73rd Ulster Pipe Band Championships

Saturday 1 August 2026

Bangor | 11am - 6pm

Enjoy an impressive display of sight and sound. Enjoy an impressive display of sight and sound, as talented pipe bands and drum major groups come together competing for coveted awards.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 (𝐑𝐒𝐏𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐈), 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥.

Please go to The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch website, for information on:

Parking: including, General Parking | Accessible Parking (pre-booking required) | Band Coach Parking (pre-booking required) | Motorhomes

Band Guidance

For any general event queries, please email contests@rspbani.org.
For specific Band/Drum Major queries, please email secretary@rspbani.org.

Follow The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI), on Facebook, you can email info@rspbani.org, or call +44 (0)28 9267 0445.

Keep up to date

Please note

- This event is a no drone zone. Only official event drones authorised by the event organisers are permitted

- This event is being photographed/filmed. Images may be used in Ards and North Down Borough Council promotional material. If you do not want your image to be used, please inform our event staff

Make a Break of it and Stay a While

Stay a while and take a break on our shores. Relax in the beauty of this place, offering everything from 5 star luxury to cosy guest houses or unique self-catering options, maybe camping and caravanning is more your thing, let us help you plan your perfect getaway.

Find out more in our Plan Your Trip section.

Sustainability
Ards and North Down Borough Council is committed to reducing our carbon footprint. We encourage visitors to travel via public transport, there are fresh water stations on site bring along refillable water bottles, reusable bags to pick up goodies at the event and please dispose rubbish in the correct bins when on-site.

Read more about Sustainability

Plan your trip

Stay
What's On
Things to Do
Food & Drink
Shopping

Things to Do Search

What's On Search

Food & Drink Search

Shopping Search

Stay a while...

Itineraries: Exploring Ards and North Down

Let us help you make the most of your visit to Ards and North Down, whether you are looking a family getaway or an adventure for two, we have something for all. Our itineraries will guide you through some of our most spectacular landscapes and scenery, picture perfect settings, towns and villages that each hold a warm welcome.
Accommodation in Ards and North Down

Relax in the beauty of this place with accommodation ranging from distinctive self-catering options, cosy guest houses, glamping and caravanning/camping and a range of three, four and five-star hotel and spa facilities.
Restaurants

Enjoy fresh produce from our tides and our turf, used to create delicious meals sure to tantalise your tastebuds, showcased by our local chefs.
Things to do in Ards and North Down

Ours is a promise of adventure, from the nooks in the woods to award-winning beaches and country parks, we’re home to some of Northern Ireland’s top attractions. Plan your visit and make unforgettable memories with family and friends.
Tours & Tour Guides

With so much to offer it's no wonder we have a wealth of tours to suit all curiosities. Join our tour guides - ready to share their passions and knowledge of this fascinating place.
Ulster-Scots in Ards and North Down

It was May 1606 when Scottish families began to settle in the Ards and North Down, led by James Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery from Ayrshire, following the land deal they had struck with Con O’Neill of Castlereagh. Find out how they influenced our land making it what it is today.