Gaelic culture in January 2026
This month’s round-up features Celtic Connections and Mòd Medallists
Jacobite soldier and bard Colonel John Roy Stuart recalls his life and times on the 280th anniversary of his last victory at Falkirk Muir, in Latha Chùilodair. Integrated into the dramatic performance are poetic works by William Neill, Andrew Lang and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, plus a performance by double Mòd Gold Medallist Màiri Callan (pictured). Catch it for a matinee or evening showing at Muse Theatre in Edinburgh (Saturday 17).
This year’s Celtic Connections includes a cornucopia of Gaelic talent. The Royal Concert Hall will host Brìghde Chaimbeul and Maggie MacInnes (Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29). Inspired by recordings dating back to the 50s and 60s which were collected by folklorist Dr James Kalokerinos, MacInnes is set to engage with the diverse repertoire of her mother, Flora MacNeil, featuring a mixture of deep cuts and time-honoured classics.
MAL fuses the raw energy of underground electronic beats with the soul of traditional folk instruments. Led by harpist Malachy Arnold, blending techno, house and jungle, Gaelic-speaking ravers can get their glowsticks out at SWG3 (Friday 30). On the festival’s penultimate night (Saturday 31), explore the more relaxing strains of the instrument as harpist Karen Marshalsay plays Tron Theatre or witness Dàimh hitting the Barrowlands stage.
Also in the later part of the month, Kelvingrove Gallery plays host to a series of inclusive Gaelic singing workshops. Aspiring Gaelic performers can explore Waulking Songs with Argyll’s Joy Dunlop (Saturday 24) and Skye and Barra’s Catherine Tinney (Saturday 31) both in the St Kilda Gallery. In the French Gallery, you can also try puirt-à-beul with Dunlop to wake the senses (Saturday 24), while Tinney will also settle you into sleep with Gaelic lullabies (Saturday 31).