Glasgow has set the bar high for this year’s Royal National Mòd with a jam-packed line-up over opening weekend.
On the Mòd Shinty pitches, Aberdour emerged the victors in a fiercely contested Youth Mòd Cup, securing them theMòd Glasgow Cup. In the Women’s and Men’s Mòd Shinty Cup, Glasgow Mid-Argyll dominated, winning both the LearnGaelic Challenge Cup, and The Aviemore Trophy respectively.
There were just as many eyes on the silverware in the Mòd Piping Championships, one of the many traditional competitions to get underway at venues throughout the host city.
In the Senior Piping events, Angus Macphee from Inverness took the Pìobaireachd in the Premier & A Grade – the highest professional tier in solo piping – while Ben Duncan from Edinburgh won the Premier & A Grad March, Strathspey and Reel.
Glasgow-based Kyle Shead lifted the Sheelah J Nicol Memorial Trophy for the B Grade Pìobaireachd and Callum Carn, who is from New Zealand and now living in Glasgow, triumphed in the B Grade March, Strathspey and Reel.
In the Junior Piping, 16-year-old Morla Bruce, from Glenalmond College in Perth bagged the W.G.G Wilson Trophy for the 16-18 Pìobaireachd, and Isle of Skye’s Seonaidh Forrest won the Royal Highland Fusiliers Cup for the 16-18 March, Strathspey and Reel.
In the U16s competitions, 15-year-old James Silcock from Falkirk took first place across three Under 16s competitions, clinching the Dr DS MacLaggan Memorial Trophy in the Pìobaireachd, the Roderick Munro Quaichin the 2/4 March competition and finally, the Lighting Electrical Cup for his Strathspey and Reel.
Adding to the vibrancy of the day, the Highland Art Prize 2026 shortlist was unveiled at The Briggait in Glasgow’s east end. This year’s judges – multi-disciplinary artist Eòghann Mac Colla and gallery owner Scott Bennett – selected 12 artworks from the 75 two-dimensional pieces on display from across the Highlands and Islands.
The full exhibition runs until Saturday 17 October, alongside 2025 winner Katherine Sutherland’s solo show, The Way I See It. This year’s Highland Art Prize winner will be announced at a special prizegiving on Friday 16 October.
Bringing a busy opening Saturday to the perfect close was Cèilidh with the Cormacks – a stunning evening with one of Gaeldom’s most accomplished musical families, joined by special guests Allan Henderson, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Murdo ‘Yogi’ Cameron, Emma Macleod and Claire Macleod.
For sports fans, the inaugural Johnny MacKenzie Cup promises to provide the on-pitch drama and a history-making moment. Alba FA will take on Partick Thistle U19s at Glasgow’s Petershill Park to honour the trophy’s namesake, the legendary Gaelic-speaking ‘Firhill Flyer’ who played most of his football career at Partick Thistle and was Scotland’s last capped Gaelic speaker.
D-I Brown, Convenor of the Royal National Mòd Local Organising Committee, said: “The winning formula for every successful Mòd is an inclusive programme that caters to all ages, skill levels, and interests. The team behind Mòd Ghlaschu – including An Comunn Gàidhealach, our local organising committee, event partners and many volunteers – has worked tirelessly to deliver exactly that.
“Our opening weekend combines friendly competition, Fringe events and moments for quiet reflection – offering something for everyone, with much still more to come over the week ahead.”