Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend)
Perth and Kinross Council · 13 August 2025
Back to Civic Affairs Sub-Committee — 13 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Civic Affairs Sub-Committee Date of Meeting: 13 August 2025 Report Title: Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend) Report Number: 25/203 Report Authors: Stewart Grant, Civic Officer and Michael Boyle, Events Officer Organisational Lead: Serge Merone, Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to propose Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend), an event to celebrate twinning anniversaries in June/July 2026. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background 4. Proposals 5. Conclusion 6. Impact and Value Assessment 7. Appendices 2. Recommendations The Sub-Committee is asked to agree: 2.1 To proceed with Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend) as outlined within the report, with progress reports and more detailed costings to be brought back to this committee as the programme develops. 2.2 Authorise the issuing of formal invitations to our twin cities.
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3. Background 3.1 2026 will mark four significant twinning anniversaries: 70 years between Perth, UK and Aschaffenburg, Germany; 35 years between Perth, UK and Cognac, France; 25 years between Perth, UK and Perth, Canada; 20 years between Perth, UK and Perth, Australia. 3.2 Normally significant twinning anniversaries would be marked by reciprocal visits between the two twin cities with the host city putting together a programme for the visiting delegation. The most recent significant anniversary was in 2023 to celebrate the 25th Anniversary between Perth, UK and Bydgoszcz, Poland. 3.3 Rather than do individual celebrations for each of the four anniversaries in 2026, it is proposed one larger event be held that will celebrate all of our twinning links across Perth & Kinross with a larger celebration of culture similar to the Perth 800 event run in 2010. This would allow all residents, businesses, and groups in Perth & Kinross to take part and hopefully create a lasting impact through increased youth involvement. 4. Proposals 4.1 It is proposed that Perth 2026 will be held in late June/early July starting on Friday 26 June 2026. In choosing the dates for the event, we have also looked to select date where the majority of our twinning partners have school/public holidays to increase the likelihood of participation. Exact dates for individual events will be confirmed once the full programme is finalised. 4.2 The event has been given a working title of “Perth 2026” and further consideration will be given to how to market the event as the programme develops. Perth 2026 Programme 4.3 The detailed programme for Perth 2026 is still being worked on, but we have already identified a number of key activities to be included which are outlined below: 2026 European Pipe Band Championships 4.4 Following two successful championships in 2024 and 2025, Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) has reached an agreement with the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) to host the European Pipe Band Championships for a third year in 2026, and this will be held on Saturday 27 June 2026. Although the European Pipe Band Championships are a standalone event being run in partnership by the PKC Events Team and the RSPBA, the timing of next year’s event will allow us to include it in our itinerary for our international visitors and encourage them send Pipe Bands to participate.
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Anniversary Dinner & Ceilidh 4.5 Traditionally there has been an anniversary dinner included as part of twinning anniversary celebrations. For the 2026 event, we are proposing to include a ceilidh as part of the anniversary dinner, and this will be a ticketed event with a limited number of tickets available for purchase due to venue size. Anniversary Concert 4.6 As part of the event there will be an anniversary concert which will celebrate our cultural links and focus on the four major twinning anniversaries. The aspiration is to include cultural performances from our twin cities, and we have early indication that groups are likely to visit from Aschaffenburg. We have already secured the involvement of a number of local music/dance groups and also hope to involve our own youth music groups as part of the Perth & Kinross representation in the concert and continue our focus on opportunities for young people from the event. Community Events 4.7 We propose to work with our culture partners and community groups across Perth & Kinross to encourage them to get involved by holding events as part of the programme. A small pot of funding will be available for groups to bid for to support the costs of holding events. We are also encouraging our twinning groups to hold events as part of their twinning exchanges, and they will be able to access twinning funding in the normal way to support these events. Civic Invitations 4.8 Given the considerable time required by our twin cities to organise delegations, we would like to extend an early invitation to the mayors of our twin cities. Our formal invitation letter will also invite them to send groups to take part in the wider opportunities such as the European Pipe Band Championships and the Anniversary Concert. Funding 4.9 Given the scale of the event, the total costs are expected to exceed the £10,000 limit that can be approved under delegated powers and therefore the Civic Affairs Sub-Committee is required to provide authorisation for the event, subject to more detailed costings being brought in future reports. 4.10 The existing agreed civic budget for 2025-26 and 2026-27 will be used to support the event. We will also seek external funding support from government agencies and sponsors to reduce pressure on the civic budget.
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Legacy 4.11 It is hoped that the event will have two key legacies: - Improved cultural and economic relations in advance and after the event between Perth & Kinross and its twinning partners. - Increased involvement by young people across Perth & Kinross in cultural activities. 5. Conclusion 5.1 It is proposed to organise Perth 2026 (Big Twinning Weekend), an event to celebrate twinning anniversaries in June/July 2026. The aim of the event is to improve cultural and economic links and young people increase involvement in cultural activities. 6. Impact and Value Assessment 6.1 Not applicable. 7. Appendices 7.1 None.