The world's biggest pipe band competition, with bands from more than 14 countries and around 8,000 pipers and drummers at Glasgow Green.
The World Pipe Band Championships are back at Glasgow Green on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 August 2027. Around the city, people just call it 'the Worlds', and it's the biggest pipe band competition on the planet. Bands from more than 14 countries gather here to compete for the most prestigious title in the piping calendar, and it's the kind of thing that brings the whole city's piping tradition out into the open.
It's a huge operation. Usually, around 8,000 pipers and drummers and more than 200 pipe bands take part, with the competition traditionally falling on the second Saturday in August. The first Championships were held in Edinburgh in 1947, and the first Glasgow edition followed the next year; since then, the city has been described as the proud global home of piping. You can follow the bands through the grades, with a Grade 1 ticket giving you access to the Grade 1 Arena for the top-level competition. There's also a Glasgow Environmental Levy charged on tickets, introduced by the City Council in 2019 to help maintain the parks' infrastructure.
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Friday is the general admission day: adults are £16.00 in advance and £21.50 on the day, children under 16 are £12.50 and £17.50, concessions are £12.50 and £17.50, and family tickets are £31.00 and £42.00. Saturday is a bit more, with adults at £28.00 and £33.00, children at £21.50 and £27.50, concessions at £21.50 and £27.50, and family tickets at £66.00 and £79.00. If you want the Grade 1 Arena on Saturday, that's a separate ticket: £45.00 in advance and £49.50 on the day. Gates open at 07:00 on both days, with the competition starting around 09:00 on Friday.
