The World Pipe Band Championships

When: 13th August 2016 & 14th August 2016
Location: Glasgow Green

Come and see the greatest pipe bands from around the world performing to become the World Pipe Band Champions!

The greatest pipe bands from around the world will descend on Glasgow Green this August with one goal – to be the World Pipe Band Champions!

The championships will return to its heartland in Glasgow Green for the 2016 competition and will roll out a brand new two-day format, on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August.

***Full details about the 2016 competition not yet released***

Once again, ‘The Worlds’ will welcome bands from as far afield as Eastern Europe, Australia, USA, Pakistan, New Zealand and Canada.

The World Pipe Band Championships is one of the highlights of Scotland’s Festival Calendar attracting spectators from all over the world.

Make sure you are part of a fantastic weekend that will delight everyone, from piping fans to anyone looking for great days out.

Tickets

Tickets can be bought from the Pipe Band Championships website.

As well as the coveted World Pipe Band Championships, don’t miss the special Piping Live! evening concerts between 9th –15th August.  The concerts boast a great line up with a fantastic mix of piping styles.

The competition

Prizes are awarded in 8 categories: Grade One, Grade Two, Grade Three “A”, Grade Three “B”, Juvenile, Grade Four “A”, Grade Four “B”, Novice & Juvenile

In the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile categories, band members must be under the age of eighteen, with the exception of one “adult” player, often instructors, who may serve as the Pipe Major or Pipe Sergeant. The remaining categories have no age restriction, but are based on proficiency. Grade One is the highest of these categories, and Novice is the lowest. Grading and eligibility are overseen by the RSPBA, and bands must apply for downgrading or upgrading.

Grade one competition

To win, Grade One bands must perform in two events:

• A March, Strathspey & Reel event (known as an “MSR”).  This consists of three pre-arranged tunes.
• A medley event, which consists of a short selection of music chosen and arranged by the band.

Until 1987, when the title was won by a Canadian pipe band (the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band), the title remained within Scotland.  Since then the title has gone to Northern Ireland 10 times with the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band, and to Canada 6 times with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band.  However the most successful band in competition is Glasgow’s very own Strathclyde Police Pipe Band, who have won the title a total of 20 times.  Coming a close second to this, the Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band have won the title 16 times now.

For 4 years in a row (2011 – 2014), the Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band (Northern Ireland) won the competition. However in 2015 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia (Scotland) took the crown for the first time in 10 years!