‘Gaelic is alive and thriving’ – that was the resounding message from this year’s host city of the Royal National Mòd, as the 2026 event officially opened in Glasgow yesterday.
The world-renowned Glasgow Royal Concert Hall set the celebratory tone from the start, dedicating the flagship Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl concert to marking four decades of Gaelic Medium Education in the city – an achievement credited with making Glasgow a major stronghold and home to one of the fastest-growing communities of Gaelic learners.
Concertgoers were guided on a musical journey through the decades by hosts and cousins Phil MacHugh and Catrìona (Carrie) MacNeil, with performances from indie trad band DLÙ, amongst others, and a rousing orchestral score performed by pupils past and present.
Reaffirming that Gaelic is a relevant and flourishing language, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall also provided the setting to announce this year’s Gaelic Learner of the Year and Friends of the Mòd.
Danielle Stewart, a 27-year-old from Dunfermline with no family ties to the language, was named Gaelic Learner of the Year by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Danielle’s passion began with photographing Gaelic-speaking regions and practicing on Duolingo. After taking multiple courses at the college and moving to Skye, she now uses Gaelic daily in her community, classes, and online content, and is keen to encourage other newcomers to learn the language.
Commenting on being awarded Gaelic Learner of the Year, Danielle said: “It means so much to me to have received this award. As someone who grew up with no Gaelic around me or in my family, the language has opened up a whole new world to me. I’m so grateful to have been welcomed into the Gaelic community and it is now a huge part of my life! I once said I had no interest in learning Gaelic, so to end up fluent and receiving this award feels wild! I couldn’t imagine my life without the language now!”
Four new Friends of the Mòd were also unveiled last night, an honour introduced in 2022 to recognise outstanding community contributions to Gaelic. These included ‘adopted’ Glaswegians Kenneth Thomson, Kenna Campbell and Mairead Macleod – originally hailing from Campbeltown, Skye and Edinburgh respectively – along with Kirsteen Grant, who was born near Glasgow.
Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Thomson is best known for his 42-year tenure as conductor of the Glasgow Gaelic Musical Association – or ‘GGs’ – leading the choir to over 20 major Mòd trophies. Kenny has produced more than 100 choral arrangements and his extraordinary contribution was formally recognised with a British Empire Medal in 2022.
Skye-born Gaelic singer, educator and mentor Kenna Campbell won the 1959 Royal National Mòd Gold Medal. Kenna helped establish Glasgow’s first Gaelic-medium primary school provision and has shaped generations of Gaelic singers through roles at Fèis, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the RSAMD, earning her an MBE in 2017.
Mairead MacLeod first competed at the Royal National Mòd in 1959, winning a traditional singing prize, before securing the Silver Medal in 1962 and Gold Medal in 1970. She co-founded the acclaimed folk group Na h-Òganaichthe following year, winning the Mòd’s group competition and performing both nationally and internationally. Mairead is an active, honoured ambassador who has connected many to the language.
Former Mòd Gold Medallist Kirsteen Grant is a prominent singer, conductor, and arranger. Having conducted Gaelic choirs for much of her life – including leading both the Stirling Gaelic Choir and Glasgow Islay Gaelic Choir to victories in the prestigious Lovat and Tulllibardine Shield competitions – Kirsteen has adjudicated at Mòds across Scotland and Canada. She has also created more than 150 musical arrangements and served on An Comunn’s Mòd and Music Committee.
This year’s inductees to Gaeldom’s Hall of Fame bring the total number of Friends of the Mòd to 21-strong.
Looking ahead to day two and the opening of the competitive events, festivalgoers can expect an even fuller programme than usual, with a record number of entrants across language, poetry, dance, and music.
High on the must-see list will be the annual Mòd Piping Championships. The country’s U16s and 16-18s will strike up at City of Glasgow College in the Junior Piping Competitions. The Senior Piping Competitions will take place at the National Piping Centre, with Premier & A Grade and B Grade categories testing competitors in Pìobaireachd, March, and Strathspey and Reel events.
Also getting underway on day two is the much-loved Mòd Fringe. Continuing the tradition of ‘super sports Saturday’, the action kicks off – quite literally – with Mòd Football at Glasgow Green. The day-long event begins with coaching and games for the U6-U12s, led by Alba FA, before the U14-16s Highland team take on home team Glasgow for the John-Archie MacKenzie Cup.
Playing close by will be the country’s shinty players. The event opens with Glasgow’s P4-7s competing in a sixes tournament for The Mòd Glasgow Cup. Next up will be the Women’s Mòd Shinty Cup with Glasgow Mid-Argyll taking on Aberdour for the LearnGaelic Challenge Cup; a pairing that will be replicated in the Men’s Mòd Shinty Cup as they vie for The Aviemore Trophy.
Off the pitch, there’s the opportunity for Glasgow Medium Education alumni to re-connect over a morning cuppa at GME@40 Show and Tell. Then, in the afternoon, there’s The Lantern Fireside Tales – an informal cèilidh-style gathering featuring stories from special guests and an open floor for others to share a story of their own – along with a workshop on Gaelic & Peatland hosted by Ross Christie from NatureScot Peatland Action.
All of which provides the perfect build-up to an evening with one of Gaeldom’s best-known musical families, Cèilidh with the Cormacks. Taking place at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the event features special guests Allan Henderson, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Murdo ‘Yogi’ Cameron, and sisters Emma and Claire Macleod.
Maggie Cunningham, Chair of An Comunn Gàidhealach, said: “Seeing each new edition of the Royal National Mòd get underway is always a hugely special moment and Glasgow has once again done itself and the event proud. By extending its famously warm welcome to one and all, the ‘City of Gaels’ has created a festival line-up inclusive of fluent speakers, learners, and newcomers alike – an approach that looks set to grow Gaeldom’s loyal following even further over the festival and long beyond and show that Gaelic is alive and thriving.”
This year’s Royal National Mòd, which runs in Glasgow until Saturday 17 October 2026, is supported by Glasgow Life, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Scottish Government, VisitScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, BBC ALBA, Creative Scotland and Qualifications Scotland.
For more information and tickets visit https://modghlaschu2026.org.
About the Royal National Mòd
- The Royal National Mòd is organised by An Comunn Gàidhealach which was founded in Oban in 1891 and has HM The King as its Patron.
- The Gaelic word “mòd” means “a gathering of people” and this festival was first held in Oban in 1892, and it has grown to become Scotland’s premier Gaelic festival famous for celebrating our Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage.
- Following Royal assent and now known as The Royal National Mòd®, it provides opportunities for people of all ages to perform across a range of competitive disciplines including Gaelic music and song, highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature.
Brath naidheachd
Disathairne 10 Dàmhair 2026
Glaschu a sealltainn gu bheil ‘Tha Gàidhlig beò is a’ soirbheachadh, agus am Mòd a’ fosgladh gu h-oifigeil
Prìomh urraman agus foghlam Gàidhlig gan comharrachadh aig tachartas an fhosglaidh agus farpaisean a’ tòiseachadh
Bidh ìomhaighean rim faotainn an seo tron t-seachdain
‘Tha Gàidhlig beò is a’ soirbheachadh’ – b’ e sin an teachdaireachd soilleir a’ tighinn bho bhaile Ghlaschu far an deach tachartas 2026 den Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail fhosgladh gu h-oifigeil an-dè.
Chaidh àrainn buadhmhor a stèidheachadh bho thoiseach ann an Talla Chonsairt Rìoghail Ghlaschu le consart Ar Cànan ’s Ar Ceòl a’ comharrachadh ceathrad bliadhna de dh’Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu – coileanadh a dh’fhàg gu bheil Glaschu a-nis na prìomh ceàrnaidh làidir do choimhearsnachd de luchd-ionnsachaidh Gàidhlig a tha a sìor fhàs.
Chuala an luchd-èisteachd ceòl tron a’ cheathrad bliadhna sin, le na h-aoighean agus co-oghaichean Phil MacÙisdean agus Catrìona (Carrie) NicNèill a’ stiùireadh an fheasgair le, am measg eile, an chòmhlan indie DLÙ, còmhla ri pìos-ciùil orcastra air a thaisbeanadh gu suigeartach le sgoilearan a bha, is a tha, ann am foghlam Gàidhlig.
Ann a bhith a’ dèanamh ath-dhearbhadh air Gàidhlig mar cànan iomchaidh agus brìoghmhor, ’s ann aig Talla Chonsairt Rìoghail Ghlaschu a chaidh Neach-ionnsachaidh na Bliadhna agus Caraidean a’ Mhòid ainmeachadh.
’S i Danielle Stiùbhart, a tha 27 bliadhna a dh’aois à Dùn Phàrlain, gun cheangal teaghlaich sam bith ris a’ chànan a chaidh ainmeachadh mar Neach-ionnsachaidh na Bliadhna le Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Thòisich ùidh Danielle sa chànan tro bhith a’ togail dhealbhan ann an ceàrnaidhean far a bheil Gàidhlig agus bho bhith ag ionnsachadh tro Duolingo. An dèidh cùrsaichean aig a’ cholaiste agus gluasad dhan Eilean Sgitheanach, tha i a-nis a’ cleachdadh Gàidhlig gu làitheil anns a’ choimhearsnachd, aig clasaichean, air loidhne agus tha i dealasach misneachd a thoirt do dh’fheadhainn eile an cànan ionnsachadh.
A’ bruidhinn an dèidh Neach-ionnsachaidh na Bliadhna a bhuileachadh oirre, thuirt Danielle: “Tha e na mhòr thlachd dhòmhsa an duais seo fhaighinn. Mar chuideigin aig nach robh Gàidhlig san teaghlach no fiù timcheall orm, tha Gàidhlig air saoghal mòr ùr fhosgladh dhomh. Tha mi air taingeil airson am fàilte a fhuair mi bho choimhearsnachd na Gàidhlig agus tha a-nis na pàirt mhòr dem bheatha! Thuirt mi uaireigin nach robh ùidh sam bith agam ann an Gàidhlig ionnsachadh, agus a-nis air dhomh ìre fileantach a ruighinn agus an duais seo fhaighinn – tha e dìreach iongantach! A-nis, chan urrainn dhomh smaoineachadh air ciamar a bhiodh mo bheath’ às aonais a’ chànain!”
A-raoir, chaidh ceathrar ùr ainmeachadh mar Charaidean a’ Mhòid, urram a chaidh a stèidheachadh ann a bhith a’ toirt aithne do sàr choileanadh coimhearsnachd don Ghàidhlig. Thàinig iad seo a Ghlaschu agus ghabh am baile seo riutha Coinneach MacThòmais, Kenna Chaimbeul agus Mairead NicLeòid – bho thùs san òrdugh sin – Ceann Loch Chille Chiaran, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach agus Dùn Èideann – còmhla ri Kirsteen Ghrannd, a rugadh faisg air baile Ghlaschu.
’S ann mar stiùiriche Ceòlraidh Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu -na GG’ – as fheàrr a dh’aithnichear Coinneach ‘Kenny’ MacThòmais, dreuchd a bh’ aige airson dà bhliadhna dheug thar fhichead – a’ togail còrr air fichead prìomh gheall-dùbhlain aig Mòdan. Tha Kenny air còrr air ceud pìos-ciùil ullachadh do chòisirean agus chaidh an coileanadh iongantach sin a chomharrachadh gu foirmeil nuair a chaidh Bonn Ìmpireachd Bhreatainn a bhuileachadh air ann an 2022.
Rugadh Kenna Chaimbeul san Eilean Sgitheanach, tha na seinneadair, neach-teagaisg agus neach-comhairle, choisinn i Bonn Òr A’ Chomunn Ghàidhealaich ann an 1959. Thug Kenna taic do bhith a’ stèidheachadh a’ chiad ullachadh bun-sgoil Ghàidhlig ann an Glaschu agus tha iomadh ginealach de sheinneadairean Gàidhlig a threòrachadh tro Fhèisean, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig agus Comann Acadamaidh Rìoghail Ceòl is Dannsa, a choisinn Ball Ìmpireachd Bhreatainn dhi ann an 2017.
Sheinn Mairead NicLeòid an-toiseach aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail ann an 1959, a cosnadh duais airson seinn san t-seann nòs, a’ leantainn sin choisinn an Aigeallan Airgid ann an 1962 agus Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich ann an 1970. Bha i mar mheadhan air am buidheann cliùiteach Na h-Òganaich a’ stèidheachadh, a buannachadh farpais chòmhlain aig a’ Mhòd, a’ cluich aig ìre nàiseanta agus eadar-nàiseanta.
Tha Kirsteen Ghrannd na buannaich air Bonn Òr a’ Chomuinn Ghàidhealaich, na seinneadair ainmeil, na stiùiriche chòisirean agus ag ullachadh pìosan-ciùil. Tha i air a bhith a’ stiùireadh chòisirean airson cuibhreann mòr dha beatha – a’ togail Sgiath MhicShimidh is Thulaich Bhàrdainn còmhla ri Còisir Ghàidhlig Shruighlea agus Chòisir Ghàidhlig Ìleach Ghlaschu. Tha Kirsteen air a bhith na britheamh aig Mòdan air feadh Alba agus Canada. Tha i cuideachd air còrr air ceud gu leth pìos ciùil ullachadh agus tha i air a bhith na Ball air Comataidh a’ Mhòid agus Comataidh Ciùil aig A’ Chomunn.
Leis a cheathrar churaidhean sin gan cuir ri Talla Urram nan Gàidheal tha aon air fhichead ball a-nis air an ainmeachadh mar Charaidean a’ Mhòid a-nis.
A’ coimhead ris an dàrna latha agus na farpaisean a fosgladh, tha am prògram fiù nas coileanta nan àbhaist, le barrachd fharpaisich ann an cànan, bàrdachd, dannsa agus ceòl.
Am measg na bu chòir fhaicinn tha Farpaisean Pìobaireachd a’ Mhòid. Bidh feadhainn fo aois 16 agus an fheadhainn eadar 16-18 aig Colaiste Baile Ghlaschu ann am Pìobaireachd Òigridh. Bidh Pìobaireachd Inbhich a’ gabhail àite aig Ionad Nàiseanta na Pìobaireachd, le prìomh chluicheadairean agus Ìre A agus Ìre B air an deuchainn ann am Pìobaireachd, Caismeachd, Srath Spè agus Ruidhle.
’S ann air an dàrna latha a bhios Iomall a’ Mhòid a tòiseachadh cuideachd. A’ leantainn air a’ ghnàthas le “sàr spòrs Disathairne”, a’ tòiseachadh le Ball-coise a’ Mhòid aig Glasgow Green. Tha tachartas fad latha a’ gabhail àite le coidseadh agus geamannan airson clann fo aois 6 suas gu aois 12, air a ruith le Alba FA, agus an uairsin bidh sgioba na Gàidhealtachd fo aois 14 agus fo aois 16 a’ strì ris a chùis a dhèanamh air sgioba Ghlaschu airson Cupa
Iain-Eàirdsidh MacCoinnich
Cuideachd a’ cluich bidh cluicheadairean iomain na rìoghachd. Tòisichidh an tachartas le clann a’ farpais airson Cupa Mòd Ghlaschu. An uairsin bidh farpais airson Cupa a’ Mhòid airson Iomain nam Ban, le Meadhan Earra-Ghàidheal Glaschu a’ strì ri Obar Dobhair airson Cupa Dùbhlain LearnGaelic; agus buidhnean na fir Cupa a’ Mhòid airson Iomain nam Fear is iadsan a’ strì airson Cupa an Aghaidh Mhòir.
Air falbh bhon raon-cluich, bidh cothrom ann dhaibhsan a chaidh tro Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig ann an Glaschu coinneachadh airson strùpag aig GME@40 Show and Tell. Feasgar, tha Seanchas an Tac an Teine – cruinneachadh neo-fhoirmeil le aoighean sònraichte ag innseadh sgeulachdan agus cothrom do dhuine sam bith na sgeulachdan aca fhèin innseadh – agus bidh bùth-obrach A’ Ghàidhlig is a’ Mhòinteach air a ruith le Ross Christie bhon bhuidheann NatureScot Ghnìomh air Mòinteach.
Agus às dèidh a h-uile a tha sin, tha oidhche mhòr a’ feitheamh oirbh ann an cuideachd teaghlach ciùil cho cliùiteach ri gin air Ghàidhealtachd, Cèilidh le na Cormacks. Bidh seo a’ gabhail àite ann an Talla Chonsairt Rìoghail Ghlaschu le aoighean sònraichte Ailean MacEanraig, Seonaidh Mac an t-Saoir, Murchadh ‘Yogi’ Camshroin agus na peathraichean Emma agus Claire NicLeòid.
Thuirt Magaidh Choineagan, Cathraiche, An Comunn Gàidhealach: “’S e àm air leth a th’ ann a bhith a fianais am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a tòiseachadh aon uair eile agus faodaidh moit a bhith air muinntir baile Glaschu air an càirdeas san coibhneas dhan tachartas. Le bhith a’ cur fàilte bhlàth chridheil air a h-uile duine gu Baile Mòr nan Gàidheal, tha prògram air leth ann a’ gabhail a-steach fileantaich, luchd-ionnsachaidh agus feadhainn a tha ùr dhan chànan is dhan chultar – a rèir coltais slighe a bhios a’ toirt fàs air luchd-leantainn dìleas na Gàidhlig tron an fhèis seo agus fada às a dèidh.”
Tha taic do Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail na bliadhna seo ann an Glaschu a tighinn bho Ghlaschu Beò, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, VisitScotland, Caledonian Mac a’ Bhriuthainn, BBC ALBA, Alba Chruthachail agus Teisteanasan Alba.
Bidh Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail a’ dol ann an Glaschu gu Disathairne 17 Dàmhair 2026.
Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh agus tiocaidean tadhailibh air https://modghlaschu2026.org
