The 2026 Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival brings two days of Scottish and Celtic culture to Harrison County Fairgrounds in Gulfport, Mississippi, on November 14 and 15. Visitors can watch sanctioned heavy athletics, hear live Celtic music and pipe bands, explore clan tents, see sheep-herding demonstrations and jousting, and stay for Saturday evening's ceilidh.
Last verified: September 27, 2026. Dates, admission prices and visitor details can change. Check the organizer's official 2026 information and official ticket page before traveling.
2026 Gulfport Highland Games quick facts
| Event | Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival |
|---|---|
| Dates | Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15, 2026 |
| Hours | Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Venue | Harrison County Fairgrounds |
| Address | 15321 County Farm Road, Gulfport, MS 39503 |
| Weekend admission | $20 for ages 13 and older |
| Single-day admission | $15 for adults ages 19 to 59; $10 for ages 13 to 18; $10 for ages 60 and older; $10 military rate for eligible service members, veterans and dependents with ID |
| Children | Ages 12 and under are free and do not need a ticket |
| Weather | The organizer states that the festival is held rain or shine, subject to severe-weather decisions |
The weekend pass is the strongest value for anyone planning to see both days. A Saturday single-day ticket includes the evening ceilidh. Buy through the official ticket page, where the organizer also publishes the age and military eligibility rules.
What happens at the Gulfport festival
This is more than a field of athletic events. The fairgrounds are divided among competition areas, music stages, clan and society tents, cultural demonstrations, food vendors, artisans and family activities. The organizer has confirmed Highland athletics on both Saturday and Sunday, so visitors do not have to choose a single competition day.
Scottish heavy athletics
The athletic program includes traditional events such as the stone put, weight for distance, caber toss, Scottish hammer and sheaf toss. The caber is judged by how closely the turned caber lands to the ideal twelve o'clock position, not simply by distance. The stone and weight events reward distance, while the sheaf toss sends a weighted bag over a rising bar with a pitchfork.
Competition viewing areas can become busy around the caber. Arrive early, stay behind marked boundaries and give athletes and officials a clear route into the field.
Music, pipes and dancing
The 2026 musician page lists performers from across the Gulf South and beyond, including The Kiltlifters, The Jollies, The Jacobites by Name, Chambless, Muse and Vogts, Blarney Coast, Celtic Crossroads, The Crescent and Clover Celtic Band, and Red McWilliams. Pipe bands and Irish dance groups are also part of the festival program.
The organizer is still using the previous year's schedule as a rough preview while the detailed 2026 timetable is finalized. Treat individual performance times as provisional until the official schedule page is updated.
Clans, culture and living history
Scottish and Irish clans and cultural societies are invited to set up educational tents at no charge. The organizer asks each group to display its tartan and interact with visitors, and it plans a parade of tartans. Clan tents are useful places to ask about society membership, historical sources and research leads, but a surname match is not proof of ancestry, formal clan membership or entitlement to a coat of arms.
The Cultural Tent adds talks and demonstrations, while the Renaissance Village presents reconstructed medieval arts and skills through the local Society for Creative Anachronism chapter. Other advertised attractions include jousting, axe throwing, Highland cattle and Border Collie sheep-herding demonstrations.
Activities for children
The Wee Bairns Area is designed for younger visitors. The official 2026 page lists story and mini-archery time with a Scottish princess, pony rides with a unicorn theme, face painting and Irish dance workshops. Children ages 12 and under enter free, which makes the festival practical for a full family day.
Find your Scottish clan before you go
Clan tents are one of the most useful places to begin a conversation about Scottish family history. Search the Celtic Studio directory below before the festival, then compare what you find with records, family documents and guidance from the societies attending in Gulfport.
Scottish Clan Finder
Find Your Scottish Clan Before the Games
Search your Scottish clan or family name to find matching Celtic Studio clan crest products before visiting the clan and society tents in Gulfport.
Tip: try Mac and Mc spelling variations. Some surnames may connect with more than one Scottish tradition.
Loading Celtic Studio Scottish clan collections...
Food, vendors and what to wear
The published food lineup includes burgers, fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, barbecue, festival snacks and several varieties of Scottish meat pies. Merchant and artisan areas add another reason to leave time between scheduled performances. Vendor participation can change, so use the current organizer pages if one particular food or maker matters to your visit.
November on the Mississippi Gulf Coast can move between mild sun, wind and rain. Wear comfortable closed-toe shoes for grass and fairground surfaces, bring a light waterproof layer and use sunscreen even on a cool day. Kilts, tartan skirts, sashes and clan accessories are welcome, but ordinary weather-ready clothing is perfectly appropriate. If you want help building a respectful outfit, see our guide to traditional attire for Highland Games.
Parking, access and getting around
Harrison County Fairgrounds is west of central Gulfport and is most practical to reach by car. The organizer identifies the fairgrounds as the event venue and directs campground reservations through the fairgrounds, but it has not yet published a detailed 2026 visitor parking map, parking fee or shuttle plan. Follow event signs on arrival and avoid relying on a previous year's layout.
Where to stay near the fairgrounds
The organizer has negotiated 2026 rates with Hilton Garden Inn Gulfport and Residence Inn Gulfport by Marriott. Published rates start at $119 plus tax for two queens at Hilton Garden Inn, $122 plus tax for a king at Residence Inn and $162 plus tax for a two-bedroom suite at Residence Inn. The group-rate cutoff is October 13, 2026, and availability may end sooner.
Camping is available through Harrison County Fairgrounds. The festival directs visitors to make campground reservations with the fairgrounds at 228-832-0080. Reserve early if you plan to stay on site during the festival weekend.
How to plan your day
- Check the final schedule. The current schedule page still presents the 2025 timetable only as a preview for 2026.
- Choose your priority events. Mark the caber toss, music sets, pipe bands, sheep herding, jousting and children's activities you most want to see.
- Buy the right ticket. Saturday admission includes the ceilidh; a weekend pass costs only $5 more than an adult single-day ticket.
- Arrive near opening. Early arrival gives you time to park, orient yourself and visit clan tents before the main viewing areas become crowded.
- Pack for grass and changing weather. Bring closed-toe shoes, water, sunscreen and a light rain layer.
- Save proof of eligibility. Military tickets require ID, and it is sensible to keep your digital ticket available offline.
If you are building a Southern Highland Games trip, compare the atmosphere and logistics with the Stone Mountain Highland Games, the Salado Scottish Gathering and the Austin Celtic Festival.
Planning around the clan tents?
Use the Clan Finder above before you go, then bring your questions to the historical and family societies attending the festival.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2026 Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival in Gulfport?
The festival is Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, November 15, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Where is the Gulfport Highland Games held?
It is held at Harrison County Fairgrounds, 15321 County Farm Road, Gulfport, Mississippi 39503.
How much are tickets?
A weekend pass is $20 for ages 13 and older. Adult single-day admission is $15. Single-day tickets are $10 for ages 13 to 18, ages 60 and older, and eligible military guests. Children ages 12 and under enter free.
Are the Highland Games held on both days?
Yes. The organizer confirms sanctioned Highland athletic competition on both Saturday and Sunday.
Does a Saturday ticket include the ceilidh?
Yes. The official ticket page states that Saturday single-day admission includes the Saturday evening ceilidh.
Is the festival suitable for children?
Yes. Children ages 12 and under enter free, and the Wee Bairns Area lists storytelling, mini archery, pony rides, face painting and Irish dance workshops.
Official sources
- Highlands and Islands Association 2026 festival information
- Official 2026 ticket page
- Official schedule page
- Official Highland athletics guide
- Official 2026 hotel information
Independent guide: Celtic Studio is not the organizer of the Highland Games and Celtic Music Festival. Event details are summarized for visitor planning. The organizer remains the final authority for schedules, admission, policies, cancellations and accessibility arrangements.