Article Source: Royal National Mòd
Last Updated: 4 June 2024 9:40
Confirmed to take place in Glasgow between 9 - 17 October 2026, Gaeldom’s most highly anticipated annual event will take over the bustling city with prestigious competitions, performances and cultural activities for all ages across the week.
The city is renowned for its strong links to Gaelic language, culture and community, with many talented traditional musicians, singers and Gaelic speakers hailing from or choosing to settle in the thriving area.
Glasgow last hosted the event in 2019, when more than 12,000 people flocked to the city to compete and take part in the array of events on offer, generating over £3.2 million for the local economy. Eighty one percent of visitors that came to Glasgow during this time did so to celebrate Scottish culture at the Mòd.
Three years from now, The Royal National Mòd will return to the Western Isles for the seventh time, taking place in venues around Stornoway between 8 - 16 October 2027. An area with a deep-seated Gaelic heritage, the latest census shows the Western Isles has the highest percentage of Gaelic speakers in Scotland, with more than 57 per cent of the local population having some skills in the language. The Mòd was last held there in 2016, providing a £2.4 million boost to the local economy and welcoming over 7,500 visitors.
The Royal National Mòd attracts Gaelic communities from across the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, the USA and beyond to celebrate the language as well as Scottish traditional music, song, drama, literature, art and sport.
This year’s Royal National Mòd will take place in Oban between 11 - 19 October 2024, before Lochaber hosts from 10 - 18 October 2025.
James Graham, Chief Executive Officer of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “We are thrilled to announce that The Royal National Mòd will be returning to Glasgow in 2026, and the Western Isles in 2027. Both areas have hosted highly successful editions of the Mòd before and we’re delighted to be returning to these communities, both with such strong Gaelic heritage and history, to celebrate all things related to the language and culture. We look forward to working with the local councils and branches of An Comunn Gàidhealach to deliver what I’m sure will be two more fantastic events.”
Glasgow Life Head of Events, Julie Pearson, said: “The return of The Royal National Mòd in 2026 is great news for Glasgow. The city is internationally renowned as an outstanding, welcoming destination for events and the Mòd held here in 2019 was a resounding success, attracting competitors and audiences from far and wide and contributing significantly to the local economy.
“Hosting this leading celebration of Gaelic culture reflects our commitment to supporting and promoting creative opportunities for Gaelic, including events and learning programmes. We recognise the importance of offering Gaelic and non-Gaelic speakers alike the chance to experience and enjoy performances rooted in and exploring Gaelic culture, so we are very much looking forward to welcoming this prestigious national contest once again in October 2026.”
Comhairle Convener, Kenny Macleod, said: “The Comhairle is hugely supportive of the Royal National Mòd and we are delighted to have the event returning to the Western Isles in 2027, for the first time in eleven years. As everyone is aware, the islands remain a stronghold of the Gaelic language and culture and having the premier Gaelic event here will give the language yet another boost. I would like to thank the Directors and Officers of An Comunn Gàidhealach for all their support during our productive discussions over recent months and look forward to working closely with them to deliver the Mòd in three years’ time.”
Councillor Donald Macsween, Chairman of the Comhairle’s Gaelic Committee, said: “This is fantastic news for the islands and will provide a real showcase for the vast wealth of talent that exists in the Gaelic-speaking community, especially among our young people. Those attending the Mòd can be assured of a warm and friendly welcome in 2027 and I am sure it will be a great success.”
This year’s Royal National Mòd in Oban is supported by EventScotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Argyll and Bute Council, EventScotland, The Scottish Government, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and SQA.
For more information, visit www.ancomunn.co.uk
For one day only on Thursday 24th July, Maggie's Rock n Rodeo is calling on Glasgow's bravest diners to saddle up and ride their way to a free BBQ feast.
READ MOREThe UK's biggest touring celebrity food & music festival celebrates its 20th year - announcing star-studded line-ups and exciting new features in Edinburgh and Glasgow!
READ MOREThe Delphine, an all-day bistro, cafè and bar is due to open this August, in Glasgow's iconic Princes Square.
READ MOREMark Hadfield will star as Agatha Christie's famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in Lucy Bailey's new production of Death on the Nile coming to the Theatre Royal in February!
READ MOREThree Glasgow and Lanarkshire based children's charities have been named among 11 Scottish organisations as partners of STV Children's Appeal's newly launched Ignite Fund.
READ MORESíSí Rooftop, a new restaurant and bar, has unveiled a first look inside its stunning eighth-floor space ahead of its opening in Glasgow's Merchant City on Friday, 1 August.
READ MOREDobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Grow Your Own workshop this August, where attendees will learn top tips for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers at home.
READ MOREIconic drum and base duo Fabio and Grooverider, actor and DJ Craig Charles and Mercury Music Prize nominees Corto Alto will all be performing at the biggest Milngavie Street Party yet!
READ MORE'Brunch at Birds' will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am–3pm, bringing a dose of laid-back, American-style indulgence to the Southside.
READ MOREAcclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!
READ MORETreasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORETo mark its 150th anniversary, Dunns Food and Drinks is launching The Great Dunns Piece Fling, a search for a high-rise flat to test the lyric 'ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-storey flat'!
READ MOREATG Entertainment launches their Summer Saver campaign with discounted tickets to over 100 shows including several at the King's Theatre and Theatre Royal in Glasgow!
READ MORETinderbox and Glasgow roaster Matthew Algie have teamed up with Beatson Cancer Charity for the second year running – and this time, the menu’s three times bigger.
READ MOREChildren attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MOREElements, the celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Bearsden, has announced the highly anticipated return of its signature 4/4/4 cocktail lunch offer, now featuring a brand-new selection of cocktails.
READ MOREHorne will play the music industry executive who kicked off the race to No 1. between the two bands.
READ MOREPubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MOREThis summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MOREThe inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MOREThe state-of-the-art bowling and activity venue brings ten-pin & duck pin bowling, tech darts, ice-free curling, arcades and more to Glasgow's Silverburn!
READ MOREScotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MOREBeloved Glasgow indie House Party is back with a new model and a Pride pop-up at The Social Hub from 14–20 July!
READ MOREWith doors set to reopen this August, the Citizens Theatre has announced its programme from January - June 2026 as part of its reopening year of productions.
READ MOREBTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MOREFamily favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORECUPP, the cult-favourite boba tea brand known for its viral drinks and dedicated following, is opening an all-new Boba Café Kiosk in Silverburn.
READ MOREScotland’s multi-venue festival for music discovery, is back for 2025 with a first wave of 30+ unmissable artists including Manchester’s Pale Waves.
READ MOREThe limited-time experience is the first-of-its-kind at Topgolf Glasgow in collaboration with Marvel Studios!
READ MOREScotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE