HEARTLAND FESTIVAL 2026: TWO STAGES, ONE COMMUNITY AND A WEEKEND OF CELEBRATING SCOTTISH MUSIC

FESTIVAL REVIEW | HEARTLAND FESTIVAL 2026 | 27th and 28th June 2026 by Amanda MacEachen

Set against the stunning backdrop of Pitlochry, Heartland Festival returned for another weekend of incredible music, community and Scottish charm. Despite the unpredictable weather bringing plenty of rain throughout the weekend, nothing could dampen the spirits of Heartland goers who arrived ready to celebrate an incredible range of musicians.

As per every year, there are two stages at Heartland Festival – the Main Stage, and the Discovery Stage. The Discovery Stage is used to promote emerging Scottish artists and this year did not disappoint with an immense array of talent spread across the stage over two days. The Main Stage accommodated headliners Marti Pellow, Skippinish, and Peat and Diesel, along with some other huge Scottish names such as Sandi Thom, Kim Carnie, Ben Walker, Torridon and many more.

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the Friday of the festival, but from what I heard from fellow attendees over the weekend, it was an utterly fantastic opening day. Despite the rain making an early appearance, the atmosphere was electric and the crowd continued to dance no matter what, with performances from talented artists including Katie Nicoll, Cammy Barnes, Billy Reekie and Marti Pellow setting the tone for the weekend ahead.

SATURDAY

On Saturday, I arrived at Heartland to find the rain well and truly settled in. In true Scottish fashion though, the weather was barely recognised. Waterproof jackets and brightly coloured ponchos stretched across the festival site as crowds embraced the downpour, proving that a little rain was never going to damper down on Heartland.

The Discovery (Citylink) Stage opened the day with Nick Shane, Mellow Party, Carl Marah and The Painting, each bringing their own flavour to an early, already buzzing crowd. Over on the Main Stage, Just the Brave, The Crom and The Laurettes set the pace before Sandi Thom took everyone back to the 2000s. Surrounded by cowboy hats, flowing skirts and iconic dresses, festival goers danced and twirled through ‘I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair)’, creating one of the day’s standout moments.

As the afternoon rolled on, the Discovery Stage continued to shine and be a standout piece of the day. Ellijai injected an infectious alt-pop energy into the festival, before The Castros performed a buzzing set proving exactly why they’re a band worth watching. Their commanding stage presence drew one of the biggest crowds the Discovery Stage saw all weekend, if not already, they should definitely be on your radar. Indie duo Glass Cheques then closed the stage in style with a polished, high paced, and vibrant set.

By the evening, the rain had finally begun to ease, making way for Scottish rock icons The Skids to unleash an electrifying performance that lifted the atmosphere and spirits of everyone even further. Starsailor followed with a beautifully measured set, offering a moment to catch your breath before Saturday’s headliners, Skippinish, took over. Packing out the main field, they delivered a fitting close to the day as thousands of voices sang every word back at the stage, with dancing continuing long after the sun had disappeared, this was definitely a headliner that fans had been eagerly waiting for.

SUNDAY

Sunday welcomed slightly brighter skies at the beginning of the final day at Heartland. The Discovery Stage once again showcased an impressive lineup of emerging talent, with Islay Crowe, Ruvellas, Rebecca Connelly and Ant Thomaz getting the day underway. The Killing Tide followed with a standout set with incredible vocals that had the crowd fully engaged, before Conor Liam Byrne and The Bad Kissers took over. Conor’s undeniable charisma and effortless stage presence proved he was born to perform, with the surrounding band showing the exact same energy.

Americana rock n roll band The Carloways then rounded off the stage with a brilliant headline performance, if they’re not already on your playlist, they certainly should be. The Main Stage opened with DOVV before Joe Goodall gave fans an exciting glimpse of what’s to come, treating the crowd to a selection of unreleased material alongside his latest single, ‘Loose Thread’. As the sun broke through the clouds, Kim Carnie captivated the audience with her ethereal Gaelic folk sound, providing one of the weekend’s most atmospheric sets.

Scratchcard Wednesday then shifted the mood entirely. Despite being just a two-piece, they commanded the stage with ease and had one of the loudest crowds I had seen over the weekend for a non headliner. Dexter’s trumpet added a fresh dimension that set them apart from the rest of the weekend’s lineup, and Tyrese’s movement on stage tied with his clean vocals had the entire crowd drawn to the main stage – another incredible Scottish duo that should be on everyones radar. Fans packed the barrier singing every lyric back at the band, and when they headed into the crowd after their set to meet everyone, it only cemented the connection they’d built with their fans.

Ben Walker‘s set brought another surge of energy to the Main Stage, as fans filled the field to catch one of Scotland’s fastest rising artists. His infectious stage presence and multiple crowd interactions made it easy to see why so many had gathered to watch. Torridon delivered one of the festival’s biggest highlights, with bagpipes echoing across the site, the field became a sea of dancing, jumping and singing as fans embraced the Scottish music once again. Bringing the weekend to a close, Scottish favourites Peat and Diesel delivered exactly what the Heartland crowd had been waiting for, ending the festival in spectacular fashion with a set full of fan favourites and an atmosphere that perfectly summed up the weekend.

Overall, Heartland Festival proved itself to be a wonderfully organised and welcoming event. Its dog and family friendly atmosphere created a unique sense of community, with festival goers of all ages coming together to enjoy an incredible array of live music. The rain may have followed the festival throughout the weekend, but it only added to the character of the event, with everyone continuing to dance, smile and enjoy themselves. From the fantastic selection of vendors to the incredibly helpful staff and volunteers, every part of Heartland Festival contributed to making the weekend special.

With another year of unforgettable performances behind it, Heartland Festival will return bigger than ever in 2027 with a move to their brand new site just a few miles down the road. With the introduction of on-site camping, motorhome/campervan pitches, a new glamping village with Yipee Tents, Heartland is just getting started and ready to bring more music, memories and Scottish spirit to Ballinluig.

Tickets for Heartland Festival 2027 are live now! You can get them here.