Glenurquhart Highland Gathering & Games

Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games

The Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games takes place on 22 August 2026 at the Games Field in Drumnadrochit, IV63 6XA. The event is set against the backdrop of Loch Ness and combines Highland culture with athletics, piping, dancing and traditional competitions.

The programme includes the World Female Heavy Events Championship, the first World Female Heavy Events Championship sanctioned by the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association in Scotland. That championship is run under RSHGA rules, is limited to ten places, and has an entry deadline of 1 July 2026 or earlier if the limit is met. Automatic qualification standards are set for events such as shot putt, weight for distance, Scots hammer and weight over the bar.

Open and junior heavy events are contested under RSHGA rules. Open heavy events are limited to eight competitors because of the championship schedule. Junior heavy events include shot putt, Scots hammer, weight over the bar and caber, and are open to athletes born between 31/12/2008 and 23/08/2014 with a maximum of six competitors.

The athletics programme follows SAL rules and offers sprints, middle distance and jump events in female and open categories, with specific under 14 events for athletes born after 01/01/2013. Piping competitions include Piobaireachd and welcome senior and junior pipers. Local events for community competitors cover Open Senior, Under 16 and Under 12 age categories. Tug of War is part of the afternoon programme.

Entries open 23 January 2026 and close 20 August 2026. Registration fees cover gate entry and are detailed for the World Female Heavy Events Championship and other categories, with separate arrangements for local on the day entries. The Glen Challenge and the Achmony Hill Race are not included in this registration. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.