The Royal Burgh of Peebles
Highland Games Association

Welcome to the 2026 Peebles Highland Games

Once again, it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to Peebles Highland Games for what I’m sure will be an excellent day of competition, entertainment, fun and friendship, which have become the hallmarks of our event over its 54 year history.  The amazing weather at the Games the past few years has encouraged record crowds to attend the event and so here’s hoping for more of the same this year.  I’m glad to report that our success in recent times has enabled us to donate several hundred pounds to other worthy causes within the town including Cycling Without Age, Peebles Christmas Lights Association, Peeblesshire Foodbank and Peebles March Riding and Beltane Queen Festival as well as local youth organisations including the Guides, Scouts and Boys’ Brigade.

Sadly, as has been the case all too frequently in recent times, we have once again lost two great supporters of Peebles Highland Games during the past year.  Andy Currie of Rutherglen who passed away last October was a Heavy Events Judge for many years and was honoured to be our Chieftain in 2019, and tragically, Helen Porteous who was due to be our Chieftain last year but had to step back due to illness, passed away in November.  Memories of the good times working with such wonderful people in years gone by are one of our main motivations to take the Highland Games to new heights in the future.

The core events of our Highland Games are Pipe Band Competitions, Traditional Heavy Events including tossing the caber, and Highland Dancing, and Peebles Highland Games is very grateful to the officials, judges and compilers from the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA), Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBHD) and Scottish Heavy Events Officials for their ongoing support. 

This year sees a first for Peebles Highland Games in that we are trialing a Women’s Heavy Events Competition in parallel to our traditional men’s event.  We are delighted to welcome three of Scotland’s top female athletes to the Games today and look forward to watching them throw throughout the afternoon.

No event such as ours would be possible without the generosity or our sponsors, programme advertisers and donations from well-wishers.  These significant contributions to our Games are very much appreciated.  We are also indebted to Scottish Borders Council for the use of Hay Lodge Park and to Police Scotland for their assistance in relation to the safety and security of the Games.

I’ve already mentioned my appreciation of our hard working Organising Committee but must also thank the numerous volunteers who help us set up the field, man the gates and car parking, staff the bar and hospitality tents and help us in so many ways to make the Games a success each year.

Finally, I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to our Chieftain for 2026, Mr George Blair.  George will need no introduction to anyone from Peebles, having been heavily involved in Peebles Rugby Club and the Beltane Festival for many years.  George is Property Manager for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and has also been Drum Major with The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Pipes and Drums for the past 10 years having previously been Drum Major with Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band, Shotts and Dykehead Caledonia, and Fife Constabulary Pipe Band!  George is married to Fiona and has two children Scott and Kaitlyn.  George follows in the footsteps of his late father, George Snr. who was an active member of our Committee for many years and was Chieftain in 2017. I hope that George, and indeed all of our competitors and visitors have an enjoyable day and I look forward to welcoming you back to Hay Lodge Park, for Peebles Highland Games on Saturday 4th September 2027.

Peebles Highland Games Committee meets monthly between March and October and we are always looking for volunteers to help plan, organise and run the event. With the Games taking place on a single day at the start of September each year, the commitment we require from volunteers range from an hour or two manning the gates or assisting with car parking on the day of the Games, to helping set up the day before or a few hours a month if you are interested in joining the committee. We are a friendly group who take a great pride in welcoming new members so please call us on 07985522156 if you are interested in finding out more.