What’s Happening at the 2026 Games
The Games have been running since 1948 and are widely considered the largest Highland Games outside of Scotland. This year’s lineup is a big one.
Fifty-three pipe bands. A near-record number of bands from across North America compete on Saturday at the North American Pipe Band Championships. If you have never heard the massed bands take the field, it is worth the drive on its own.
The Friday Night Tattoo. Eleven bands from across Eastern Ontario perform in an evening of music, colour, and pageantry, headlined this year by award-winning Newfoundland Celtic band Rum Ragged. The night closes with a fireworks display.
Kelli Trottier as Guest of Honour. The Glengarry favourite, fiddler, step dancer, and composer officially opens the Games at the Saturday noon ceremonies. Trottier is a North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame inductee and a member of the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame.
Heavy events and Highland dancing. Traditional Scottish heavyweight competitions, Highland dance, piping and drumming, the military tug of war, rugby, and the kilt run.
A full weekend of fiddling. Friday brings a youth workshop and the massed fiddlers in the evening. Saturday is a full day of workshops and performances led by guest fiddler Koryne (Fraser) MacDonald of Mabou, Cape Breton.
Family-friendly by design. The Wee Bairns area offers entertainment, games, activities, a petting farm, and pony rides, plus junior heavyweight and track-and-field events for young athletes. Parental supervision is required.
Plus everything else. The British Car Show, whisky tasting, clan buildings, a tribute to the Royal Canadian Legion on its 100th anniversary, shopping for all things Scottish, and yes, haggis.
Event Details at a Glance
| Dates | Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1, 2026 |
| Location | 34 Fair Street, Maxville, Ontario |
| General admission | $30 per day at the gate (HST included) |
| Children 12 and under | Free |
| Parking | Free |
| Grandstand seating | Sold separately from admission. Any remaining tickets are available Friday and Saturday at the Grandstand booth beside souvenir sales |
| Payment at the gate | Cash, credit, or debit |
| Pets | Service animals only |
Full schedules, competition details, and advance tickets are available at glengarryhighlandgames.com.
Why Stay at the DEV
Two full days of pipes, drums, and sunshine will earn you a good night’s sleep. Maxville sits a short drive north of Cornwall, which puts the DEV Hotel & Conference Centre in an ideal spot for Games weekend. You get the full festival experience without camping on the grounds or facing a long drive home at the end of the night.
Here is what is waiting for you when you get back:
- Comfortable guest rooms so you can actually rest and recharge between day one and day two
- On-site dining at Jet Set Pub for a proper meal and a cold drink after the fireworks
- DEVFit access with a pool, sauna, cardio equipment, and a basketball court to loosen up before heading back out
- Free parking and easy highway access for a simple morning run out to Maxville
- Room to spread out if you are travelling with family, a clan group, or a band
Cornwall also gives you the rest of the weekend to work with. The waterfront trail, local restaurants, and shopping are all minutes away when you want a break from the field.
Book Your Stay
Rooms for Games weekend go quickly, and we are now inside the final stretch before July 31. Reserve your room at the DEV Hotel & Conference Centre and make the most of your Glengarry Highland Games experience.
DEV Hotel & Conference Centre, Cornwall, Ontario