Isle of Arran Events Calendar 2026

14:30 Our short business meeting will be followed by, “A visual walk through the village history” from our Heritage tales and Trails Project. All Welcome. Tea, Coffee, and Cake.

13:30 - 15:30 Create some Glass Flower Stakes to add a splash of colour to your garden or planters. Please message if you would like to book a place.

19:00 Puppet Show for all ages. This is "Carnival of the Animals" but not as we know it. Dissected for body part potential to create the "ultimate animal" we take inspiration from the music by Camille Saint-Saëns, a little help from Charles Darwin and a whole lot of cardboard to mash up a show full of puppet possibility.

Come along to Arran Active to hear a presentation and get advice from their expert staff about layering, clothing technologies, footwear, walking poles and more.
Arran Active will stay open for an extra hour for Mountain Festival-goers and has kindly offered a 10% discount on any kit bought!

18:30 Join festival friends old & new for an informal drink and maybe a bite to eat in the Ormidale Hotel pub's conservatory.
We are very pleased to announce that this year, long-time friend of the Festival, poet, mountaineer and musician Stuart B. Campbell will be playing a varied set of traditional and contemporary songs and music for us!

The Arran Mountain Festival offers outdoor enthusiasts guided walks, runs and scrambles with local leaders in the Isle of Arran's unique landscape every year in May. It offers a broad selection of activities in a welcoming and inclusive setting and the opportunity to explore this amazing island in small groups with knowledgeable and experienced local guides.

Bookings are now live on www.arranmountainfestival.co.uk

19:00 Extend the good times had on the hill into the evening, socialise and dance the night away with old and new-found friends.
The Arran Ceilidh Band will be giving us some great tunes and dances – with a caller to instruct and help us get in the swing of things.
There will be a raffle and, of course, the now traditional “Shove a pound” game (to win a bottle of Arran Whisky) so remember to bring a few pound coins!

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

2 day senior gents open golf competition

11:00 - 22:00 We would finally like to announce that our annual 7s will take place on the 23rd of May this year. The usual antics, beer tent, bouncy castle, offensive commentary, music and more. Get the date on your calendar and we can’t wait to welcome you all there!

10:30 - 16:30 Arran Visual Arts run one exhibition a year, which can attract more than 600 visitors who vote for their favourite art work in the “People’s Choice” and many sales are made. We are proud of the reputation our exhibitions have earned.

10:30 to 12:00 Last Wednesday of every month. All welcome! Different craft activity each month. Cost £7.50 pp to include tea/coffee, cake and  craft materials.

9:30 - 21:00 While the world starts to awaken this Imbolc, we invite our fellow islanders for a day of grounding and renewal. ​We all know the magic of our "Scotland in Miniature," but how often do we get to pause and truly listen to it? Beyond the summer buzz and the day-tripper trails, this is a day for us—the people who live and breathe this salt air—to gather, slow down, and honor the changing seasons on our own doorstep.

21:00 Pride warm up fun with Miss Sasha Blaze. Glenisle Hotel, Lamlash

In the second of his spring performances for the Arran Storytelling Theatre, Marty Ross performs his radically modernized version of Robert Burns’s classic tale of a man who gets a little too curious about a coven of witches pursuing their strange celebrations in a ruined Ayrshire church – though Tam is no longer a comical drunkard but now an arrogant property developer drunk on his power, though still with a keen, if questionable, eye for the opposite sex.

Ladies Open Golf competition

17:00-19:00 An opportunity to get together with interested folk and get creative. Beginners very welcome, tutor and basic supplies provided
Paints and pints (or drawing with a dram, even charcoal with a cherry cola if you so desire).

13:00 to 20:00 Family Pride Fun Day at the Lamlash Bay Hotel,

11:30 to 15:00 Meet at The Douglas Hotel

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

23:00 to 02:00 Wind down with a drink, a song and guid company

12:00 to 17:00 Free Session - hosted by Uncle Keith. Bring an instrument, bring a song... or just bring your ears!

19:00 to 23:00 Will Pound and Jen Butterworth

The first ever Folk Festival on the Isle of Arran was almost 55 years ago!
It was then re-invented in 1989 and 2019 saw us celebrate our official 25th Anniversary (it only took us 30years to get there!)
We then suffered a two-year hiatus thanks to Covid...
However, 2026 will bring us the 30th Arran Folk Festival which will feature free-to-attend afternoon sessions with Uncle Keith at the Douglas Hotel, evening concerts in Brodick Village Hall and late-night sessions. There will also be some special free-to-attend workshops.

Workshop looking at a garden landscape, in pastel. Exploring composition, mood and format then making thumbnail sketches, concentrating on design and tone.

10:00 to 11:30 and 12:00 to 13:30 Orain Luaidh Workshop - hosted by Dr Rena Gertz. Learn about the traditional practice of waulking the tweed - working the fresh material to the rhythms of Gaelic song

23:00 to 02:00 Wind down with a drink, a song and guid company

19:00 - 23:00 Join us for a night of traditional music and lively performances and help us celebrate 30 years of the Arran Folk Festival!

12:00 to 17:00 Free Session - hosted by Uncle Keith. Bring an instrument, bring a song... or just bring your ears!

19:00 to 23:00 Artists to be confirmed

The Arran Open. The Isle of Arran's annual open golf tournament at Brodick Golf Club

Guided walks that delve into Arran's heritage, history and place names

This five mile race starts by heading up from Whiting Bay village to Glen Ashdale Falls, one of the iconic beauty spots of Arran. Crossing the Ashdale Burn immediately above the Falls, the route takes runners through the forest to join a Forestry road which continues northward for two miles above and behind Whiting Bay.

12:00 to 17:00 Free Session - hosted by Uncle Keith. Bring an instrument, bring a song... or just bring your ears!

10:30 onwards. Demonstrations of traditional craftsmanship at Arran Heritage Musuem. Includes music and fun activities. This year will also include some living museum features.

19:00 - 22:00 Step into the spirit of the Highlands as The Runrig Experience return with the ‘All Roads Lead North’ tour.

The Glen Rosa Horseshoe race is a Category AL Scottish hill race covering a distance of 20km with a total climb of 1670m. The race was started in 1989 by local hill runner Dave Freeman who wanted to create a hill race on Arran with minimum tarmac which challenged competitors to navigate four of Glen Rosa’s summits in a clock wise loop.

19:30 Limbo is a 2020 Scottish comedy-drama film, directed by Ben Sharrock. The film centres on four asylum seekers who are staying on a remote island in Scotland, and taking cultural awareness classes, while awaiting the processing of their refugee claims.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

18:00 - 01:00 ArranFest is back, after 3 years we will be returning to Whiting Bay Hall, where it all started. 5 bands, 1 Dj, 1 amazing evening

Annual summer event featuring a wide display of classic, modern, racing, and off-road motorcycles. Local and visiting bikes alongside live music.

10:30 to 12:00 Last Wednesday of every month. All welcome! Different craft activity each month. Cost £7.50 pp to include tea/coffee, cake and craft materials.

12:00 Open to runners aged 17+ of all abilities, with prizes for the first male and female finishers and several additional categories. It starts at 12:00 at Blackwaterfoot Playing Field, with registration from 11:00 and timing by ProTag.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

This is a mixed two-person Texas Scramble over nine holes and is open to all. Please contact club for details

Rockpool/seashore session: 11:00–13:00; meet Kildonan Village Hall

The 'Taster' exhibition will feature a single piece from most of the artists participating in the weekend and give visitors a feel for the wide range and high quality of the work created by the artist and maker community here in Arran.

Celebrating a centenary of Whiting Bay Public Hall and our village. 100 years of Whiting Bay Hall Exhibition, 100 Stitched stories wall panel for 100 years of the hall, village maps, photographs and history.

My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten.

Shiskine Valley Improvements Texas Scramble. This is a charity event for the Sam Guthrie Trophy. Please book through club.

Rockpool/guddle session at Whiting Bay jetty: 15:00–16:30; meet The Shore restaurant, Whiting Bay;

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

Strokeplay competition. Please contact club for details.

The morning focuses on colour mixing, simple exercises, and playful imprinting techniques that can be turned into abstract designs. In the afternoon, you’ll follow a step-by-step process to paint petunia flower heads – with plenty of room to explore your own approach. Perfect for beginners, but also ideal for artists who want to refresh or expand their acrylic skills.

Shiskine Golf Club, please book via Club. All welcome

This is an Open competition. For more information, please contact the club

Rockpool/guddle session at Lamlash old pier: 11:00–12:30; meet COAST Discovery Centre;

Lamlash offer a Junior Open competition. Please contact club for more details

Great activities for all ages including model train set; chocolate foundation; traditional children's games; Arts & Crafts; and much more

Open golf for juniors at Whiting Bay Golf Club. Please book through club.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

10:30 to 12:00 Last Wednesday of every month. All welcome! Different craft activity each month. Cost £7.50 pp to include tea/coffee, cake and craft materials.

Shiskine Ladies welcome you to their greensome open competition day! Please book through the club

Play for the Dan Crawford Salver, sponsored by Aklastair Crawford. Please contact club for more details

Whiting Bay Ladies Stableford Open. Please book via club.

After your practice the day before, you’ll want to take part in this two-day competition. Please contact club for details

Proudly hosted by Arran Farmers' Society. The 188th Arran Show will be on the first Wednesday of August. Great day out for all the family. Glenkiln Farm, Lamlash, Isle of Arran.

Rockpool/guddle session at Merkland Shore (Brodick Bay): 11:00–12:30; meet Brodick Castle car park

The next Arran Highland Games will be held will be on Sat 8th August 2026. The Games have been held in the village almost every year since 1886 and feature traditional heavy events alongside athletics, highland dancing, pipe bands and stalls.

19:30 The Boat in the Writing Room: retracing the origins of Stonypath, Little Sparta is a new documentary film about the year Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925 – 2006) and his family spent at Gledfield Farmhouse, Sutherland, Scotland, 1965-66. This proved to be a transformational phase, now almost forgotten, in the early career of the Scottish poet, artist and landscape designer.

Tractor Show. Arran Heritage Museum 09 Aug 2026. Working and modern tractors gather in the museum green for this annual event and competition. Music, food, raffle and tombola

19:30 The Boat in the Writing Room. Written and presented by art historian and Finlay biographer Alistair Peebles and directed by Michael Lloyd. The Boat in the Writing Room tells the story of an overlooked but transformational phase in the early career of the renowned Scottish poet, artist and landscape designer Ian Hamilton Finlay (1925-2006).

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

Open golf tournament raising funds for the RNLI. Please contact the club for details.

Save the dates for Arran Open Studios.

Preparations for AIF2026 are underway, with new artistic plans and partnerships developing over the months ahead. We’ll share updates as the festival takes shape, and we look forward very much to welcoming you next summer.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

A two-day workshop exploring outdoor mark-making, surface design and lampshade construction.

An fun day out at the annual Arran dog show with fun competitions and activities for pooches and their people. Even if you are just a dog lover come along to see who is best in show.

14:30 A fantastic off road route of about 10k circling the village of Brodick, Isle of Arran. Spectacular views of the mountains and Brodick Bay from footpaths, fields and forestry roads. Around 230m of climbing over the race.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

10:30 to 12:00 Last Wednesday of every month. All welcome! Different craft activity each month. Cost £7.50 pp to include tea/coffee, cake and  craft materials.

Various events - see website for details

Junior Open Competition - contact club for details.

13:30 A series of talks on various aspects of Arran, fortnightly on Tuesdays. Held in the Garden Room. No extra charge – Normal museum admission applies

Ladies open golf competition, strokeplay. Please contact club for details

19:30 The film takes place in Dublin in 1904 at an Epiphany party hosted by two sisters, Kate and Julia Morkan, and their niece Mary Jane. The story focuses on the academic Gabriel Conroy and his discovery of his wife Gretta's memories of a deceased lover, Michael Furey. It is an adaptation of the 1914 short story of the same name by James Joyce. (1987)

Charity Open event – please book through Shiskine golf club

This event starts on 20th September and runs until 11th October. Best of three rounds! Please book through club

Play the Gents Seniors Stableford at Brodick Golf Club. For more info, contact the club

This is a strokeplay open. Gents should contact the club for more info

This one day class will use the techniques of slab building, coil-building, applied decoration, scratched or incised designs and/or lettering to produce a traditional/historical oil lamp after the Roman and Greek model.

The Gents Arran Challenge – open to all. Best of three rounds until 25th October, please book via club

19:30 A co-production between Japan and Germany, the film follows the routine life of Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho), a public toilet cleaner in Tokyo (2023)

2 day introductory course including monotype and printing with tetrapaks.

Come to the beautiful Isle of Arran for a two day songwriting workshop with singer songwriter Findlay Napier. Come to the beautiful Isle of Arran for a two day songwriting workshop with singer songwriter Findlay Napier. Participants will begin with a blank page and by the end of the weekend will have finished at least one song. Each part of the songwriting precess will be broken into easily achievable tasks. Findlay will be on hand to offer assistance. Along the way we'll look at generating ideas, creating lyrics, song form, chord choice, melody and editing. This workshop is especially useful for writers who have trouble finishing songs or struggle with writers block. We will be working on creating new songs but the processes we'll use can be applied to your older material in your own time.

This engaging two-day watercolour course offers a supportive introduction to techniques and creative approach, with guided painting from photographic references on Day 1 and the development of a personal painting on Day 2. Individual guidance is provided throughout, encouraging confidence and creative growth.

Save the dates for Arran Open Studios.