Your guide to the 2026 Royal Highland Show: Farming, food, and family fun in Edinburgh

This year’s Royal Highland Show is running over four days from Thursday to Sunday this week, with over 200,000 attendees expected to flock to Edinburgh to experience the best of Scotland’s farming, food and rural life.

Each year, the show sees over 2,000 livestock competitors entering into 900 competitions, and over 800 exhibitors showcasing Scottish food and drink, agricultural machinery and innovation.

This year’s competition schedule is packed, with top-quality livestock including miniature Shetland ponies, donkeys, goats and Highland cows all being shown in the arena across the four days.

Spectators will be able to watch from the side-lines as entrants compete in everything from sheep shearing and wool handling competitions, to thrilling show jumping and horse-shoe making contests.

The Grand Parade on Saturday and Sunday, an annual highlight, will see the prize-winning livestock, including cattle, sheep and horses, gracefully march around the Main Ring.

The parade is one of the most popular events every year and the grandstands fill up quickly, so those hoping to catch the spectacle should get there early to grab a seat.

Other agricultural highlights include the impressive machinery displays, which will this year feature a fully self-loading machine for bales and a ‘digital shepherd’ for livestock, both which have won prestigious awards for innovation.

For those focused on policy, First Minister John Swinney will give a breakfast address on Thursday morning, joined by Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin and Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands Jim Fairlie.

Agriculture aside, the Royal Highland Show has become one of the most highly anticipated events in Scotland's foodie calendar, with dozens of food and drink exhibitors lined up this year showcasing a selection of Scotland’s best produce.

Scotland’s Larder, the show’s food and drink hall, is a must-visit highlight of this year’s programme, and will allow visitors to sample the best Scottish ingredients and speak to producers face-to-face about the stories behind their businesses.

The full list of the 76 exhibitors was confirmed last month, and showcases everything from cheese, charcuterie and preserves to craft spirits and artisan bakes.

The Food for Thought Theatre is also situated in Scotland’s Larder, with some of the country’s top chefs - including 2023’s Scottish Chef of the Year Craig Palmer - set to take to the stage for a series of talks and masterclasses.

This year’s programme is spotlighting produce from Aberdeenshire - the Royal Highland Show’s ‘host’ region for 2026.

The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is hosting a 150 year anniversary celebration, giving visitors the chance to look back on its earliest herd books and taste a single estate malt whisky specially produced to mark the milestone.

On the musical front, the Royal Highland Show has partnered with the popular trad music festival The Reeling for 2026 - bringing the event to the Scottish capital for the first time.

Five-piece Breabach will open the show after gates open at 3pm on Saturday, bringing their award winning blend of Highland and Island traditions to the stage for a lively set.

They will be followed by Glasgow trad band Dlù, then Dougie MacLean, Elephant Sessions and the fiddle-based Kinnaris Q.

Skipinnish - a powerhouse of contemporary Scottish music for two decades - will finish off the night with their crowd-pleasing anthems.

Sunday, which coincides with Father’s Day, is the Royal Highland Show’s dedicated day for families, but there is plenty going on to keep children entertained across the full weekend.

There is a dedicated kids zone in the Countryside Area, which is putting on a series of live shows and animal meet and greets, while young attendees can learn about agricultural topics in a fun and engaging way at the RHET Discovery Centre.

There’s also lots of entertainment on offer in the Forestry Arena, from axe-throwing to mountain-biking displays to the annual pole-climbing championship - a thrilling spectacle where contestants climb a 25-metre pole against the clock using only spiked boots and a climbing strop for assistance.

David Tennant, Head of the Royal Highland Show, said: “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 to Scottish music and entertainment, innovation and rural life.

"One minute you can be watching world-class livestock judging or sparks flying in the farrier arena, and the next you can be sampling incredible Scottish food or watching pole climbers scaling thirty metres high.

“Our dedicated family day on the Sunday will also help to introduce farming to an entirely new audience and feature milking demonstrations, giving visitors a closer look at this important aspect of farming life.

"For the first time, we've teamed up with The Reeling, a major new one-day family-friendly festival celebrating the best in Scottish traditional music which will take place on Saturday.

“With acts including Scottish folk legend, Dougie MacLean, Elephant Sessions and headliners, Skipinnish, it's going to be an unmissable spectacle.

“The Show remains a key gathering place for people across the sector to reconnect and share experiences. At the same time, it is fast becoming a cherished annual tradition for families travelling from near and far, thanks to the wide range of attractions and activities on offer.

“We're looking forward to welcoming people to the Royal Highland Centre for the next four-days.”