The Scottish Highland games are a spectacle that really brings together Scotland’s culture and history as much as they are about the games. The roots of the Scottish Highland Games date back over 900 years to the 11th century, during the reign of King Malcolm III (1058–1093).
If you get the opportunity, it’s one of the most exciting events to witness in Scotland in 2026. The games are held in multiple locations, so if you’re hiring a motorhome in Scotland, you’ve got the perfect opportunity to travel around and see multiple games.
When Did The Scottish Highland Games First Begin, and How?
Although many historians and Scottish Highland Games enthusiasts say the games date back to the 11th century, there’s no single proven record of the first Highland Games with a concrete start date. The games are more of an evolution over the centuries of clan gatherings, military tests, local fairs, music, and sporting contests.
That said, the reign of King Malcolm III, also known as Malcolm Canmore, in the 11th century, is a good starting point. One popular story claims he organised a race near Braemar to find the fastest runner, maybe to make the fastest runner a royal messenger. Interestingly, Braemar Gathering is still one of the most popular games.
Britannica, the world’s oldest continuously published general-knowledge English-language encyclopedia, states that the Highland Games originated in impromptu competitions at clan assemblies. Chiefs would gather people for hunting, military exercises, and general clan business.
So there’s a mixed bag of opinions, with sources claiming the roots go back even further, possibly to Ireland around 2000 BC.
What we do know for sure is that they’re not games like football and rugby. They’re more like Olympic-style games that test strength, speed, endurance, and skill.
What Games Are Played at The Highland Games?
The most famous events are the heavy events. These events put athletes through feats of strength to see who is essentially the strongest man in Scotland. The main heavy events are:
- Caber toss (the most iconic event where competitors flip a long wooden pole).
- Hammer throw
- Stone put/shot put
- Weight for distance (athletes throw a heavy weight as far as possible).
- Weight for height (athletes throw a weight over a raised bar).
- Tug o’ war
You’ll also see hill races and cycling events that test speed and stamina.
And it’s not all about who is the strongest and who is the fastest. Highland dancing is a massive part of many games. Dancers compete in traditional Scottish dances wearing Highland dress to see who can dance the best. Piping and drumming are also a part of every game.
The 2026 Scottish Highland Games Season
The 2026 Scottish Highland Games season has already started. Every year, they begin in May (the actual date varies), with the peak being across July and August, so it’s perfect for Scottish summer holidays. The peak Highland Games season is where everything really comes alive with the dancing, music, and festivities, rather than just being about the games.
They finish in September, and again, the actual finish date varies every year, and throughout the tournaments, most games are held on weekends so locals can see more of the events.
We’re already deep into the games now, which started on Sunday, 10th of May, 2026, so some of the key dates on the remaining schedule include:
- Aberdeen Highland Games: 21 June
- Ceres Highland Games: 27 June
- Luss Highland Games: 4 July
- Glengarry Highland Games: 4 July
- Alva Games: 11 July
- Inveraray Highland Games: 21 July
- Mull Highland Games: 23 July
- St Andrews Highland Games: 26 July
- Newtonmore Highland Games: 1 August
- Aboyne Highland Games: 1 August
- Bridge of Allan Highland Games: 2 August
- Isle of Skye Highland Games: August
- Stirling Highland Games: 15 August
- Crieff Highland Gathering: 16 August
- Lonach Highland Gathering & Games: 22 August
- Argyllshire Gathering, Oban: 27 August
- Cowal Highland Gathering: 27–29 August
- Birnam Highland Games: 29 August
The final month of September has some exciting events:
- Braemar Highland Gathering: 5 September
- Blairgowrie Highland Games: 6 September
- Pitlochry Highland Games: 12 September
- Bowhill Highland Games: 13 September
How to Get Tickets For The Scottish Highland Games 2026
Always try to buy tickets from the official Highland Games event website, the local authority/event organiser, or the ticketing platform linked directly from the official site. And if you’re going to get tickets from a third-party retailer, always check the retailer’s legitimacy and the website before you buy.
A lot of the Highland Games are individually organised, so there is no single national ticketing system for every event, but if you are going to find tickets, the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association calendar is useful for finding official event names, dates, and links before buying tickets. Braemar Gathering 2026 tickets are already available through the official Braemar Gathering ticket page.