HEARTLAND FESTIVAL: SCOTLAND’S FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN RETURNS FOR ANOTHER YEAR

SCOTTISH EXPOSURE | HEARTLAND FESTIVAL PREVIEW by Alannah Stirling

Heartland Festival returns to the beautiful town of Pitlochry from 26th – 28th June 2026 for what promises to be an amazing weekend in the event’s history. Not only does the festival continue to cement its reputation as one of Scotland’s most welcoming family-friendly music festivals, but this year’s edition will also be the final one held at its long-time home before the festival plans to move to their new site in nearby Ballinluig for 2027 which will include campervans and camping.

Heartland has grown from a local music event into a fixture of Scotland’s summer festival calendar, combining established Scottish favourites with emerging talent, it is known for its relaxed atmosphere that appeals to audiences of all ages.

The headline acts alone are enough to get festival goers excited. Friday night is kickstarted by Scotland’s emerging artists Katie Nicol, Billy Reekie and Cammy Barnes ending with a performance from former Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow.

Highlights of the mainstage throughout the weekend include acts such as Scotland’s newest boybandJ ust The Brave who also played Heartland Festival last year, Skippinish, Ben Walker and Peat & Diesel just to name a few.

Beyond the mainstage though, the discovery stage is where it’s at with showcasing some of the country’s most promising emerging talent. Glasgow singer-songwriter Ant Thomaz brings his blend of soul, indie and pop, while Dundee indie-rock outfit Ruvellas arrive with growing momentum following their successful debut EP. Audiences can also catch performances from Connor Liam Byrne & The Bad Kissers and The Castros.

Alongside the great performances that will be taking place throughout the festival, what continues to set Heartland apart is their focus on community throughout their festival with local food vendors, family activities and craft stalls. Heartland focuses on a more intimate experience with the opportunity to spend the day discovering new artists followed by headline performances to end the night, rather than chasing the latest biggest act like some of Scotland’s other festivals.

With a growing reputation championing emerging talent and the added new chapter that Heartland Festival will be starting in 2027, Heartland Festival 2026 is bound to be one of the most memorable years yet with one final year to experience the festival in the setting that helped shape the festival into what it is today.

Get into the festival spirit now with Heartland Festival’s Official Spotify Playlist!