New Zealand Army Band brings the Haka to Jupiter Artland
The New Zealand Army Band swapped Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for the great outdoors as they took to Jupiter Artland’s iconic Cells of Life to perform the Haka as part of their appearance at this year’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
The band’s powerful performance provided a striking Kiwi soundtrack to one of Scotland’s most distinctive art installations, as the musicians join more than 800 performers from around the world at the spectacular “A Call To Gather”.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo runs until 29 August at Edinburgh Castle.
The City of Edinburgh’s Lord Provost marked a special milestone this evening as he took on the prestigious role of Salute Taker at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo opening night, celebrating his final Tattoo in office as Lord Provost.
Taking his place on the Castle Esplanade, the Lord Provost watched this year’s spectacular show, A Call to Gather, joining thousands of audience members as performers from around the world came together in a celebration of music, military tradition and culture.
The evening offered a fitting final Tattoo in office for the Lord Provost, whose role has seen him champion Edinburgh on the global stage and celebrate the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Running from 7 to 29 August, A Call to Gather features more than 800 performers from the UK, Germany, New Zealand, Qatar, the USA and beyond, bringing cultures together on one of the world’s most iconic stages.
A celebration of Scottish identity, international friendship and the power of unity on the world’s most iconic stage
The call has gone out. And it has been answered. This August, more than 800 performers from across the globe have gather at Edinburgh Castle Esplanade for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2026, A Call To Gather.
From Europe, New Zealand, Qatar and the United States, to Scotland’s own world-renowned military and traditional performers, A Call To Gather will see an extraordinary international cast come together for a full programme of music, dance and spectacle. As the 2026 lead service, the Royal Air Force provides the military heart of the show.
Representing the Narrator throughout the production is The Call 1914 Statue, voiced by acclaimed Scottish actor Richard Rankin. The striking bronze monument in West Princes Street Gardens honouring the Scottish soldiers who answered the call from around the world during the First World War. The statue provides a powerful visual link to this year’s central theme, the enduring call to come together.
This year, as the world gathers once again in the heart of Edinburgh, A Call To Gather celebrates not only the extraordinary talent on the Esplanade, but the enduring connections that have brought the Tattoo and its audiences together for more than 75 years. But the spirit of the show reaches far beyond the Esplanade.
The Tattoo will continue its longstanding commitment to charity, donating money raised from the show its charity partners.
Alan Lane, Creative Director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “Performers and audiences will come from across the globe, answering the call to join us in Edinburgh, in a celebration of the music, dance and performance.
“The Tattoo is unlike any other show in the world. And every year, we challenge ourselves to delight and move our audience, whilst always honouring the traditions the Tattoo is built on.
“It will forever be the case that the scale, the setting, and the sense of occasion of the Tattoo are extraordinary, and A Call to Gather builds on those foundations with a renewed sense of global connection. There’s never been a more important time to connect with each other through culture.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo:“For more than 75 years, the Tattoo has brought people from Scotland and around the world together through the shared language of music, performance, and culture. A Call to Gather captures that spirit perfectly.
“This summer’s show is a powerful reflection of the unique role the Tattoo plays in bringing people together, and how that impact of sharing cultures reaches far beyond the Esplanade. A role never more important than today. Together we gather, connect, and share something extraordinary – so thank you.”
The full line up for 2026 includes: Central Band of the Royal Air Force, the Band of the Royal Air Force College, the Band of the Royal Air Force Regiment and the Band of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, the Royal Air Force Salon Orchestra, German Army Band (Heeresmusikkorps) Koblenz, New Zealand Army Band, Qatar Police Academy Band and Drill Team, United States Army Field Band, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Performers, Royal Air Force Massed Military Bands, The 10th Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment Pipes And Drums, 154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, The Combined Universities Officer Training Corps Pipes And Drums, Vancouver Police Pipes And Drums, The Pipes And Drums Of The Queen’s Royal Hussars and The Royal Dragoon Guards and 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment.
The spectacular celebration of music, military precision, culture and connection kicks off tonight (Friday 7 August) and runs until Saturday 29 August 2026.
Tickets for 2026 are limited, but remaining tickets can still be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188.
Following a sold-out run in Brisbane, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo leaves Australia’s east coast on a high note, with audiences delivering rave reviews and standing ovations at every performance.
Over the past week, more than 1,000 performers from 15 nations came together for The Heroes Who Made Us, a breathtaking production honouring the remarkable individuals who have shaped the Tattoo’s iconic performances over its 75-year history.
From the tarmac welcome at Brisbane Airport to the final curtain call, audiences were treated to the world-famous pageantry that has made the Tattoo a spectacle not to be missed. The Show’s success here marks another unforgettable chapter in its international journey.
Now, the cast and crew have pack their kilts and instruments, crossing the Tasman for Auckland, where the New Zealand leg of the tour will begin and a new audience will share in the magic.
The RAF Benevolent Fund is delighted to announce that The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has generously awarded a grant of £244,493 following another outstanding Tattoo season in August 2025.
This support follows a year in which the Tattoo delivered its largest-ever combined charitable donations, reinforcing its role as a significant contributor to military welfare and wider cultural causes across the UK.
The Fund is deeply grateful for the substantial grant, which will be dedicated to enhancing its welfare delivery throughout Scotland. As with previous funding from the Tattoo, this contribution will play a vital role in supporting members of the RAF Family facing challenges such as financial hardship or ill health.
The grant will enable the Fund to provide life-changing assistance, including immediate hardship relief and independent living support, helping beneficiaries – many of whom are elderly veterans – remain safe, comfortable, and independent in their own homes.
Air Commodore Simon Harper, Director of Operations at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “We are incredibly thankful to The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo for its ongoing support and generosity.
“This significant grant will make a real difference to the lives of RAF veterans, service personnel and their families across Scotland. It ensures we can continue to stand alongside those who need us most, providing both immediate help and longer-term stability.”
The RAF Benevolent Fund has a long and valued relationship with the Tattoo, which has supported the Fund through multiple grants over many years. Previous donations have enabled vital welfare interventions, from essential home adaptations to financial assistance during illness, bereavement or unemployment.
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and we’re incredibly proud to see its success translated into tangible support for charitable causes, including the RAF Benevolent Fund.
“Our mission has always been to use the platform of the Tattoo to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. We’re delighted that this year’s grant will support vital welfare work across Scotland for members of the RAF Family.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo continues to celebrate its landmark achievements, having announced in January its largest-ever charitable donation programme, totalling £1.5 million to military and arts organisations following the record-breaking success of its 2025 show, The Heroes Who Made Us.
The Tattoo is a huge immersive event held annually during August and will take place between 7-29 August 2026 with a show entitled A Call to Gather. Tickets can be purchased here.
As well as the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Tattoo also supports the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, ABF The Soldier’s Charity, and arts charities within the UK.
Landmark contribution marks the Tattoo’s largest ever investment in arts and cultural organisations
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo has announced the largest charitable donation in its history, awarding a monumental £1.5 million to good causes following the success of its 2025 Show, The Heroes Who Made Us.
The record-breaking total will support 15 military and arts charities, significantly increasing funding across the Tattoo’s full charity portfolio and ensuring vital support reaches organisations working with communities and individuals most in need.
Between 2016 and 2019, the Tattoo donated £1 million annually to charitable causes, before contributions were impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Setting an ambitious goal to return to and surpass this figure by 2025, the organisation has now exceeded expectations, marking a major milestone in its 75-year history.
The announcement follows an additional £157,000 donation to St Columba’s Hospice, generated through a 2025 initiative that saw 75p from every ticket sale donated to the Edinburgh hospice.
The charity milestone comes as the organisation looks ahead to its 2026 Show, A Call To Gather, with creative ambitions continuing to evolve under the Tattoo’s Creative Director, Alan Lane (above).
The Show is inspired by tradition rooted in Scottish identity, which saw the gathering of the clans become a gathering of nations, allies, friends, and kindred spirits, all with a shared purpose. The call has gone out to attend the must-see Tattoo performance in the summer of 2026.
Bill Morris LVO, Board Chairman of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “This extraordinary £1.5 million donation represents the very heart of what the Tattoo stands for which is using our global platform to make a meaningful difference.
“The success of the 2025 Show has allowed us not only to honour our past, but to invest in causes that will have a lasting impact on lives across the UK and beyond.
“We are immensely proud of what has been achieved and grateful to everyone who played a part in reaching this milestone.”
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “2025 was a monumental year for the Tattoo, and it’s incredibly special to see that success translated into tangible support for so many charitable causes.
“We are of course proud to continue our long-standing support for our military colleagues, but this year also marks our largest ever donation to the arts. At a time when arts organisations are under increasing pressure, this contribution recognises the powerful connection between the arts, performance and the military – a connection that the Tattoo embodies so successfully.
“This achievement belongs to our performers, our teams, and the audiences who joined us night after night and sets an exciting foundation as we enter 2026.”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returns for their 2026 Show, A Call to Gather, from 7 – 29 August and tickets can be purchased at:
Major Stevie Small MBE, Performance Director at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, had the unforgettable honour of piping the Scotland National Team onto the pitch ahead of last night’s World Cup Qualifier victory at Hampden.
Dressed in the Tattoo’s Performer’s signature Tartan, Stevie delivered a hair-raising rendition of the national anthem to a sold-out Hampden crowd, setting the tone for a night fans won’t ever forget.
Speaking after the match, Stevie said: “Leading the Scotland team in the national anthem on the night we qualified for the 2026 World Cup was an incredible honour.
“The atmosphere at Hampden was the best I’ve ever experienced, the crowd were so loud I could barely hear myself play. It took me right back to when Kenny Dalglish scored against Wales in ’77 to send us to Argentina.
“Working with the Tattoo has opened the door to so many unexpected opportunities like this, and I feel genuinely privileged.
“And yes… I’ll absolutely be following the team to the World Cup next year. C’mon Scotland!”
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo returns for their 2026 Show, A Call to Gather, from 7-29 August and tickets can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone on 0131 225 1188.
Edinburgh City Centre is likely to be very busy on tomorrow (Thursday, 21 August) due to several events taking place.
Alongside the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival, AC/DC will perform Murrayfield Stadium and Hibernian FC will play Legia Warszawa.
Divisional Commander for Edinburgh, Chief Superintendent David Robertson, said: “With multiple events on in Edinburgh on Thursday, locals and visitors are advised to leave plenty of time to travel around the city.
“Transport is likely to be busier than normal so please plan your journeys in advance.
“An appropriate policing plan is in place and additional officers will be on patrol in the city.”
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the 75th Anniversary of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle at the weekend (Friday 15th).
The Duke took the role of Salute Taker during the performance, joining audiences in celebrating this milestone year that spotlights the heroes who have made the show over the last 75 years.
Celebrating 75 years of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with the Edinburgh Festival season in full swing, talented drummers from the Tattoo Pipes and Drums and Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corps teamed up with award-winning, high-energy family spectacular The Box Show to bring a vibrant mashup of drumming to Assembly George Square Gardens today.
Attracting global audiences with their rousing performances on Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, and dramatic entrances across Edinburgh Castle’s historic drawbridge, the Tattoo Pipes and Drums have been an integral part of the Tattoo since it first launched in 1950.
Turning ordinary junk into extraordinary funk, Australian production The Box Show finished a major tour in China before bringing its all-ages sensation to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, delighting audiences with a performance that promises to be fast-paced, funny and full of surprises.
This exciting Scotland-Australia crossover isn’t only for today, as in February 2026, the Tattoo will be going down under and touring the show across Australia and New Zealand.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo takes place on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade each night throughout this year’s 75th anniversary show, which runs until 23 August.
