Gaelic culture in February and March 2026
This two-month round-up features running, sketching and belonging
February showers bring with them torrents of Gaelic music and visual art, kicking off in the Highlands. The Caledonian Wool Company Shop hosts Irene Eveson, as participants ‘weave the view’, creating tapestries inspired by the natural world (Saturday 14). Brave the outdoors with Fort William’s Nevis Centre And Highland Artists as Jack Spowart leads a morning hike, exploring landscape drawing. Supported by Scottish Mountaineering Press, you’ll learn thumbnail sketching and fine-line pen work or join geologist and artist Phoebe Sleath in Glen Nevis to paint in watercolour (both Saturday 14). Then warm up with your Valentine as the Red Hot Chilli Pipers perform at Inverness Leisure (Saturday 14).
Floodgates open for the return of Seachdain na Gàidhlig. Online events include a talk on the hidden history of Gaelic dance and Q&A with Dr Michael Newton (Thursday 26) and there’s plenty in the capital, too. Bothan Dhùn Èideann takes over the National Museum with drop-in concerts (Friday 23) and NLS hosts three behemoths of the Gaelic broadcasting world. Matthew MacIver, Cathy MacDonald and Calum Maclean explore media from the 1980s through to the modern digital age (Thursday 26). Later at NLS Tawana Maramba journeys with Zimbabwean protagonist Anesu and water spirit Njuzu through friendship, belonging and cultural discovery (Friday 27). The festival’s own ambassador Joy Dunlop (pictured) will lead a song workshop at the Quaker Meeting House too (Wednesday 25).
On the West Coast, Dunlop will also feature alongside Fèis Phàislig and a hundred other performers, celebrating their ten-year anniversary, led by accordionist Grant MacFarlane. Gary Innes and Ewen Henderson are also at Paisley Town Hall (Saturday 7). Bun-sgoil Innis an Uillt embrace families too as their big day out in the park will unite children across authorities, doing orienteering and outdoor team building through Gaelic immersion (Wednesday 25).
Then into March, Dr Alasdair Whyte will showcase research from his book Glasgow’s Gaelic Place-Names, telling Glasgow’s story beginning a thousand years ago. Join him for the full Auchenshuggle to Yoker at The Glasgow Academy (Wednesday 18). Move into spring as The Slip Studio brings a pottery workshop perfect for beginners to Nairn Community And Arts Centre (Saturday 7). Later, Girls On Hills take wayfarers on a two-day guided trail-running journey, passing lochs with pitstops in mountain bothies. Spend a night with them in Loch Ossian eco-hostel as part of their storytelling odyssey (Saturday 28).