Glasgow was transformed into a global hub of piping excellence last week with two of the world’s most prestigious events in the piping calendar.
Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships brought together thousands of performers and spectators from across the globe.
Find out more about what happened at both events.
In this article:
Piping Live!
The city’s streets, concert halls, and outdoor venues were filled with the sound of bagpipes during the nine days of Piping Live!
The event welcomed over 30,000 attendees. From captivating concerts and hands-on workshops to fiercely contested competitions, the festival showcased the rich diversity and evolving artistry of piping.
A newly reimagined outdoor site at the National Piping Centre served as the heart of the festival. Here, they hosted daily headliners on the centre stage, including Beinn Lee, Assynt, Cala, and Malin Lewis.
The festival opened with a record-breaking big band showcase, where over 200 pipers and drummers marched through Glasgow’s West End. This was in support of Eilidh’s Trust, a charity honouring the memory of young piper Eilidh Macleod.
Throughout the week, performances by international artists from Ukraine to Australia lit up venues like Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and Buchanan Street.
Find out more about Piping Live! on pipinglive.co.ukCompetitions were a major highlight:
- Finlay Johnston won the Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies Memorial Recital Challenge
- the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band claimed victory in the G1 Reeds International Quartet Competition.
- Alan Bevan of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band retained his title in the R.G. Hardie & Co. Masters Solo Piping Competition
- The youth-focused Pipe Idol saw 15-year-old Alex Pavlovic from America crowned champion
The festival culminated in a sold-out folk evening at Saint Luke’s, where Ali Levack Big Band and Falasgair delivered a rousing finale to a packed crowd of 500.
The World Pipe Band Championships
Just as Piping Live! drew to a close, the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships took centre stage at Glasgow Green attracting:
- 35,000+ spectators
- 207 bands
- competitors from 15 countries
The two-day event is considered the pinnacle of competitive piping. Inveraray & District Pipe Band from Argyll and Bute retained their title as World Champions. This marked their fourth win after previous victories in 2017, 2019, and 2024.
Read more about the World Pipe Band Championships on glasgowlife.org.ukRunners-up included the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band from Northern Ireland and the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band from North Lanarkshire.
A new youth competition on Friday celebrated emerging talent with over 1,500 under-18s competing. Winners included George Watson's College, West Lothian Schools, and St John's College Harare from Zimbabwe.
The major international event was delivered for The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association by Glasgow Life on behalf of Glasgow City Council.
A showcase of Glasgow and Scotland
With both events showcasing the very best in traditional and contemporary piping, Glasgow reaffirmed its status as the global capital of bagpipes.
Audiences worldwide tuned in via live streams, and highlights from the World Championships will be broadcast on BBC Scotland on Thursday 21 August.
Piping Live! will return next year from 10 to 17 August 2026, promising another unforgettable celebration of music, culture, and community.
More information on Piping Live! 2026 and the World Pipe Band Championships 2026 will be available in due course.
Piping Live! and the World Pipe Band Championships have once again delivered a spectacular celebration of Scotland’s rich musical heritage, attracting thousands of talented musicians and enthusiastic spectators from across the globe.
These events not only showcase the incredible skill, passion, and camaraderie of the piping community, but also highlight the global reach and appeal of our traditions.
From sold-out shows to record-breaking performances, the energy and excitement generated throughout the week reinforce Scotland’s reputation as a world-leading destination for tourism and events.
Congratulations to all who took part, and to all the winners across both events.
There aren’t enough words to describe this year’s Piping Live!, so I’ll start with just one – thank you.
A huge thanks to each person who made it such a successful year; from the hugely talented performers who travelled far and wide to be here, our dedicated organisers and volunteers, our funders and sponsors, and everyone who attended any of our events.
We are beyond grateful to everyone for the support.
The festival is now in its 22nd year and it continues to offer new and exciting things.
Seeing our reimagined space at our home on McPhater Street come to life and welcome so many across the week has been fantastic.
Our record-breaking Big Band showcase was a real highlight as always.
Seeing over 200 pipers and drummers play with such enthusiasm and passion for Scotland’s national instrument is, for us, truly what it is all about.
Being able to welcome around 30,000 people across the festival, travelling from across the globe, is why we continue to do what we do.
There’s no greater feeling than filling Glasgow’s venues and streets with the unrivalled sound of the pipes.
We are grateful to all of the competing bands, supporters, and spectators who joined us for our 2025 championships.
This year’s "Worlds" proved to be a fiercely-fought contest and our 2025 World Pipe Band Champions Inveraray & District Pipe Band deserve huge congratulations for winning the global title for a second year running.
Every one of the bands can take great pride in their wonderful performances.
They gave us a splendid competition and demonstration of their dedication to excellence, and their outstanding skills and talent.
Our city has been privileged and proud to host Piping Live! and the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships.
Both provided a wonderful showcase of piping and the huge interest and enthusiasm that there internationally is for the bagpipes and the stirring sounds of our national instrument.
These outstanding cultural events attract thousands of visitors to our UNESCO City of Music every summer, and they have been particularly special highlights this year, as we celebrate Glasgow’s 850th anniversary.