Rural charm, horse power and big entertainment make a return to the Royal Highland Show
● Children aged 15 and under go FREE, making it one of the country’s biggest family days out
● The Reeling to bring a star-studded contemporary trad line-up to the Show for a special one-day edition
● Tickets selling fast as organisers urge visitors to plan ahead
The countdown is officially on until the Royal Highland Show returns to Edinburgh, with Scotland’s largest outdoor event now just one month away.
More than 200,000 visitors are expected to descend on the Royal Highland Centre for four days celebrating the very best of food, farming, entertainment and family fun, as the Show returns from Thursday 18 to Sunday 21 June 2026. As the principal fundraising event for RHASS (Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland), the Show plays a vital role in supporting Scottish agriculture and rural communities.
To mark the milestone, organisers staged a playful photo opportunity at Ingliston bringing together some of the Show’s most recognisable – and unexpected – attractions, including a horse in traditional side saddle dress, a hobbyhorse, Shetland sheep, a tractor, a piper and several of the event’s coveted trophies, offering a glimpse of the scale and spectacle visitors can expect this June.
This year’s programme will once again showcase the best of rural Scotland alongside crowd-drawing displays, from traditional sheep shearing, farrier contests and pole climbing to BMX stunt riders, axe throwing and chainsaw carving displays.
Families can also enjoy a packed programme of hands-on activities, including mini Land Rovers, RHET’s education hub – where visitors can milk Mabel the Cow, plant peas and sample Scottish cheese – alongside donkeys, horses and more than 6,000 livestock animals across the site.
Children aged 15 and under can attend free when accompanied by a paying adult, reinforcing the Show’s position as one of Scotland’s biggest and best-value family days out. Sunday 21 June will once again be dedicated to families, featuring live milking and shearing demonstrations, interactive activities and, for the first time, the chance to try hobby horsing. Sunday family tickets can currently be purchased for £70 for two adults and up to six children. Adult tickets are priced at £45 each.
David Tennant, Head of Show for RHASS, said: “The Royal Highland Show is just one month away and we’re incredibly excited to welcome visitors back for what promises to be one of the biggest and best events of the summer.
“The Show is a true celebration of Scotland, from our food and farming industries to music, entertainment, innovation and rural life, and there really is something for everyone to enjoy.
“One minute you can be watching world-class livestock judging or sparks flying in the farrier arena, and the next you’re seeing BMX stunts, enjoying incredible Scottish food or dancing along to live music. There’s nowhere else quite like it.”
Adding to the excitement, the Royal Highland Show has partnered with The Reeling for a special one-day festival on Saturday 20 June. The Royal Highland Show Presents The Reeling will celebrate Scotland’s contemporary folk scene with performances from Breabach, Dlù, Dougie MacLean, Elephant Sessions, Kinnaris Quintet and Skippinish, bringing a festival atmosphere to Ingliston on the Saturday evening.
Across the weekend, principal beer partner Innis & Gunn will host live music and entertainment across the Show’s 24 bars, helping keep the atmosphere going long after the competitions finish.
Spanning 197 hectares, roughly the size of 180 football pitches, the Royal Highland Centre transforms during Show week into a bustling hub of livestock, competition, music, food and entertainment. For four days, Ingliston effectively becomes Scotland’s sixth-largest populated area, temporarily larger than both Paisley and Dunfermline as exhibitors, competitors and visitors travel from across the country and beyond.
David continued: “We’re also seeing strong ticket sales already, and with up to 55,000 people expected onsite each day, we’d encourage visitors to book early and consider using public transport where possible.”
Tickets for the Royal Highland Show and The Reeling are available now at: Royal Highland Show. Children aged 15 and under go free when accompanied by a paying adult, although tickets are still required. Maximum three children per paying adult.
