Royal Highland Show: who is on stage at The Reeling
This week the Royal Highland Show comes to its natural home at Ingliston near Edinburgh. Over four days, many thousands of Fifers will venture over to see the farm animals, the trade stands, the skills and the spectacle of this colossal event.
On site parking is where the long-lost market used to be and links via tram and bus ensure less gridlock that once was the norm some years ago.
In a week that has seen Barry Manilow and Take That command huge audiences in Glasgow here in the east a more Scottish traditional approach by the show organisers will feature some homegrown talent. In previous years The Royal Highland Hoolie attracted big names like Manran and Nathan Carter over two days but this all changes for 2026.
The Reeling is a one day Saturday event priding itself in Scottish Traditional music. Five-piece Breabach will open the show after gates open at 3:00pm. Formed over 20 years ago their contemporary folk blend Highland and Gaelic traditions with progressive influences featuring double bagpipes, fiddle, double bass, guitar and vocals in the lively set.
Dlu are also a five piece and Cosmos, the current single from their second album Close To shows how live and energetic they can be. Euan Smillie (fiddle), Alasdair Taylor (mandolin), Calum MacQuarrie (bass) and Greg Barry (drums, samples) make up Elephant Sessions, a multi award winning band from the Highlands who regularly sell out shows at Celtic Connections. Glasgow based Kinnaris Q were formed in 2017 with a love of lively fiddle based traditional music. Jenn, Aileen, Laura-Beth and Fiona have released albums Free One in 2018 and This Too in 2022 winning awards along the way.
Dougie MacLean is a Scottish legend and in the Scottish Music Hall Of Fame and known for his composition Caledonia, and finally Skipinnish are over 25 years in the making with a huge following blending traditional and modern music.
Tickets for The Reeling at royalhighlandshow.org