Think warm weather - Summer Season Solo and Band Competition Entries Open!

Ten sanctioned highland games competitions are scheduled for the Ontario 2026 Summer season, kicking off with the Hamilton Highland Gathering on Saturday June 6th. Hamilton is a unique urban backdrop and allows bands and soloists to get the early cobwebs out under a more relaxed setting. This competition is limited to ten grade 3, 4 & 5 bands.

Georgetown promises to be another great day of competition and we are again expecting high solo and band entries this year. Kingsville-Essex Highland Games are back in a new venue. If you've never been to Embro Highland Games, it's well worth a visit and it's a great mid-week break - always held on Canada Day. Cambridge Scottish Festival will celebrate their 50th anniversary year this July.

The Glengarry Highland Games and North American Pipe Band Championships will see three overseas judges this year: Barry Donaldson (RSPBA piping), Paul Turner (RSPBA drumming) and Dr Angus MacDonald (Gold medal on Friday and professional piobaireachd on Saturday)

• June 6th Hamilton Highland Gathering (amateur solo and grade 3, 4 & 5 bands)

• June 13th Georgetown Highland Games (full solo and all grade bands)

• June 20th Northumberland Highland Games (full solo and all grade bands)

• June 27th Kingsville-Essex Highland Games (amateur solo and grade 3, 4 & 5 bands)

• July 1st Embro Highland Games (full solo events and grade 2, 3, 4, 5 & Juvenile bands)

• July 4th Kincardine Highland Games (full solo and all band grades except Juvenile)

• July 18th Cambridge Scottish Festival (full solo and all band grades except Juvenile)

• July 31st -Aug 1st Glengarry Highland Games (full solo and all band grade competitions)

• August 8th Fergus Scottish Festival (full solo and all band grades except Juvenile)

• August 22nd North Lanark Highland Games (amateur solos and grade 3, 4 & 5 bands)

The band and solo master entry forms are available HERE. For registered members, solo entries can also be submitted online HERE.

Juvenile Band Competitions Expanded

We are pleased to announce this season also includes four juvenile band competitions at: Georgetown, Northumberland, Embro and Glengarry (Maxville).

Grade 3 Bands at the North American Championships

Grade 3 bands at Maxville will now play twice - showcasing both their MSR and Medley. Like grade 1 and 2, the results will be an aggregate of both performances.

Practice Pad and Practice Chanter

Starting this season any youth competitors wishing to enter the practice pad or practice chanter competitions can do so for free. These competitions are reserved for members that have never competed on a snare drum or bagpipes before.

Some minor rule book changes for 2026

The Music Committee and Governance Committee recommended some minor changes to the 2026 Competition Rule Book. These changes were approved by the Board on February 14th.

Rule C-8 Clarification on Grade 5/Juvenile march medley requirements, it now simply states: "Tunes that are ‘march-able’ in simple or compound time signatures, played in quick time".

Rule C-11 Bands challenging up: simplified and clarified.  Bands will receive placing but no prize money.  (previously they only received judges sheets)

- Any band in the top 5 CS from previous year may challenge up. (was top 3)

- No challenge up at North American Championships (Maxville) or when time does not permit.

- Bands may only challenge-up twice per season.

Rule C-13 First massed bands exemption has been changed to allow the senior steward/ops manager discretion on the day for the number of bands exempted.

- exempted bands will be advised at the 11:00 am band meeting.

Rule C-13 We have received complaints about a lack of decorum at some massed bands.  New rules re discipline and sanctions are now in place.

The Board would like to re-iterate that the massed bands performances are a highlight for the spectators and games committees. It's imperative that we continue to put on a great show for the paying public.

For full details refer to the 2026 Competition Rule Book HERE.

For questions or further information, please contact the operations manager at admin@ppbso.org

We're looking forward to a great competition season in 2026.