023 
This new event was first hosted at Glamis Castle in 2019.

August 2023

The Scottish Alternative Games 
tbc early August 2023, New Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway 
The Lowland alternative to the more traditional Highland Games is a fun day out for all the family.

Killin Highland Games  
tbc 2 August 2023, Perthshire

Wigtown Agricultural Show  
tbc 2 August 2023, Bladnoch Park, Wigtown, Dumfries & Galloway

Black Isle Show  
2 - 3 August 2023 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  
4 August 2023, Sutherland, north Highlands

Perth Show  
4 - 5 August 2023 
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.

The Mey Games  
tbc 5 August 2023 
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

Skye Agricultural Show  
5 August 2023, Portree

Dumfries & Lockerbie Show  
5 August 2023 
Annual agricultural show.

Newtonmore Highland Games  
5 August 2023, Newtonmore, Cairngorms, Highlands

Aboyne Highland Games  
5 August 2023, 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  
tbc 5 August 2023, Strathspey

Inverkeithing Highland Games  
5 August 2023, Inverkeithing, Fife

Brodick Highland Games  
tbc 5 August 2023, Isle of Arran

Strathpeffer Highland Gathering  
5 August 2023, 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.

Mallaig & Morar Highland Games 
tbc 6 August 2023, West Highlands

Bridge of Allan Highland Games  
6 August 2023, near Stirling

Isle of Skye Highland Games  
9 August 2023, Portree, Isle of Skye

Ballater Highland Games  
10 August 2023, Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire

Grantown Show  
tbc 10 August 2023, 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 11 August 2023, Lochinver, north Highlands

Atholl & Breadalbane Agricultural Show and Highland Gathering  
11 - 12 August 2023, Aberfeldy 
Highland games and agricultural show with cattle, horse, sheep and pet show.

North Berwick Highland Games  
12 August 2023, East Lothian

Abernethy Highland Games & Clan Grant Gathering  
12 August 2023, Nethy Bridge, Inverness-shire

Tain Highland Gathering  
12 August 2023, north Highlands

Isle of Bute Highland Games  
12 August 2023

Morebattle Highland Games 
tbc 12 August 2023, Kelso, Scottish Borders

Galloway Country Fair  
12 - 13 August 2023 at Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway

Perth Highland Games  
13 August 2023

Glenisla Highland Games  
18 August 2023, Glenisla, Angus

Nairn Highland Games  
19 August 2023

Stirling Highland Games  
19 August 2023

Helmsdale Highland Games  
19 August 2023, north Highlands

Glenfinnan Highland Gathering  
tbc 19 August 2023, Lochaber, west Highlands

Crieff Highland Games  
20 August 2023, Perthshire

Argyllshire Gathering (Oban Highland Games)  
24 August 2023

Cowal Highland Gathering  
24 - 26 August 2023 
The world's largest Highland Games at Dunoon

Blair Castle International Horse Trials and Country Fair 
24 - 27 August 2023, 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  
26 August 2023, Little Dunkeld, Perthshire 
Over 150 years old.

Glenurquhart Highland Games  
26 August 2023 at Drumnadrochit, Loch Ness

Strathardle Highland Gathering  
26 August 2023 at Kirkmichael near Blairgowrie

Lochaber Agricultural Show & Family Fun Day 
26 August 2023, Inverlochy Castle Farm, near Fort William

Lonach Highland Games  
26 August 2023, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire

Moffat Show  
26 August 2023  
Annual agricultural show in Dumfries and Galloway.

Grantown Highland Games  
tbc late August 2023, Cairngorms

Kirkcudbright Floodlit Tattoo and Fireworks 
tbc late August 2023, Dumfries & Galloway

September 2023

Dundee Flower and Food Festival 
tbc early September 2023, Camperdown Country Park, Dundee 
Dundee's big floral and foodie event of the year.

The Royal Burgh of Peebles Highland Games  
2 September 2023, Peebles 
Pipe band contest, Highland dancing, traditional heavy events, trade stands, craft tent and beer tent.

Braemar Gathering  
2 September 2023, 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  
3 September 2023, 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.

Dalmally Agricultural Show 
tbc 2 September 2023  
Annual agricultural show in Argyll.

Pitlochry Highland Games  
9 September 2023, 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.

Bowhill Highland Games  
10 September 2023, Fife  
Free admission to the last Games of the season in the Fife village of Cardenden near Kirkcaldy.