Perth treated visiting bands to a warm welcome, turning on a sunny 29oC (84oF) day for the 2026 Australian Pipe Band Championships on Saturday April 11. An estimated crowd of 7,500 people came to Subiaco Oval to see 18 bands from around Australia and Singapore compete throughout the day.
Amongst the 500 pipers and drummers performing were guest players from around the world, including contingents of players from the USA, Scotland, and New Zealand.
The quality of the school bands who came from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia was very impressive and made the Juvenile Grades hotly contested events. Western Australia Police Pipe Band were the winners in Grade 2, the highest grade in the Championships.
Another local WA band, Perth Metro, won Grade 3. City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band were the victors in Grade 4A, with Scotch College Melbourne No.2 winning Grade 4B. Scots College Sydney No.1 won Novice Juvenile A. Scotch College Melbourne No.2 won the Novice Juvenile B contest.
The highest level of pipe band competition in the country
Interestingly, the local West Australian bands were the best dressed, with WA Police, Perth Metro, Perth Highland, Coastal Scottish, and PLC Perth each winning the dress inspection in their respective grades. There was also a Drum Majors Flourish contest during the day, which is always a crowd-pleaser.
The Drum Majors march along the course, displaying their skills ‘flourishing’ the mace and occasionally throwing it the air and catching it without missing a step. The winning Senior Drum Major was Dominic Anderson-Strudwick of the Australian Federal Police Pipe Band, based in Canberra. Winning the Juvenille Drum Major Flourish was Hamish Wiseman from The Scots College Sydney.
The day concluded with an impressive 500-strong massed band advancing across Subiaco Oval toward a capacity crowd in the Pavilion. Recognised as the highest level of pipe band competition in the country, the Championships are run by Pipe Bands Australia every two years. This is the first time in 30 years that the Championships have been held in Perth, with Pipe Bands WA hosting the event.
Following the presentation of trophies the President of Pipe Bands Australia, Ainsley Hart, announced that Brisbane will host the 2028 Australian Pipe Band Championships.
For updates on pipe band events, and for full results of the 2026 Championships, visit the Pipe Bands Australia website: www.pipebandsaustralia.com.au. The entire video stream of the 2026 Championships is available to watch online via the Pipe Bands Australia YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/live/VstUmu3C2ec.
Images courtesy of Louise Rowland.
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