Piping puts Glasgow on the world’s stage

Glasgow’s streets and green spaces resounded with the stirring skirl of the pipes last week as the city hosted the world’s biggest celebration of the traditional and contemporary sounds of our national instrument, the bagpipes.

International festival Piping Live! and the 2025 World Pipe Band Championships attracted thousands of performers and spectators from across the globe.

Over the nine days of its 22nd edition, Piping Live! – which came to a close on Sunday 17 August – delivered a packed and diverse programme featuring captivating concerts, fiercely-fought competitions, and interactive workshops. 

The festival saw record attendances of 30,000, with people of all ages and nationalities attending events and activities at the National Piping Centre’s new outdoor site and locations across the city.

On Friday 15 and Saturday 16 August, the renowned ‘Worlds’ – the premier contest in the global piping calendar – gathered together more than 8,000 pipers and drummers as 207 bands representing 15 countries competed in the ultimate ‘battle of the bagpipes’.

The spectacular finale of the two-day contest, which attracted over 35,000 attendances, culminated in Scotland retaining the top title. Last year’s winners, Inveraray & District Pipe Band, lifted the crown as 2025 World Pipe Band Champions.

The major event, which the city first staged in 1948 and has hosted every year since 1986, was delivered by Glasgow Life on behalf of organisers, The Royal Pipe Band Association, with support from EventScotland – part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.