The winners o the Scots Language Awards 2026, organised by Hands Up for Trad, hae been annooncet at a ceremony at Dundee’s Discovery Point. The event, which wis a sell oot, cam efter a record public vote.
The awards gie honour tae the individuals, organisations and communities wha yaise Scots – ane o the three indigenous leids o Scotland – in their ilka day wark an life. In sae daein, thae preserve an promote it, a mainstey o the nation’s braw heritage an identity.
This, the eicht year o the Awards, wir hostit by sangster an shenachie Lynne Campbell alanside Dundee’s ain scriever an performer Taylor Dyson. The shortleet o 49, in the rinnin fir an award, cam frae the warlds o literature, performing airts, education an business.
Ten o the Scots Language Awards wir decidit by members of the public, drawin an unprecedentit 7,000 votes – near double the nummer in 2025 and a testamint tae the kintrae wide revival o the Scots tongue.
The highly anticipatit Scots Writer o the Year award, sponsored by National Library of Scotland, went tae Lucy Beth wha’s recent credits include a solo show Ma Name is Isabelle, performed at The Scottish Storytelling Centre as pairt o the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, an a poem celebratin the 120th anniversary o His Majesty’s Theatre in Aiberdeen.
Cairryin on wi the literary theme, the award for Scots Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Book Trust, wis presentit tae Wirds o Banff: A Doric Glossary o the Wild – a year-long collaboration written and illustratit by pupils at Banff Academy in celebration o the natural world aroond them.
Scots Bairns’ Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government, went to Doric Books’ Awa Doon e Toon written by Julia Lynch wi illustrations fae Caitlin Moffat. The book tells the humoursome tale o a young laddie ettlin tae gang into the toon on sindrie kinds o transport an ay gettin thortit by the Scots weather!
In the performing airts, actress Olivia Caw was named Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS, for her role as Bonnie McKay in the acclaimed one-person play Common Tongue, while Scots Stage Production o the Year went to Through the Shortbread Tin by the National Theatre of Scotland, describit as a ‘poetic, poignant and playful exploration of the myths we tell each other and the stories we tell ourselves’.
Multi-day residential immersion event, Doric Bootcamp in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire was gied Scots Community Project o the Year for its achievemints helpin fowk build confidence in spikkin, readin and writin in the Scots leid.
In secondary education, Antonia Cant fae Peterhead Academy was awardit Scots Teacher o The Year, sponsored by Qualifications Scotland, for championin the relevance o the Scots leid in the present day and helpin young folk practice their skills in real-world contexts.
Banff Academy took hame the trophy for Scots Schuil of the Year, havin incorporatit Scots skills lessons intae the curriculum tae grand effect.
In the business sector, the Scots in Business award went tae the Scottish Storytelling Centre, a warld first in live oral storytellin an hame tae the Oor Vyce Gaitherin, an the inaugural Scots Language in the Media award, sponsored by Corrie Campbell Communications, went tae Millie Graham whaes TikTok account, whatsername1.0, has attractit ower 3m followers.
Anither highlight o this year’s ceremony, which followed the successful daytime format introduced in 2025, was the unveilin o the ‘judges’ choice’ awards which saw a trio of Scots ambassadors crowned.
Weel kent sangster an advocate for traditional music Sheena Wellington received the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Creative Scotland, for her significant contribution to the leid ower the decades.
The judges’ award for Scots Champion, sponsored by the Rubric Foundation, was presentit tae Dr Clive Young, creator of one of the first websites dedicated to the leid an scriever o Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language.
In recognition o emergin talent in the leid, Young Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by Education Scotland, was awarded tae budding talent Innes Ingram for his impressive tale End o’ the aul ways.
Attendees also welcomed news of an inaugural Scots Language Week, which will be hosted from 6 – 11 September 2027. Modelled on the success o World Gaelic Week, the nationwide language initiative supported by the Rubric Foundation, will celebrate the importance, prevalence and uniqueness of the Scots leid.
Adding to the atmosphere throughoot, attendees wir treated tae performances by Scots sangsters Iona Fyfe and Scott Gardiner.
Yvonne Tait and Hugh Macmillan – baith recipients of the Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid initiative, supported by Creative Scotland and Rubric Foundation – shared rousin recitals frae their wirk.
The celebrations continued into the nicht with a Blether at Elfie Picket Theatre an ceilidh at the Dundee Fringe.
Simon Thoumire of Scots Language Award organisers Hands Up Trad, said: “The sheer variety o wirk and activities celebratit at these awards is as inspirin as it is impressive. Fae literature and the performin airts, tae education and business, the Scots leid is woven through sae mony pairts o everyday life, which is jist braw tae see.
“Oor congratulations gang tae aw oor worthy nominees an winners, alang wi oor hertfelt gratitude. It’s thanks tae thair dedication that oor mither tongue remains truly thrivinu and relevant in Scotland the day.”
Karen Dick, Head of Place, Partnerships & Communities at Creative Scotland said: “The Scots Language Awards celebrates all the creative ways the Scots leid is being used to influence Scotland’s culture and identity today and into the future. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees recognised for their amazing work, set to the braw backdrop of Dundee’s silvery Tay. We especially look forward to Scots Language Week and more opportunity to highlight Scots leid talent.”
The Scots Language Awards are one of several flagship national events and community outreach activities that Hands Up Trad are involved in to help celebrate, promote and increase the profile of Scottish traditional culture.