Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival - Highland Dancing

Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival - Highland Dancing The Highlands and Islands Music and Dance Festival has developed into one of Scotland’s major cultural festivals, and takes place annually in Oban.

The festival began in 1984, when its aims were to encourage young talent to participate in and develop the traditional arts of music and dance of the highlands and islands of Scotland. We are delighted to celebrate our 40th anniversary since the start of the festival in 2024. Prior to Covid the festival offered over 1100 participants the opportunity to take part in 125 competition classes in eleve

n disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, woodwind & brass, singing, highland dancing and choreography. One of the many events hosted was the Highlands and Islands Fiddle and Accordion Masters featuring prize-winning fiddle and accordion players from the main competition championships throughout Scotland. Following the two year break for Covid, we have gradually reintroduced many of the competitions in highland dancing, piping and drumming. Last year saw the return of the very popular Schools' Day which we hope to develop further in 2024. We are also excited that the Junior Accordion and Fiddle competitions are to be part of the 2024 programme.

Congratulations to the McCreadie School (Choreographers: Maryann McCreadie and Lee- Ann Christie), winners of the Open A...
09/05/2026

Congratulations to the McCreadie School (Choreographers: Maryann McCreadie and Lee- Ann Christie), winners of the Open Age Group Scottish Choreography Challenge with their dance ‘A Glasgow Welcome’.

Congratulations to the McCreadie/Low/Campbell Schools (Choreographers: Maryann McCreadie and Lee-Ann Christie), winners ...
08/05/2026

Congratulations to the McCreadie/Low/Campbell Schools (Choreographers: Maryann McCreadie and Lee-Ann Christie), winners of the 16 years and over Scottish Choreography Challenge with their dance ‘Reiteach - Whisky Galore’

Congratulations to the McCorkindale School (Choreographer: James McCorkindale), winners of the 15 years Scottish Choreog...
07/05/2026

Congratulations to the McCorkindale School (Choreographer: James McCorkindale), winners of the 15 years Scottish Choreography Challenge with their dance ‘The Scarecrow Barn Dance’

Congratulations to the Sandra and Zoe Lees/Linda Jackson Schools (Choreographers: Sandra Lees, Zoe Lees and Linda Jackso...
06/05/2026

Congratulations to the Sandra and Zoe Lees/Linda Jackson Schools (Choreographers: Sandra Lees, Zoe Lees and Linda Jackson), winners of the 12 years and under Scottish Choreography Challenge with their dance ‘THE SCOTTISH SHOWTIME CABARET’

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Scottish National Challenge. Thank you to the BATD, SDTA and UKA Dance for sp...
05/05/2026

Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Scottish National Challenge. Thank you to the BATD, SDTA and UKA Dance for sponsoring this event.

Congratulations to the team from Argyll and Bute who were the winners of the 2026 Scottish Area Finals🤩
04/05/2026

Congratulations to the team from Argyll and Bute who were the winners of the 2026 Scottish Area Finals🤩

Congratulations to all the dancers and teachers who took part in the HIMDF competitions over the weekend- we hope lots o...
03/05/2026

Congratulations to all the dancers and teachers who took part in the HIMDF competitions over the weekend- we hope lots of new memories were made!

Congratulations to the dancers and teachers from Argyll & Bute who won the Scottish Area Finals for a second time!

Massive thank you to the BATD, SDTA and UKA Dance for their sponsorship for the Scottish National Challenge.
Scottish National Challenge 2026
11years Winner: Molly Robertson
12years & Under 16years Winner: Serena Bianconcini
16years and Over Winner: Eilidh Gammons

Scottish Choreography Challenge 2026
12years
Winner: Sandra and Zoe Lees/Linda Jackson Schools
Choreographers: Sandra and Zoe Lees and Linda Jackson

15years
Winner: McCorkindale School
Choreographer: James McCorkindale

16 years and over
Winner: McCreadie/Low/ Campbell Schools
Choreographer: Lee-Anne Christie and Maryann McCreadie

Open Age Group
Winner: McCreadie School
Choreographer: Lee-Ann Christie and Maryann McCreadie

To all the Organisers of the qualifying events for the Scottish Area Finals which are held over the year- THANK YOU! Without this continued support we would not be able to host this unique event.

And a final thank you to our Judges, our fabulous Pipers, pianist, all our helpers, dancers and tamilies for helping us come together in Oban once again, to celebrate all things dance!

Third and final day of HIMDF 2026! Good luck to all dancers!
03/05/2026

Third and final day of HIMDF 2026! Good luck to all dancers!

03/05/2026
ARGYLL & BUTE 2026 Left to Right: Ashley Laird, (1st Juvenile), Lucy Cameron (2nd Senior), Kayla Crowe (2nd Juvenile), E...
02/05/2026

ARGYLL & BUTE 2026
Left to Right: Ashley Laird, (1st Juvenile), Lucy Cameron (2nd Senior), Kayla Crowe (2nd Juvenile), Eilidh Gammons (1st Senior), Naomi Sim (2nd Junior), Linzi Cameron (3rd Senior), Ayla Brolly (3rd Juvenile), Abigail McAlister (3rd Junior), Korri McMillan (1st Junior),

Address

Atlantis Leisure, Dalriach Road
Oban
PA34 5JE

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival - Highland Dancing posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival - Highland Dancing:

Shortcuts

Share