​Glasgow is set to embrace the spirit of the Gaels as the world’s largest celebration of Scottish Gaelic language, culture and music, the Royal National Mòd, lifts the lid on its vibrant programme of concerts, cèilidhs, gatherings and workshops.

The definitive annual celebration of Gaelic is set to take over venues throughout Glasgow from 9 – 17 October 2026, including spaces across the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the National Piping Centre, the Barrowland Ballroom, Òran Mór, The Glee Club, Edward House and more.

The vibrant nine-day multi-arts festival, which was last held in Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal (City of the Gaels) in 2019, covers everything from music and song to literature and drama, encouraging speakers, learners and culture fans to experience and enjoy all forms of Gaelic arts.

Now in its 134^th year, the cultural extravaganza is expected to welcome around 10,000 attendees, with tickets for flagship events on sale now.

The Mòd will open with this year’s Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl concert, which puts local talent centre stage. Celebrating four decades of Gaelic Medium Education (GME) in Glasgow, the showcase will pay tribute to the visionaries who promoted education’s role in reviving the language in the city and who fought for the establishment of the schools found in Glasgow today.

Through words, music, song and visuals, the celebratory night will take attendees on a journey across four decades and feature performances from GME success stories who have gone on to become household names. Breakthrough trad act DLÙ, whose members include many who went to Glasgow Gaelic schools, are set to perform, while an orchestra of former and current GME pupils and seasoned Scottish players will also grace the stage.

Elsewhere, legendary Gaelic musical family, the Cormacks, will host their very own Cèilidh le na Cormacks (Cèilidh with the Cormacks) at the National Piping Centre on Saturday 10 October, sharing their favourite songs and tunes for a feel-good evening. Family cèilidhs on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 October will encourage attendees of all ages to take to the dance floor.

The festival will also see all seven of Glasgow’s Island Associations join forces for a very special concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, brought together by singer, broadcaster and Glasgow Gael Mary Ann Kennedy and Mòd Convenor, D-I Brown. An Drochaid (The Bridge) will be a landmark gathering of island talent from across Glasgow’s Gaelic diaspora. Mary Ann, who was brought up in a family from Skye and Tiree, will lead a who’s who of performers connected to each island.

Across the week, residents and visitors alike will be able to enjoy music sessions, conversation circles, football and shinty matches, and a wealth of talks, workshops and exhibitions, while Glasgow Royal Concert Hall’s Exhibition Hall will be transformed into a bustling hub of music, dance and chatter.

At Edward House on Sauchiehall Street, attendees can get involved in Tì is Cofaidh meet ups each morning and Ceòl is Curry each evening, amongst other activities, arranged by Glasgow Life with support from Glasgow City Council.

The week will be rounded off with the breathtaking Massed Choirs event on Saturday 17 October which will see hundreds of Gaelic choral singers take part in a procession down Sauchiehall Street before gathering on the steps at the top of Buchanan Street to perform spine-tingling arrangements of much-loved Gaelic songs en mass.

The last Friday will also welcome a fittingly spectacular final fling as the already announced Gael Force 10 takes over the Barrowland Ballroom. The ultimate cèilidh is bringing together forces of nature from across Scotland’s Gaelic and traditional music world for a one-off gig, with support from Glasgow Mela musicians led by acclaimed Glasgow tabla player Sodhi.

Peigi MacLennan, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “This is shaping up to be one of the biggest and most inclusive Mòds yet, welcoming thousands to Glasgow to celebrate our language, culture, art and identity. This year’s programme showcases the abundance of talent and creativity within the Gaeldom and will be a truly memorable cultural experience for all. We can’t wait to see Glasgow embrace the spirit of the Gaels this October.”

​​​​​​​Gaelic Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “The Royal National Mòd is the flagship event of the Gaelic cultural calendar, giving Gaelic music, literature and arts a deserved national platform and demonstrating Gaelic’s enormous contribution to our national life.

“This is the first Mòd since Gaelic was given official status within Scotland through the Scottish Languages Act – and it is a welcome return to Glasgow as the city prepares to open its fourth Gaelic medium primary school.

“I am grateful to An Comunn Gàidhealach for its ongoing stewardship of the festival, the attention it gives to Scotland’s Gaelic heritage, and the cultural opportunities it opens for young Scots. I wish everyone the very best.”

D-I Brown, Convenor of the Local Organising Committee for the Royal National Mòd 2026 in Glasgow, said: “Glasgow has a deep connection with Gaelic and has played such an important role in the language’s revival, so we’re incredibly proud to celebrate that through this exciting programme of events. There will be a real festival atmosphere on display in Glasgow, uniting vibrant contemporary culture and cherished traditions – come be part of it.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO), Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “I am very much looking forward to the Royal National Mòd and it’s return to Glasgow this year and this is such a full and exciting programme, with events for people of all ages. This year’s Mòd will be, as always, a brilliant showcase of our language and culture and an opportunity for Gaels all over the country to come together.”

The fringe events run alongside more than 200 competitions spanning solo singing, choirs, bands, instruments, art, and more. Contests like the Gold Medal and Traditional Gold Medal, flagship choir competitions, Battle of the Bands, drama final and more, are expected to draw crowds to witness one of Scotland’s most significant and long-standing cultural events in action.

This year’s Royal National Mòd in Glasgow is supported by Glasgow Life, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, EventScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and Qualifications Scotland.

The Royal National Mòd returns to Glasgow from 9 - 17 October 2026. Tickets for flagship events are on sale now, visit the Mòd Ghlaschu 2026 website.

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Image credit Elaine Livingstone

Forces of nature from across Scotland’s Gaelic and traditional music world are set to gather in Glasgow for a one-off spectacular night as part of the Royal National Mòd.

Forming the finale of Scotland’s premier festival of Gaelic language, music and culture, Gael Force 10 will take over the Barrowland Ballroom on Friday 16 October 2026, with tickets on sale now.

A line up brimming with the good and great of the Gaeldom will create the ultimate west coast cèilidh and perfectly round off nine days of events for the world’s biggest celebration of Scottish Gaelic.

Bonafide Scottish legends including Capercaille’s Donald Shaw and Karen Matheson, Tide Lines’ Robert Robertson, Skipinnish’s Angus MacPhail, Andrew Stevenson and Archie McAllister, Skerryvore’s Daniel and Martin Gillespie, Trail West’s Ian Smith and Mànran’s Kim Carnie and Ewen Henderson are among those taking to the iconic stage.

Double Mòd gold medallist and fan favourite Ruairidh Gray is also set to perform, alongside acclaimed fiddle player Marie Fielding.

The unique night was commissioned by the Local Organising Committee of Mòd Ghlaschu and is being brought together with the help of musician, broadcaster and event organiser Gary Innes.

The event will also welcome one of the Scottish traditional music scene’s most popular and highly respected musicians, John ‘Iky’ Carmichael.

From Oban to Tiree and from Assynt to Mull, the Highlands and Islands will be represented in force at the bespoke Barrowlands show, with accordionist and Scottish Dance Band legend Jennifer Cruickshank, pianist Rory Matheson, drummer Fraser MacInnes, and many more, also performing.

Gael Force 10 programmer, broadcaster and musician Gary Innes said: “This is a line up like no other! The weather can be tricky to predict in Scotland but this October there is a 100% chance of Gaels in Glasgow. I couldn’t think of a better way to bring the Royal National Mòd to a close than uniting so many forces of nature from the west coast music scene, and wider Highland and Island communities, for this one-off cèilidh. I couldn’t be more excited to see it all come together.”

D-I Brown, Convenor of the Local Organising Committee for the Royal National Mòd 2026 in Glasgow, said: “Glasgow is known as Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal: City of the Gaels. The city has long attracted Highland and Island populations and boasts the biggest concentrated community of Gaelic learners and speakers outside of the Western Isles. Combining this rich Gaelic heritage with Glasgow’s unmatched reputation for live music and the best audiences in the world, this year’s Royal National Mòd is certainly going to make its mark.

“The Local Organising Committee is delighted to be able to bring Gael Force 10 to Barrowlands – it will be the cèilidh to end all cèilidhs and bring the festival to a fantastic conclusion. We welcome anyone with an interest in Scotland’s language, music and culture to experience the spirit of the Mòd for themselves.”

Gael Force 10 is one of a host of signature fringe events planned for the Royal National Mòd, taking place from Friday 9 – Saturday 17 October, with a full programme of concerts, sessions and workshops to be revealed.

These events sit alongside more than 200 competitions spanning solo singing, choirs, bands, instruments, art, sport and more, which together make up one of Scotland’s most significant cultural events.

Last year’s National Mòd in Lochaber saw more than 9,400 attendances across its nine days and generated £3.9 million to the local economy.

Gael Force 10 will be staged at the Barrowland Ballroom on the final day of the Royal National Mòd, Friday 16 October. Tickets are on sale now at https://modghlaschu2026.org

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