Highlands & Islands Music & Dance Festival

28th - 30th April 2023

The festival began in 1984, when its aims were to encourage young talent to participate in and develop the traditional arts of music and dance of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

The festival has developed to include new special events and competitions, and has offered over 1100 participants, 125 competition classes in eleven disciplines including piping, accordion, fiddle, clarsach, piano, recorder, woodwind & brass, singing, highland dancing and choreography.

In previous years in addition to the many competition classes, the festival has also hosted a number of special events annually, including:

The Highlands and Islands Fiddle and Accordion Masters featuring prize-winning fiddle and accordion players from the main competition championships throughout Scotland.

The Scottish Area Finals, the culmination of the whole year’s competition circuit, featuring seventeen teams, and the only highland dancing team event to be held in the world!

The Scottish Choreography Challenge featuring two days of entertainment of the highest standard. Teams of dancers compete for prestigious prizes using innovative dance routines incorporating traditional highland dancing steps, sound and lighting effects and dazzling costumes.

The Festival Fling, when competitors, family and friends dance into the wee small hours to a traditional Scottish dance band in the Argyllshire Gathering Halls.

Outdoor Showcase in Station Square! Supported by live broadcast on Oban FM.

FULL PROGRAMME

Friday 28th April 2023
School’s Day - Corran Halls
Highland Dancing - Scottish Choreography Challenge - Corran Halls

Saturday 29th April 2023
Highland Dancing - Scottish Area Finals (AM) - Atlantis Leisure
Highland Dancing - Scottish Choreography Challenge (PM) - Corran Halls
Junior Piping - Oban High School
Senior Piping - Oban High School

Sunday 30th April 2023
Highland Dancing - Highlands & Islands Premier Highland Dancing Competition - Atlantis Leisure Centre