Firstly, a very Happy New Year from all of us!

As we step into 2026, the team has been reflecting on the incredible year just gone. We continue to be overwhelmed by the support, messages and memories you’ve shared – none of what we achieved in 2025 would have been possible without you.

With just over 170 days to go (not that we’re counting!), planning for #HF26 is well underway – and our goal remains the same: to bring you the best possible festival. A safe, welcoming, family-friendly event that you’re proud to tell your friends and family about.

Back in December 2023, when we first sat down to plan the inaugural Heartland Festival, we couldn’t have imagined the growth we’ve seen – not just in attendance, but in our profile across the Scottish music scene.

The positive impact we’ve made in the local community continues to drive us, and we’re grateful every day for the feedback and encouragement you share. Heartland is going from strength to strength – and 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest and best year yet.

Scottish Music Awards 2026

In December, we were thrilled to find out we’d made the longlist for ‘Festival of the Year’ at the Scottish Music Awards. Seeing our name on that list made our day – and it’s all thanks to those of you who voted. Voting has now closed and we’re eagerly waiting to hear if we’ve made the shortlist. Fingers crossed! As soon as we know, you’ll be the first to hear.

Ticket Sales for #HF26

Sales for 2026 are strong and already ahead of where we were this time last year. Even throughout December, it was clear that many of you were planning ahead and securing your tickets early – something we’re truly grateful for. Click here to book your weekend tickets for Heartland.

An Evening with Marti Pellow

There’s still a huge buzz around Marti Pellow headlining our Friday Night event, and rightly so! People are travelling from far and wide to see him perform in Pitlochry. At just £39.00 per ticket – with support from Cammy Barnes, Billy Reekie and Katie Nicoll – it promises to be a brilliant night of live music. Grab your Friday Night ticket here.

Shuttle Buses

Over half the available shuttle bus tickets for travel between the festival and nearby campsites have now sold out – another incredible response. A quick reminder: you don’t need to be booked into a campsite to use this service. Whether you’re staying nearby or travelling in from further afield, the shuttle buses are open to all (subject to availability). Find out more about shuttle bus tickets here.

Scottish Citylink Discovery Stage

The lineup for our Discovery Stage is now complete! Fourteen incredible up-and-coming Scottish artists will take to the stage at #HF26 – and the reaction so far has been amazing.

One comment on social media really stuck with us: “This is one of the biggest reasons why I go to Heartland. There’s nowhere else in the country where I can see so many emerging Scottish artists in one place.” That says it all. View the full Discovery Stage lineup here.

10,000 Facebook Followers

We did it -10,000 followers on Facebook! It’s a milestone we’ve had our eye on for a while, and we’re so grateful for the support, engagement, and interaction you give us day after day. If you’re reading this and not following us yet, now’s the time:

Click here to join the community on Facebook.

Replay Festival 2026

At the end of November, we launched our newest event – Replay Festival – and the response has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The 999 early bird tickets were snapped up within a couple of weeks, and ticket sales have continued steadily over the festive period. We’re already well into the planning for August and can’t wait to share more soon.

15–16 August 2026, South Inch Park, Perth

Visit the Replay Festival website here.

Commercial Sponsorship

We’ll soon be announcing some exciting opportunities for businesses – local, regional and national – to get involved with Heartland. If you’re interested in gaining extra exposure while supporting a fast-growing Scottish festival, keep an eye out for more details coming soon.

One Last Thing…

From all of us here at Heartland (and now Replay!) — thank you.

Thank you for the kind messages, the enthusiasm, the energy, and for helping us turn a small idea into something truly special.

Here’s to 2026 — we’re glad you’re on the journey with us.

All the very best,

Graham, Marina and Simon