THE World Pipe Band Championships will finish Scotland’s biggest week of piping with a bang.
Thousands of pipers and drummers will go head-to-head for the title at Glasgow Green in the coming days.
On Friday, the Grade One qualification is up for grabs in the preliminary round of the World Pipe Band Championships with Saturday 17th hosting the grand finale.
The highly anticipated and extremely popular event welcomes people from all over the globe to Scotland. This year's competition will feature 204 bands and pipers from 13 different countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, and Oman.
The reigning World Pipe Band Champions have performed at this year's championships 🎶 The Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band were playing in Glasgow Green on Friday ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ItXqyMR4dq
— The National (@ScotNational) August 16, 2024
Glasgow Life chair Bailie Annette Christie said: “The championships and the Piping Live! festival demonstrate the strength of worldwide interest in Scottish culture and the music of Scotland’s national instrument.
“These fantastic events are extremely important to and valued by Glasgow as they further enhance the city’s cultural profile, boost tourism, and contribute significantly to our economy.
“We are very proud of the continued success of these much-loved celebrations of piping and Scottish culture.”
This weekend, Glasgow Green will see an even larger turnout than previous years, with an estimated 7000 pipers set to perform. Competitors are ranging from youngsters to seasoned professionals; the oldest amongst them will be in their 70s.
Glasgow has hosted the legendary tournament since 1948 and has staged every edition since 1986, with last year welcoming over 35,000 music lovers to gather in the east-end park.
Alongside this, the championships are expected to accumulate a large online audience as it is available to watch via a livestream.
In 2023, Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band won the World Champions title for the very first time, bringing it back home to Scotland.
The championships are held in partnership with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association by Glasgow Life, a charity which supports bringing culture and sport to the city in aid mental, physical and economic wellbeing.
The event is supported by funding from EventScotland.
