About the festival

The festival began in 1984, when its aims were to encourage young talent to participate in and develop the traditional arts of music and dance of the highlands and islands of Scotland. After a two year break we are back in 2022 with Junior Piping and Highland Dancing events.

Since 1984 the Festival has developed to include new special events and competitions, and has offered over 1100 participants, 125 competition classes in eleven disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, woodwind & brass, singing, highland dancing and choreography. In previous years in addition to the many competition classes, the festival has also hosted a number of special events annually, including:

The Highlands and Islands Fiddle and Accordion Masters featuring prize-winning fiddle and accordion players from the main competition championships throughout Scotland.

The Scottish Area Finals, the culmination of the whole year’s competition circuit, featuring seventeen teams, and the only highland dancing team event to be held in the world!

The Scottish Choreography Challenge featuring two days of entertainment of the highest standard. Teams of dancers compete for prestigious prizes using innovative dance routines incorporating traditional highland dancing steps, sound and lighting effects and dazzling costumes.

The Festival Fling, when competitors, family and friends dance into the wee small hours to a traditional Scottish dance band in the Argyllshire Gathering Halls.

Outdoor Showcase in Station Square on Saturday - Live Musicians and Music! Supported by live broadcast on Oban FM and BID4Oban.