The Oor Vyce Gaitherin 2026

The Oor Vyce Gaitherin takes over the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 27 November, a full day dedicated to the Scots-speaking community. It runs from 09:30 and goes on for eight hours, with different things happening across multiple spaces in the building.

The day is built around workshops, live performances and cross-generational networking, and it closes with a youth-chaired panel of industry professionals from music, film, media and digital tech. The whole thing sits within the Carrying Stream Festival, which centres on the life and work of Hamish Henderson and takes place around his birth anniversary on 11 November. The festival was the Edinburgh Folk Club's idea, and they ran it for years before passing the baton to the Carrying Stream team.

The name comes from the Carrying Stream itself — the idea of rich oral traditions being passed down and carried into modern, living spaces. The gaitherin draws on the grassroots strength of the Scots language movement, and its aim is to celebrate creativity, break down linguistic barriers and shape an inclusive future for Scots. It's as much about the people as the language, with the day bringing together speakers and learners from different generations.

Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with options including £8.00, plus a handling fee of £1.25 per ticket, capped at four tickets. It starts at 09:30 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR.