Braemar Gathering Scottish Highland Games — Official Announcement 2026
Abstract
The Braemar Gathering, known worldwide as the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering, is Scotland's most celebrated Highland Games event, held annually on the first Saturday of September under the patronage of His Majesty King Charles III. The 2026 edition takes place on Saturday, 5th September 2026, at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, Aberdeenshire. This article reproduces the official announcements from the Braemar Royal Highland Society, including the full day's programme, ticket categories, and historical context of the Gathering.
Official Announcement — Braemar Royal Highland Society
The following is the official announcement from the Braemar Royal Highland Society, reproduced from the official website at www.braemargathering.org.
Event Details
The Braemar Royal Highland Gathering 2026
Date: Saturday, 5th September 2026
Location: The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YX
Gates Open: 8:45 am
Opening Ceremony: 9:30 am
Events Commence: Approximately 10:00 am
Event Concludes: 5:00 pm
Patronage
His Majesty King Charles III is the Patron of the Braemar Gathering and serves as its Chieftain, attending the event annually. The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion, unveiled in 2018 by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, was named in honour of His Majesty. The Braemar Royal Highland Society is honoured to continue this long-standing royal association, which dates back to the patronage of Queen Victoria, who first attended the Gathering in 1848.
Day Programme
The official programme for Saturday, 5th September 2026 includes the following scheduled events:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 8:45 am | Gates Open |
| 9:30 am | Opening Ceremony |
| ~10:00 am | All Events Commence |
| 12:00 pm | Massed Pipe Bands (first performance) |
| 3:00 pm | Massed Pipe Bands (second performance) |
| 3:45 pm | Massed Pipe Bands (final performance) |
| 5:00 pm | Event Finishes |
Throughout the day, pipe bands will also parade individually through the village of Braemar.
Competition Events
The Gathering features over 80 individual events across the following categories:
Heavy Events: Caber Toss, Hammer Throw, Putting the Stone, Weight for Height, and Weight for Distance — collectively known as "The Kilted Heavies."
Highland Dancing: National and Highland dance competitions judged to Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (SOBHD) standards.
Solo Piping: Solo piobaireachd, march, strathspey, and reel competitions under the auspices of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association.
Light Events & Track Events: Including 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1,600 metres, 3,200 metres, 4 x 100 metres relay, and the Sack Race.
Tug of War: Regional and open team competitions.
The Gathering Hill Race: A famous race where runners climb 1,200 feet to the five cairns visible from the park.
Highland Games Pavilion
The Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion will be open from 1st April 2026, Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm. The Pavilion houses the J.S. Milne Gallery, the Kaufmann Exhibition Hall, and the Baxter Room, featuring photographs, trophies, costumes, and archive documents from the Braemar Royal Highland Society.
Ticket Information
Official ticket categories as published on www.braemargathering.org:
Covered Grandstand Seats: Guaranteed shelter and assigned seating within the covered grandstand. Includes General Admission to the park.
Ringside Seating: Close-up views of the track and heavy events arena. Includes General Admission to the park.
General Admission: Access to the park and all event areas (excluding reserved grandstand seating).
Children: Concession rates apply for children aged 5–16. Children under 5 years admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Ticket Collection: International and European ticket orders may be collected at the gate on the day of the event upon presentation of the booking confirmation.
A Brief History
The Braemar Gathering has been organised by the Braemar Royal Highland Society since its founding in 1816, making it one of Scotland's oldest continually running Highland Games. However, the tradition of athletic competition at Braemar dates back much further — to the reign of King Malcolm Canmore in the 11th century, who is said to have summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich.
Queen Victoria first attended the Braemar Gathering in 1848 and became its first royal patron, establishing a tradition of royal attendance that has continued uninterrupted to the present day under His Majesty King Charles III.
Sources
- Official Braemar Gathering Website: www.braemargathering.org
- Braemar Scotland Tourism: braemarscotland.co.uk
- The Scottish Banner: www.scottishbanner.com
- Eventbrite — Braemar Royal Highland Gathering 2026 Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk