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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
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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