The Balvenie Medal for services to piping is awarded annually, subject to a suitable candidate being identified, and is presented at the Glenfiddich Piping Championships, which take place at Blair Castle in Perthshire, Scotland, on the last Saturday in October.
First awarded in 1985, the award recognises those who have made an exceptional contribution to the study, performance and appreciation of the music of the Great Highland Bagpipe and have helped sustain and promote piping as a thriving cultural tradition.
With one annual recipient, the medal is awarded to those whose contribution has extended over a long period of service to piping and the piping community in Scotland or elsewhere. The medal is always presented in person to the recipient at the Championship, unless exceptional circumstances prevent them attending. Traditionally, the recipient is unaware they are to be honoured.
Nominations for the 2026 Balvenie Medal are now open (from today, 3.2.26) and will be accepted until Tuesday 31st March 2026. Once this window has closed, a committee consisting of representatives of both the William Grant Foundation and the National Piping Centre plus two external members will then consider all the nominations and determine the recipient of the award for this year.
The nomination should include a full overview of the piper’s life and contribution to the world of piping. The nominator should lead the application process and is expected to deliver the presentation to the audience at the Glenfiddich Piping Championship, giving a short speech about the recipient.
Anyone in the worldwide piping community is welcome to nominate a suitable candidate for the award. Nominations should be submitted through the form on the Glenfiddich Piping Championship page on the NPC website or by post to: Helen Urquhart, The National Piping Centre, 30-34 McPhater Street, Glasgow, G4 0HW.
Nominations should consider how their nominated person fits these criteria:
- A passion for piping – an evident and deep commitment to the music and the piping world that influences those around them.
- A commitment to advancing the world of piping – whether in terms of the artform, engagement and participation, or its appreciation
- A sense of character and personality that is a beacon of inspiration for others.
- Going above and beyond their given position in work or life to make a difference
- Fostering a strong sense of community within the piping world, collaborating to bring people together to jointly further the cause of piping.
- A legacy that promises to inspire future generations or will continue to benefit the piping community.
- A commitment to values and principles – even when it might have been challenging to hold to them.
Please include as much relevant information as possible, to allow the committee to consider each application on its merits.
Once the committee has met, the successful nominator will be contacted by the National Piping Centre to confirm the feasibility of the nominee attending the 2025 Glenfiddich Piping Championship and the availability of the nominator or some other suitable person to introduce the recipient at the event.
The 2025 recipient was Jeannie Campbell MBE. Jeannie is a cultural historian for piping, producing books, articles and histories of events and aspects of the artform with a huge legacy of printed and online material. She has also contributed to the development of piping through involvement in associations, competitions and more.
The Glenfiddich Piping Championship was established in 1974 to inspire the world’s finest individual pipers and to seek the best overall exponents of ceòl mòr or piobaireachd (the great music) and ceòl beag or light music (the little music). The event is held annually at Blair Castle in Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Each year, 10 competitors qualify to play at this prestigious event through placing in one of a series of qualifying events. The event in 2026 will take place on Saturday 31st October 2026.
Further information about the Glenfiddich Piping Championship and the Balvenie Medal nomination process can be found at the National Piping Centre website at www.thepipingcentre.co.uk/Glenfiddich
Jeannie Campbell MBE was the 2025 recipient of The Balvenie Medal. Photo: Hannah Power/the NPC