Dingwall 800 (2026)
2026 marks the 800th anniversary of Dingwall becoming a Royal Burgh and Fèis Rois is collaborating with The Highland Council, Dingwall Community Council, Dingwall Community Development Company and others to deliver a year of celebrations in 2026 to mark this landmark anniversary.
‘Telling Dingwall’s Story, 800 years and beyond – Past, Present & Future’
Dingwall 800 captures stories from the whole community through fun, creative collaboration. A full year of events celebrating our rich history, present achievements and future hopes.
We will have lots of exciting events and activities taking place to mark the occasion and will be updating this page and our social media accounts with more news soon – watch this space! Find us on Facebook and Instagram.
You can view the full programme below and you can also find out more details about the events in the tabs below. You can pick up a printed programme from Robertson House and Dingwall Museum.
Make sure you don’t miss out on any exciting updates, subscribe to our newsletter below.
DINGWALL 800 FUND
Inverness Young Archaeology Club
Inverness YAC will be investigating a possible prehistoric roundhouse at the Heights of Dochcarty near Dingwall. Highland Archaeological Services will be on site to provide professional oversight of the dig. Open to all YAC members – so you’ll need to join if you’re not already a member. Anyone aged 8-15 can join and it’s free! Email invernessyac@gmail.com for more info and booking. Please bring waterproofs, stout shoes and a packed lunch.
- Sat 14 February – assessment of maps and heritage databases, 1.30pm-3.30pm
- Sat 7 March – session on what to expect on the dig, 1.30pm-3.30pm
- Sat 21 – Sun 22 March – dig, times tbc, free
- Sat 28 – Sun 29 March – dig, times tbc, free
COMMUNITY ORGANISED EVENTS
Reminiscence Cafes
Catch a glimpse of Dingwall through the 20th century, and possibly a little earlier, with photographs, costume, artefacts, and stories. Help identify events, people and places from the Dingwall Museum archive. Everyone is invited to bring photos of buildings, streets, businesses, green space lost to development, people at home, work and recreation, Dingwall in the war years, work outings, civic or school events; newspaper cuttings; your own family anecdotes, and tales of Dingwall’s past. The Reminiscence Café is set up by Dingwall Community Development Company in collaboration with Dingwall Museum.
- Sat 18 April, Dingwall pre-1946 Café, 10am-4pm, St. Clement’s Church Hall, free entry
- Future cafes following Dingwall’s story through the 20th century will take place on Sat 25 July, Sat 22 August and Sat 19 September – more details to come.
- Please see Dingwall Community Development Company website for more details
Dingwall & Highland Marts – Grand Charity Auction
Dingwall & Highland Marts – one of the town’s longest established businesses – will host a special charity auction for Dingwall 800. Local companies will provide auction items and choose the charities who will receive donations. Together, we’ll celebrate Dingwall’s heritage while making a lasting difference to the charities that matter most to our community.
- Sat 16 May, Frasers Auction Rooms, please see Dingwall & Highland Marts website for more details
Old Fashioned Afternoon Tea
Join St Clement’s Church for afternoon tea and conversation.
- Sat 23 May, 2pm-4pm, St Clement’s Church Hall, please see St Clement’s Church website for more details
Dingwall Choral Concert
Dingwall Choral Society will be performing Hummel Mass in B flat and John Rutter’s Feel the Spirit with soloist Mollie Quinn.
- Sat 16 May, 7.30 pm, Dingwall Town Hall, please see partner website for more details
DINGWALL 800 – CORE PROGRAMME
Centuries – Clash, Crafts & Ceòl
Explore Dingwall’s remarkable historic timeline! This day of joyous celebration encompasses Vikings, Picts and Medieval reenactments, craft stalls, food offerings and two music performances. The Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail will take to the stage during the day, while Rhythm & Reel invite you to dance away the evening.
- Sat 8 August, High Street procession, 12noon, free admission
- Viking reenactment and crafts, Pefferside Park, 12.30pm-4pm
- Cromarty car park performances, Ceilidh Trail , 3pm / Rhythm & Reel, 7pm
Dingwall Music & Book Festival
A brand-new festival for Dingwall this summer will host performances, educational workshops, local authors, talks and storytelling across multiple venues in the town. Full programme to be announced soon.
- Fri 28 – Sun 30 August, various times and venues across Dingwall, free but ticketed
DINGWALL 800 FUND
Dingwall Museum – Games & Toys at the Museum
Games and toys will be set up around Dingwall Museum for children and their families to drop in and play.
- Sat 18 July, 10am-4pm, Games & Toys at Dingwall Museum, please see Dingwall Musuem website for more details.
Dingwall Museum – History Talks for Families
Talks presented by Dingwall Museum, one for younger audiences and one for adults. More details to be announced.
- Sat 15 August, 2pm-5pm, St Clements Hall, free but ticketed
- Book by emailing enquiries@dingwallmuseum.com
COMMUNITY ORGANISED EVENTS
Wade Walk and Trail Run
Dingwall Rotary have organised a walk or run from Silver Bridge to Dingwall (15 miles) or a shorter 6-mile route starting from Strathpeffer and crossing Knockfarrel before descending back to Dingwall for a well-deserved cuppa.
- Sat 6 June, please see partner website for more details
Dingwall 800 Community Fire Brigade Gala
Join Dingwall Community Fire Brigade Club for a week of events this summer, finishing with a Gala Dance in the Cromarty car park.
- Sat 27 June – Sat 4 July, various events to be announced, please see partner website for more details
Reminiscence Cafes
Catch a glimpse of Dingwall through the 20th century, and possibly a little earlier, with photographs, costume, artefacts, and stories. Help identify events, people and places from the Dingwall Museum archive. Everyone is invited to bring photos of buildings, streets, businesses, green space lost to development, people at home, work and recreation, Dingwall in the war years, work outings, civic or school events; newspaper cuttings; your own family anecdotes, and tales of Dingwall’s past. The Reminiscence Café is set up by Dingwall Community Development Company in collaboration with Dingwall Museum.
- Sat 25 July, Sat 22 August and Sat 19 September – more details to come.
- Please see Dingwall Community Development Company website for more details
DINGWALL 800 CORE PROGRAMME
Harvest
Join our huge seasonal celebration to mark the important anniversary of the town. Every year the Rotary Club of Dingwall presents the Great Feil Maree, and Dingwall 800 will expand the event to include song, music and participatory workshops making harvest baskets, corn dollies, knots and more.
- September, details to be announced
The Town is the Menu
The Town is the Menu project, led by food innovator Simon Preston, culminates in a collaborative community meal. Working with local producers, restaurants and merchants, Simon will create a Dingwall-inspired menu to share as we celebrate harvest.
- September, details to be announced
DINGWALL 800 FUND
Dingwall Scottish Country Dance Society – Tea Dance
Come along for an evening of live music and dancing for all ages and abilities.
- Sat 19 September, Dingwall British Legion Club, please see partner website for more details
DINGWALL 800 CORE PROGRAMME
Community Award Night
A glittering Community Awards Night will take place in November with an auction, food and music entertainment. This joyful commemoration of the community members who make Dingwall truly special will draw the yearlong celebrations to a close. Award winners will receive a gorgeous trophy designed by local ceramics and glass artist Hannah Morrison.
- November, details to be announced
Intergenerational Story Archiving
Working with young people from across Dingwall, this project will produce a media piece to share stories from older generations. We will tell intergenerational stories, connected with local youth groups and older generations. The project will be centred on workshops and mentoring, upskilling young people in media skills including story boarding, filming, archiving, editing and presenting media, while listening to and saving stories from our community’s history.
- September/October, more details to be announced
DINGWALL 800 CORE PROGRAMME
The Big Sing
- Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm, Robertson House, free places (starts 21st April)
The health benefits of singing are well documented. Come along to our free weekly singing workshops for adults in Dingwall, and meet like-minded folks over harmonies and cups of tea! No musical experience necessary and it’s completely free to attend. There will be opportunities to perform at Dingwall 800 events later in the year. The sessions will be led by acclaimed singer, Fionnag NicChoinnich. Enjoy learning songs in Scots, English and maybe some in Gaelic and other languages too. All welcome!
DINGWALL 800 FUND
Arts in Nature with Charlotte Mackenzie
- Tuesday 19 May, nature art walk, 1.30pm-3pm, meet at Robertson House or Ferry Point (weather permitting)
Capture photography along the waterways focusing on water movement and exploring the rhythm, texture, and emotion through techniques like long exposure, reflection framing, and close-up composition. You can also work on botanical illustration, observing and sketching plants, insects, or birds found along the waterways. Join us for a mindful walk that is both meditative and educational.
- Thursday 11 June, outdoor art session, 1.30pm-3pm, meet at Robertson House or Ferry Point (weather permitting)
Join us for an outdoor arts session that is both meditative and educational. No previous art experience required – just your imagination! Use riverbank clay to shape small sculptures; these could reflect water patterns, wildlife, or personal stories. Use grasses, reeds, or found natural fibres to weave small pieces that reflect the flow and interconnection of the waterways, and create temporary sculptures or mandalas using stones, driftwood, shells, or leaves.
- Tuesday 14 July, outdoor art session, 1.30pm-3pm, Robertson House or Pefferside Park (weather permitting)
Use riverbank clay to shape small sculptures; these could reflect water patterns, wildlife, or personal stories. Use grasses, reeds, or found natural fibres to weave small pieces that reflect the flow and interconnection of the waterways, and create temporary sculptures or mandalas using stones, driftwood, shells, or leaves.
- Thu 1 October, stories and artwork with school pupils
School session – more details to be announced.
- Tue 17 November, stories and artwork session
Care home session – more details to be announced.
Thèid mi Dhachaidh / I Will Go Home
Hosted by Fèis Rois, this six-week course brings together harp players and singers interested in performing ancient Highland Gaelic songs. Taught by traditional Gaelic singer Christina Stewart and Bill Taylor, clarsach tutor, the course invites participants of all ages to join – from P6 to adult. Singers will have had some experience singing in Gaelic. Harp players at all levels are invited, except pure beginner, as are harps of all sizes and stringing materials. Alongside 800 years of our town, 2026 also marks 95 years of Clarsach Society, which was formed in Dingwall at the close of the 1931 National Mòd.
- Sat 29 August – Sat 26 September, 10.30am – 12noon, Robertson House
- Sun 4 October, final session -10:30am-12noon and public sharing at 1pm, Robertson House
COMMUNITY ORGANISED EVENTS
Pop-Up Run Club
The Pop-Up Run Club is open, accessible and inclusive, welcoming residents of all ages and abilities. For Dingwall 800, the club will launch a new running route passing through some of Dingwall’s key historic landmarks and streets, encouraging you to physically move through the story of Dingwall.
For booking and more info contact Theresa Masson: tlmlifestyle@outlook.com
Primary School History Project with Andrew Newton
This in-depth look at Dingwall through time involves a series of workshops and projects for all class groups in Dingwall Primary School. Through their involvement, pupils will work towards a Heritage Hero Award (Archaeology Scotland).
Dingwall Museum & Inverness Young Archaeologist Club presents Dingwall 8000 – in bite-sized portions
There was plenty going on in Dingwall and surrounding area well before 800 years ago. Come
find out about what was happening in prehistory and early medieval times in the area. Handle replica and real objects from these times.
Saturday 13th June
– Mesolithic (8000-4000 BCE) 10-10:20am
– Neolithic: (4000-2500 BCE) 10:30-10:50am
– Bronze Age: (2500-800 BCE) 11-11:20am
– Iron Age: (800 BCE-300 CE) 11:30am-11:50pm
– Pictish and Viking/Norse (300-1000 CE) 12-12:20pm
Read all about Dingwall 800!
Dingwall abuzz with bee puppets in colourful ‘pollinator parade’, BBC Scotland
Dingwall 800 flags chance to make giant pollinator puppets at free workshops, Ross-shire Journal
Dingwall 800 unveils royal burgh celebration events programme, Ross-shire Journal
Dingwall dazzles with Bright Burgh Trail, Ross-shire Journal
In pictures: Light show kicks off Dingwall 800 celebrations, BBC News
Nine things to know before hitting the Bright Burgh Trail, Ross-shire Journal
Dingwall 800 sets scene for Bright Burgh Trail, Ross-shire Journal
Inbhir Pheofharain @ 800, BBC Alba
Inbhir Pheofharain aig 800, BBC Alba
Dingwall Locals Get Creative Ahead of Bright Burgh Trail, The Highland Times
Dingwall windows to be transformed into ‘vibrant works of art’ for town’s 800th birthday, Ross-shire Journal
Buildings to be illuminated for Dingwall 800 celebrations, BBC online
Community Art Trail to Launch Dingwall’s 800th Anniversary Celebrations, The Highland Times
Dingwall 800 puts historic county town in frame for year of celebration, Ross-shire Journal
Winning design to mark 800 years of Dingwall’s Royal Burgh status, The Highland Council
Bright Burgh Trail
Bright Burgh Trail lit up the town on Saturday 17 January – the first of many events for Dingwall 800.
We invited everyone in the community – family homes, groups, schools, and businesses (particularly our wonderful buzzing high street!) to decorate their windows in the themes of history, folklore, storytelling, music, royal connections, art, community or legends of Dingwall. Most of these window artworks will continue on display for the coming weeks.
The map available below guided visitors through the trail.
Opening Celebrations
The opening celebrations for Dingwall 800 took place on Saturday 17 January.
There was a beautiful projection on the Town Hall created by WildBird, accompanied by a soundscape featuring music from Valtos, The Elephant Sessions, Lauren MacColl, Ross Carbarns and Mairearad Green. The 15-minute piece played on a loop between 5pm and 9.30pm.
Alongside all the window displays from homes, groups and businesses, Dingwall Primary School have been making lanterns to light up the trail, led by storyteller and artist, Lizzie MacDougall. Members of the public were also invited to make or bring existing lanterns too.
Dingwall 800 is being delivered as a collaborative project between Dingwall Community Council, Dingwall Community Development Company, Fèis Rois, The Highland Council, and a range of partner organisations incluindg Culbokie Cake Fairies for their sweet treats and hot drinks. We are particularly grateful to Dingwall Museum for supporting the opening event with archive footage and images.
Thank you to everyone who came along and took part!
After a week of free workshops for adults, families and local makers to create giant puppets, masks and flowers representing pollinators – the bees, butterflies, and insects that sustain life – the puppets created a buzz on Dingwall High Street!
Led by Kim Bergsagel and Symon Macintyre of Vision Mechanics, the workshops brought the community’s creative ideas to life for display at the Great Seed Giveaway.
At the Great Seed Giveaway, thousands of pollinator-friendly seeds were available for the community to take home and plant in their own gardens, doorstep pots or window boxes. The hope is that these flowers will contribute to the legacy of Dingwall 800 and the fruit and vegetables grown can be shared at our harvest events coming up this autumn.
If you picked up some seed potatoes, have a look at this handy guide for all the hints and tips to successfully grow your tatties!
Photo credit Paul Campbell
Winning designers of Dingwall 800 logo – Sula Blake, Sean MacPhee and Grace MacSween
A call-out to young creatives, aged 8–24, in the summer attracted almost 40 entries.
The judges found it difficult to choose just one design, so the final logo is an amalgamation of three: submissions from two Dingwall Primary School pupils and a UHI student. Sharing the top spot were Sula Blake (age 10) and Sean MacPhee, while Grace MacSween (age 11) was awarded second place.
Photo credit Ewen Weatherspoon
The winners were presented with their prizes, which included Fèis Rois vouchers and goodie bags, at Robertson House by representatives from Fèis Rois, Dingwall Community Council & Dingwall Community Development Company.
Dingwall 800 e-newsletter – sign up!
Dingwall 800 e-news so far:
- Our Pollinator Parade took Dingwall by Storm, April 2026
- Dingwall 800 programme now live!, April 2026
- Dingwall 800 announces programme for our year of celebration, March 2026
- Nine things to know ahead of Bright Burgh Trail this weekend, January 2026
- Bright Burgh Trail to launch yearlong celebration of Dingwall 800, December 2025
We will have lots of opportunities for people from across the town to get involved in Dingwall 800.
Keep an eye on this page, or sign up to our newsletter by emailing Siobhan.MacIntyre@feisrois.org
