Scotland's premier celebration of Gaelic culture is returning to Glasgow this week, with the Royal National Mòd marking its 194th anniversary and organisers forecasting unprecedented participation levels. The festival, which runs from 9 to 17 October, has attracted more than 2,000 registered entries—the highest number in the event's history—across approximately 200 official competitions and around 80 fringe activities.
The annual gathering brings together thousands of performers and spectators from across the country to compete and celebrate Scots Gaelic language, culture and heritage. Competitions span traditional disciplines including bagpiping, Highland dancing and Gaelic literature, held at venues such as the National Piping Centre and Royal Concert Hall. Beyond the formal contests, the festival programme encompasses around 300 events across the week, including 22 junior and senior choir competitions involving more than 50 groups and over 1,500 singers.
Fringe events are adding to the cultural offering, with a pop-up concert planned for Glasgow Central Station, a Gaelic DJ night at live-music venue Nice 'N' Sleazy, and a massed piping and choir procession scheduled along Sauchiehall Street. The week-ending Massed Choirs event is scheduled to bring hundreds of singers down Sauchiehall Street before they gather on Buchanan Street's upper steps to perform.
Maggie Cunningham, chairwoman of An Comunn Gàidhealach, the organisation that organises the Mòd, described the event as a gathering place for people of all ages to socialise, compete and celebrate their shared cultural heritage. She characterised this year's festival as a
celebration of what has come before and very much of what is to come.
The opening concert, Ar Cànan's Ar Ceòl, will feature past and present pupils of Gaelic-medium education programmes performing at the Royal Concert Hall. This performance marks the 40th anniversary of Scotland's first Gaelic-medium education unit, which opened in Glasgow for the 1985-86 academic year. TV personality and Glasgow Gael Phil MacHugh will host the opening concert, which takes place on Friday, 9 October.
Indy-trad fusion band Dlù will take centre stage at the opening event, with members largely having met while attending Glasgow's Gaelic schools. The band's accordionist, Zach Ronan, reflected on the significance of Gaelic-medium education to the group's formation, stating that
without Gaelic Medium Education, there's absolutely no chance the band would exist today. He continued:
It's all because of that atmosphere in [GME] that fostered that kind of bond that we now have. And it's still an absolutely instrumental part of the band.
Ronan highlighted the Mòd's importance in his cultural life, having attended numerous national competitions while at school.
That's why we're just absolutely delighted to be such a big part of it this year. It's the first time we've ever been this involved.As the band prepared for its prominent role, Ronan observed that the atmosphere surrounding this year's event felt distinctly energised.
There seems to be a real kind of hype about it. I think even more so than 2019. I just think the added benefit of being in a big city like Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland - that's always going to pull more people in than you would ever hope for.
What to expect at this year's festival
Organisers anticipate approximately 10,000 attendees, matching the numbers from the previous competition held in Fort William. This marks Glasgow's 13th occasion hosting the Royal National Mòd, with the city last welcoming the festival in 2019. The breadth of the programme reflects the scale of interest in Gaelic culture, with competitions and events catering to performers and audiences across all age groups and skill levels.
Key dates and upcoming highlights
The Gold Medal finals, one of the festival's most prestigious events, are scheduled for Wednesday, 14 October at 7:30pm at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. The festival concludes on 17 October. Following Glasgow's hosting, the next Royal National Mòd is scheduled for the Western Isles, from 8 to 16 October 2027.
Key Facts
- More than 2,000 entries registered across approximately 200 competitions and 80 fringe events—the highest participation on record
- The festival runs from 9 to 17 October 2026, with the opening concert on Friday, 9 October hosted by Phil MacHugh
- This year coincides with the 40th anniversary of Scotland's first Gaelic-medium education unit, which opened in Glasgow in 1985
- Around 300 events are scheduled across the week, including 22 choir competitions with over 1,500 singers
- Glasgow is hosting the Mòd for the 13th time, with approximately 10,000 attendees expected
