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CURRENT PROGRAMME
June 2026 on
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EVENT
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DATE |
VENUE
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Scottish Ceilidh Club.
Regular Club nights, 7:30pm start, dance to live music! |
2026:
. 31 Oct
. 28 Nov
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St David’s in the Field, Hillsborough Rd, Auckland |
More information - contact Anne-Marie. learnScotsfiddle@gmail.com |
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Auckland Scottish Fiddle Club.
Regular Club nights, 7.30pm start, play Scottish music with a group.
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2026:
1st & 2nd Friday each month, Feb to Dec
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St Lukes Church, 130 Remuera Rd, Auckland 1050 |
More information - contact Anne-Marie. learnScotsfiddle@gmail.com |
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Ceilidh - hosted by the Titirangi Folk Music Club
Live music by Reel to Reel, fun get-together for friends and family. $15 entry, under-15s free.
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20 June 2026
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Titirangi Beach Hall, Titirangi Road, Titirangi, Auckland.
8pm start
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Details here
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Tartan Day 2026
Celebrate international Tartan Day a few days early! (see next entry).
Scottish Clans Assoc. (Auckl'd) partners with Auckland Museum to celebrate tartan with Clan info, Scots music & dancing, activities for the kids, and more.
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27 June 2026 |
Atrium - Auckland War Memorial Museum
10am-1:30pm
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Full details on the Museum website
For historical background info. on Tartan Day, click here
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Kirkin' o' the Tartan
A special church service - wear your kilt or some tartan. Clan banners are piped in and blessed during the service with a friendly morning tea that includes haggis afterwards.
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28 June 2026 |
St Andrews Church, Symonds St, Auckland
10am start
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For more details on the historical significance of Kirkin' o' the Tartan, click here
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International Tartan Day.
Celebrated on (or about) July 1 in New Zealand and Australia, this date marks the repeal in 1782 of the Act of Proscription that had banned the wearing of all Highland dress for 65 years.
(Note - The USA & Canada celebrate Tartan Day on April 6, commemorating the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath).
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1 July every year |
Your place? |
If you can't make it to the Museum - or if the museum event inspired you! - organise your own celebration.
For historical background info. on Tartan Day, click here
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XXIII Commonwealth Games, Glasgow
Not exactly a NZ event, but good to know about. Glasgow saved the 2026 Games, taking over when Victoria (Australia) withdrew from hosting due to rising costs.
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27 July to 2 August 2026 |
Hopefully NZ will see some of it on TV. |
Overview of the daily schedule is on the Games website here
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Whakatane Pipe Bands Festival.
Hosted by the Whakatane Scottish Pipe Band, to showcase pipe bands to the community, and bring together bands-people of all abilities. Bands can compete, or take the “comments only” option. Starts with a street march, then performances, massed band and Scottish-themed market.
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26 September 2026
10 am start
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Whakatane High School.
56 Goulstone Road, Whakatane
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For
a) Band Entry Form (closes 31.7.26) AND
b) Contest Rules & Conditions of Entry -
Contact
whakatanescottishpipeband@gmail.com
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NOTE:
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!!!
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NOTE: All entries below are OVER |
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!!! All entries below are OVER !!!
(Kept for historical reasons)
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PAST SEASON
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Oct 2025 - May 2026 |
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Tartan Up The Green
11-4pm. bagpipe competition and Highland dancing, family day out.
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4 October 2025 |
Brewtown 27 Blenheim Street, Upper Hutt, Wellington, |
Details here
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Pipe Works - The Sounds Of The Hamilton Caledonian Pipe Band
Two shows, 2-3.30pm and 7-8.30pm
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18 October 2025 |
Southwell Performing Arts Centre, 200 Peachgrove Rd, Claudlands, Hamilton |
Details here
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Hororata Highland Games
Highland Dance, Piping & Drumming, all the heavyweight competitions (Tossing the Caber etc), vendors and more. Great family fun.
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8 November 2025 |
Hororata Domain, 102
Hororata Road Hororata
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Details here
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Kids Christmas Ceilidh.
Free fun for the kids - dancing and Christmas party, 1.30-4.30pm
Thanks to Clan Donald and Clan McLeod Auckland for support.
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16 November 2025
Early registration much appreciated for catering numbers!
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Auckland Irish Club, Rock Nook Ave, Fowlds Park, Mt Albert, Auckland |
TO REGISTER - text "DANCE" to Jeanette on 021 024 98576 - see poster details here
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Pipes and Brass Christmas Concert - NorthCal Pipe Band
Sadly cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances
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23 November 2025
CANCELLED
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| St Andrew's Day |
30 November every year |
A celebration of Scotland's patron saint. |
Traditionally celebrated in Scotland with a St Andrews Day dinner - a good opportunity for those with Scottish roots to do the same. |
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Jenny Mair Square Day
Competitions for Pipe Bands, solo piping & drumming, Highland Dance, Scottish vendor stalls too!
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13 December 2025 |
The Square, Palmerston North |
Brief details here
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Helen McGregor Memorial Medley Trophy (solo piping)
Helen’s dying wish was a piping competition where the best of NZ's pipers can “flair their fingers” & play music of their own choice.
5:30pm start, tickets at the door, supper is served, bar sales available.
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30 December 2025 |
Foyer of the Celtic Barn - Caledonian Park, Waipu. |
Details here
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Waipu Highland Games
The most entertaining way to END the year!
All-day family fun 9am-5pm - piping, dancing, stalls, kids races, and traditional Highland sports from 9 to 5. Then take a short break and ring in the New Year with a Ceilidh starting at 8pm in the stunning Caledonian Barn (see next entry for details).
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31 December 2025- Scottish Hogmanay!
(Note change of date- now New Year's EVE (NOT 1st January). This is the second year of this date change!
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Caledonian Park,, Waipu. |
Details here
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Waipu New Year's Eve Ceilidh
See in the New Year with a traditional Scottish Social Gathering - Gaelic folk music, song, dance and convivial company, held at the end of the Waipu Games Day Enjoy the bagpipes and Celtic music from “Twisty Willow”, the fabulous folk music group.
$25 a head, 8pm start, finish at 1am on New Years Day.
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31 December through to 1am on 1 January.
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Celtic Barn, Caledonian Park,, Waipu. |
Details here
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NZ Gàidhealtachd
2026 Theme: The Sea Kingdoms – Travel and Trade
NZ has a deep Celtic heritage; immerse yourself in Celtic knowledge & skills, arts, language, history, music, dance, values & traditions.
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1 - 7 January 2026
Camp onsite for all (or part) of the week
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Maungaturoto Country Club
84 Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto
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Details and registration here
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RNZPBA Summer School 2026
The Royal NZ Pipe Band Association is again hosting this world-class piping and drumming school. Something for all levels, group lessons, masterclass workshops and more.
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7-11 January 2026
Registrations open now
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St Andrews College, Christchurch |
More details and link for registration here
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Burns Night
Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth in 1759 |
25 January every year (but can be on any suitable date around this time) |
There may be a Burns night near you - check your local events news.
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Burns Night is traditionally celebrated by a Burns Supper with haggis, neeps & tatties etc. But why not create your own with a BBQ or whatever! |
Turakina Highland Games
New Zealand's oldest Scottish Games first held in 1864. Sports, piping & drumming, Highland dance, Clan tents and Scottish vendors 9am-5pm. Followed by an evening BBQ and Ceilidh |
31 January 2026 |
Turakina Domain, Cameron Road, Turakina
(20 km south of Whanganui on SH3)
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Details here
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Paeroa Highland Games& Tattoo
Piping & drumming, Highland dance, Clans, heavyweight Scottish field events, Scottish vendors, Steam Punk, variety acts, and an evening tattoo.
9am-9pm
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14 February 2026 |
Paeroa Domain, Paeroa |
Details here
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RNZPBA Auckland Centre Band Contest RNZPBA
Pipe Bands from Northland, all parts of Auckland, and as far south as Franklin
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22 February 2026 |
Waikaraka Park 175-243 Neilson St, Onehunga, Auckland |
Brief details here
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RNZPBA Wellington-Hawkes Bay Centre Pipe Band Contest
Hear some great piping and drumming as bands from this region practice for the Nationals in March
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28 February 2026 |
Marist Sports Grounds, 19 Pascal Street, Palmerston North |
Contact: nancymartin49@gmail.com
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Pipes in the Park
Highland Gathering 10am-5pm with food, fun for the children, Clan and Craft markets contests and performances - piping, drumming and dance!
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7 March 2026 |
Avalon Park, Taita Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt (Wellington region) |
Details here
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RNZPBA Canterbury Centre Contest
More great piping and drumming as bands from this region practice for the Nationals in March
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7-8 March |
Riccarton Bush, Christchurch |
Details here
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New Zealand Pipe Band Championships ("The Nationals"
Street parade and performances from NZ Bands & even some from Australia and Canada). Competing across grades 1-3 - who will be the best this year?
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20-21 March 2026
9am-5pm each day
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TET Stadium & Events Centre, 1 Elliot St,Inglewood, Taranaki (16 km southeast of New Plymouth on StateHighway 3). |
Details here and here
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Easter Hawkes Bay Highland Gathering
Contests for solo Piping & Highland dancing. |
4-5 April 2026 |
Lindisfarne College, Pakowhai Rd, Hastings |
Details to come |
Tartan Day
This celebration started in the USA & Canada and has now spread to Scotland! (NZ & Oz celebrate International Tartan Day on Jul 1) |
6 April every year |
Anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320) |
Wear a touch of tartan today to celebrate your Scottish heritage\
For historical background info. on Tartan Day, click here
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Unicorn Day
(In Scotland and elsewhere)
Fun fact:The Unicorn is Scotland's national animal & even appears on their Royal Coat of Arms.
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9 April every year |
Your place? the local park?
Get creative and have some fun!
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For more background and ideas, check here and here
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Scottish Concert
Presented by the tutors of ScotStringNZ (from Skye, Oban and Orkney) with their NZ students who have just completed a week-long workshop on keyboard, string, & other instruments.
2pm start. Door sales $20pp, school age children free.
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18 April 2026 |
Harmony Hall, 3 Wynyard St, Devonport, Auckland
2PM START
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Concert - NorthCal Pipe Band with Whangarei District Brass
Plus a backing band and the Lothian Highland Dancers.
Matinee performance, 2pm start.
Tickets at TryBooking, also Cash door sales
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17 May 2026 |
Salvation Army Hall, Aubrey St, Whangarei |
Tickets $30, School years $10, Under-5s free.
Enquiries: Jill Mutch 0274 821967 |
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