The pipes were calling for Canadian musicians as they swept the board at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow.
Jubilant players from the Simon Fraser University were dancing for joy after winning the prestigious honour for the first time in 17 years.
The Canadian band last won the title in 2009 and beat off challenges from the Irish based Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band, with West Lothian’s Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia coming in third place.
More than 35,000 spectators turned out for the two day bag piping spectacular at Glasgow Green. The “Worlds” as it’s nicknamed, is the pinnacle event bringing musicians from 14 different countries together on one stage.
Delivered by Glasgow Life, the charity which leads on culture, events and active living in the city on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association with support from Visit Scotland, the event saw 211 bands compete, with live streaming across the world.
Bands as far flung as Australia, New Zealand, Oman, Canada, France, Malaysia, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany joined 125 Scottish groups, with Northern Ireland having the second largest contingent with 26 and the USA in third, with 19.
Together, Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships create the top event and this year 23 bands competed at the championships for the first time.
Following its successful introduction in 2025, the dedicated juvenile competition returned for a second year, where more than 1,500 under 18s took part in this hugely popular highlight of the “Worlds” celebrating the next generation of talent.
The grade winners were juvenile – George Watson’s College, who also won the title in 2025; novice juvenile A – North Lanarkshire Schools and novice juvenile B – St Thomas Episcopal School from the USA.
In the senior bands section, band members competed across the Grade 1, Grade 2, Grades 3A and 3B and Grades 4A and 4B categories.
Colin Mulhern, chief executive of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said:
“We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the competing bands, supporters and spectators who joined us throughout our 2026 World Pipe Band Championships.
“This year’s World Championships provided a truly thrilling and fiercely contested competition. Huge congratulations go to the 2026 World Pipe Band Champions, Simon Fraser University, on securing the Grade 1 global title.
“Every band that took part can be immensely proud of their performances. They delivered a fantastic competition and demonstrated the dedication, commitment, skill and talent that continue to make the world of pipe band competition so special.”
Glasgow Life chair Bailie Annette Christie said:
“Glasgow is proud to host the premier contest on the global piping calendar and to continue our long and celebrated association with the World Pipe Band Championships.
“The Worlds are such an important event for the city. Together with Piping Live! they create the biggest week of piping in the world, bringing the very best pipers and drummers together for a spectacular celebration of music and tradition, while shining an international spotlight on Glasgow as a welcoming destination for major events. The championships attract thousands of competitors, spectators and visitors to the city, providing a significant boost to tourism and making an important contribution to both the city and Scotland’s economy.”
Rebecca Edser, head of events at VisitScotland, added:
“The World Pipe Band Championships remain one of the highlights of Scotland’s events calendar, bringing together thousands of talented musicians and spectators from around the world in a celebration of our rich musical heritage and vibrant culture.
“Over the past two days, Glasgow has once again provided a spectacular stage for the very best in pipe band performance, showcasing the skill, dedication and passion that define this global community. Events of this scale play an important role in supporting Scotland’s visitor economy, attracting visitors from near and far while generating benefits for local businesses and communities.”
Tickets for the 2027 World Pipe Band Championships are now on sale while highlights from the 2026 World Pipe Band Championships were broadcast on BBC Scotland last Thursday 20th August and are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. For more information, please visit: www.glasgowlife.org.uk and wwwrspba.org.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2.
Photographs by Ross MacDonald – SNS Group
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