Piping Inverness scheduled to make return to Highland capital in Summer 2022
Issued in partnership with LCC Live
After an absence of two years due to the pandemic, organisers are excited to announce that Piping Inverness, which incorporates the European Pipe Band Championships, will return in 2022.
Inverness’ largest event organiser, LCC Live, originally won the contract to host the European Pipe Band Championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021, which would see Inverness attract thousands of pipers and drummers to the city, each June for three years. However, the pandemic has hampered those plans slightly, but the good news is that LCC Live has negotiated an extension for a further two years, which will see it deliver Piping Inverness and the European Pipe Band Championships in 2022 and 2023, bringing a big boost to tourism and the local economy throughout the Highlands.
Next year, Piping Inverness will take place on Saturday 25 June 2022, for which tickets are due to go on sale in the coming weeks. The all-day event incorporates the European Pipe Band Championships, and will see an influx of pipe bands, their supporters, Highland Dancers as well as tourists to Bught Park. The aim is to create a fun day out for all the family!
The inaugural Piping Inverness, held in 2019, attracted over 17,500 visitors and over 100 pipe bands from around the world, including Australia and America.
After a difficult period, which has seen all sizeable events across the UK cancelled, LCC Live is extremely confident that Piping Inverness can take place safely in 2022. Les Kidger, Director of LCC Live, said: “It’s been a difficult couple of years for the event and music industry, but we do see light at the end of the tunnel and are therefore making plans for a series of events and concerts next summer, including Piping Inverness.
“Piping Inverness was first brought to the city in 2019, and we’d hoped to deliver it again in 2020 and 2021, but due to the pandemic, that wasn’t to be. We’re excited to be talking about Piping Inverness again, and we’re working closely with The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association to ensure we can deliver the event as safely as we can in 2022 and 2023.”
Les added: “We’d like to thank The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association for extending our agreement, and we look forward to working closely with them, as well as our partners at Highland Council, Highlife Highland and Event Scotland, to ensure we deliver successful events in 2022 and 2023.”
Kevin Reilly, Chairman of The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, commented: “We can’t wait to get to back to Inverness! LCC Live delivered one of the best piping events we’ve ever hosted, and we’re extremely excited to announce that the European Pipe Band Championships are back in the Highlands in 2022. There’s no better feeling than seeing and hearing the hundreds of pipe bands that descend to compete in major competitions, including the European Pipe Band Championships – we’re so looking forward to it!”
News that Piping Inverness is returning in 2022 has been welcomed. The Provost of Inverness, Councillor Helen Carmichael said: “I’m absolutely delighted that plans to host this prestigious event are moving forward and I am sure tickets will be snapped up very quickly. Not only will Piping Inverness 2022 bring significant economic benefit to the city, but it is going to be a chance to really showcase our city and the surrounding Highlands to visitors from around the world.
“After the restrictions of Covid-19, this really provides an exciting opportunity to give our businesses and residents a much-needed boost and to get back the vibrancy we have all missed. Inverness is well placed to receive both competitors and the many visitors that will come, and we welcome the chance to offer the special warm Highland hospitality we are known for. My fellow councillors and I look forward to working closely with the organisers to make Piping Inverness 2022 a very memorable event.”
Mike Smith Manager of Inverness Business Improvement District (BID) also applauded the news. He said: “All credit to LCC Live for negotiating for the European Pipe Band Championships to be staged in Inverness in 2022 and 2023 as part of Piping Inverness.
“Given the scale and numbers attending, this major event will again both raise the profile of the City of Inverness as a venue for major events as well as benefiting the Inverness economy.”