Pipe Idol is back for 2026 on Centre Stage at the Festival Site!
Competitors will perform a set including a hornpipe and jig, a March, Strathspey and Reel and a medley of tunes between 5 – 7 minutes long. This event will showcase the best young pipers in the world. With 4 competitors each day, one winner will be selected to go through the the grand final which takes place on Thursday 13th August. Get Grand Final Tickets here.

Heat 1 Line up is: 

Maggie McConnochie, New Zealand
Douglas Baird, Scotland
Colin Richdale, Canada
Liam Nicolson, Australia

The programming on Centre Stage and in the Bothy are included in your Festival Site day or week ticket. 

Thanks to Fred Morrison Pipes for their generous sponsorship of this event

The Venue

The centre serves as a national and international centre of excellence for the great Highland Bagpipe and its music. The Festival Site with the Centre Stage and Bothy Tent, as well as our food and drink tents will be on outside the Centre on McPhater Street. Ticket information is available here

Accessibility

The National Piping Centre and Pipers' Tryst restaurant has step access at both doors.

There is a lift available from the side of the building to all floors.

There are accessible toilets on the ground floor and 1st floor of the building.

During Piping Live! access is through the ramped entrance to the Festival Site, with ramp access into the Bothy where there is a bar.

There is also step free access to the lift access, which will be staffed by volunteers to assist you to your floor.

There is also an accessible toilet next to The Bothy.

You can see full access information at Euan's Guide here

Event Sponsor

Fred Morrison Pipes