For the third year running, Scottish Rural Action is partnering with a fantastic range of organisations to deliver the Community Showcase at the Royal Highland Show 2026. We’d like to extend a huge thank you to The Scottish Government and Scottish National Rural Network for making this collective opportunity possible.
The Royal Highland Show (RHS) takes place every year at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, bringing together hundreds of thousands of people in a vibrant celebration of rural life. The goal of the Community Showcase is to place ‘community’ at the heart of the RHS, alongside the traditional sectors — agriculture, forestry, and fisheries — that have long shaped the event.
The Friday Events – 19th June
For the first time, SRA and partners will collectively host two events within the Scottish Government Marquee (Avenue Q), both open to all:
Event One: Rural & Island Communities – Brilliant, Resilient & Leading the Way
A breakfast reception to celebrate exciting news about the Community-Led Local Development (CLLD) programme, and the 6th session of the Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament.
➡️ 9.45am–10.45am
Event Two: Community Wealth Building – Ideas that Travel Home with You
Join us as we bring Community Wealth Building to life through inspiring examples from rural and island Scotland.
➡️ 2.30pm–3.30pm
Together, these events will aim to strengthen engagement with policymakers, amplify community voices, and highlight how rural and island communities are driving innovation, resilience, and local action across Scotland.
The Weekend Community Showcase – 20th–21st June
This year, the weekend Community Showcase will explore the theme of “play”, building connections between nature, climate, creativity, and community action. Our creative partners, Imagine If, will lead a range of engaging activities designed to spark conversation and collective storytelling, while partners host stalls, games, and activities throughout the weekend.
The showcase programme will also include:
🎶 Live music from the Balquhidder young whistlers & The Woodsmoke Ranters
🎭 Fun, interactive performances from The Walking Theatre Company (think flower pot heads & green fairies!)
🔧 STEM challenge: schools race to build and dismantle a kit car
We’re proud to be working with a wide range of organisations, including:
Scottish Community Alliance, InspirAlba, The Scottish Rural & Islands Transport Community (CIC), Highlands & Islands Climate Hub, Reforesting Scotland, SRUC, The Poverty Alliance, Community Enterprise, FEL Scotland, Fife YLAG, Glasgow Caledonian University, University of Strathclyde, Forth Valley & Lomond YLAG, SCOTO, Imagine If, and The Walking Theatre Company.
Keep an eye on our socials over the coming weeks for more information about this year’s RHS.