Royal National MòdAm Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail

The Royal National Mòd is an annual Gaelic festival celebrating Gaelic language and culture across Scotland 1. For about a week in October it features competitions in Gaelic singing, music, poetry, drama, Highland dancing and sports such as shinty. Thousands of Gaelic speakers and enthusiasts attend concerts, ceilidh dances and pageants showcasing traditional culture. The festival is often described as 'Scotland’s premier celebration of Gaelic language, culture, sport and art' 1.

The Mòd stems from the Celtic/Gaelic revival of the late 19th century. It was established in 1891 by An Comunn Gàidhealach (The Gaelic League) to preserve Scottish Gaelic cultural traditions in the Highlands 1. The festival reflects Scotland’s Gaelic identity and community, drawing participants from the Gaelic-speaking regions (the Highlands and Islands) and beyond. It helps sustain Gaelic music, literature and the language itself through competition and performance.