The vibrant world of Scottish traditional music celebrated its brightest stars and leading lights at the 23rd annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Aberdeen on Saturday, December 6th, 2025.
The Scottish Pipe Band of the Year was was won by Glasgow Skye Association, an award that is sponsored by the National Piping Centre. Led by a young pipe major in 2025, Donald Stewart, the band had a very successful year winning the Grade 2 title at the World Pipe Band Championships and were in 2nd place at the UK and Scottish Championships, and 3rd place at the European Championships.
New piping inductees into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, this year include Iain MacDonald (Neilson) and Colin MacLellan.
Iain MacDonald, the father of Finlay MacDonald, was a pioneering piper who participated in the 1970s folk revival with Battlefield Band and other groups, led the Neilston & District Pipe Band to international recognition, and was instrumental in founding the Lowland & Border Pipers’ Society.
Colin MacLellan, the son of Capt. John A. MacLellan, is a world-class piper, educator and administrator whose influence spans continents, from leading the Glengarry Pipe Band through the grades in Canada to establishing groundbreaking piping education programmes in Scotland and reforming competitive piping structures
The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards is an event recognised an outstanding array of artists, projects and organisations for their significant contributions to preserving and advancing Scotland’s rich cultural heritage through music.
This year’s ceremony showcased the incredible diversity and skill within the trad music scene, with a sell-out audience of trad fans, musicians and industry supporters filling the Granite City’s Music Hall.
One week on from Gaelic and Scots being recognised as official languages of Scotland, the night honoured musicians and creatives working to promote Scotland’s indigenous music, culture and tongues.
Tens of thousands of votes were cast to decide the 24 winners alongside a panel of judges from the list of more than 100 worthy nominees.
The 2025 winners are:
Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CD
araon by Sian
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association
Ellie Beaton
Club of the Year sponsored by Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd.
North East Accordion and Fiddle Club
Community Project of the Year sponsored by Isle of Barra Distillers
The Royal National Mòd
Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music
Findlay Napier
Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of Year – 25th Anniversary
Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound
Blazin’ Fiddles
Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by The Highland Society of London
Kim Carnie
Industry Person of the Year sponsored by Active Events
Donald Shaw
Live Act of the Year sponsored by SHURE
Skerryvore
Musician of the Year sponsored by University of the Highlands and Islands
Siobhan Miller
Music Tutor of the Year Award sponsored by the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland
Innes Watson
Original Work of the Year sponsored by Musicians’ Union
The Great Herdsman of Etive by RURA
Scottish Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
The Ceilidh Collective
Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by the National Piping Centre
Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band
Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Dàna
Venue of the Year sponsored by SHURE
Park Bar, Glasgow
This year’s Na Trads see beloved Scottish band Skerryvore take home the Live Act of the Year award sponsored by SHURE for the fourth time, rounding off her 20th anniversary year in style, while Glasgow institution, the Park Bar won the Venue of the Year prize, also sponsored by SHURE, for the first time in its 130-year history.
The world’s largest Gaelic festival, the Royal National Mòd, was crowned Community Project of the Year for its incredible work in bringing Gaelic communities across Scotland together in celebration of the language. Celtic Connections’ Creative Producer Donald Shaw was also honoured, having been named Industry Person of the Year for his tireless work putting Scottish music on the world stage.
Gaelic vocal trio Sian lifted the coveted Album of the Year title for their sublime 2025 release, araon, fellow all-female Glasgow group Dàna picked up Up and Coming Artist of the Year, having won a prestigious Danny Kyle Award earlier this year, while local star Ellie Beaton picked up her third national award in a row as Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year.
Awards given in recognition of lifetime services to traditional music and culture, selected by an industry panel, include:
Services to Gaelic Award, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Boyd Robertson
The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award
David Francis
The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award, supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland
Gerda Stevenson
The awards also honoured figures supporting the traditional music community behind the scenes:
Photographer of the Year
Magnus Graham
Recording Studio of the Year
Wee Studio, Stornoway
Record Producer of the Year
Rory Matheson
Trad Music in the Media
BBC Radio Scotland – Take the Floor
Scots Trad Music Awards organiser Simon Thoumire said: “The Scottish trad scene continues to raise its game – the creativity and calibre of talent on display is inspiring. The musicians, composers, singers, and arts workers we celebrate represent the beating heart of Scotland’s cultural scene. In the face of AI and streaming, we continue to create. This is who we are – creators with original thoughts, with the power to imagine something from nothing and make it real.
“With the recent recognition of Gaelic and Scots as official languages of Scotland, we are witnessing a cultural renaissance that shows our traditions are not just surviving but thriving. Together, we celebrate that creativity, resilience and spirit that define us.
“It is always a joy to bring this community together to celebrate the immense contributions made to Scottish cultural life over the last 12 months. We are so grateful to all those who joined us, everyone who voted, our sponsors for believing in the work we do and making it possible, and the city of Aberdeen for welcoming us with open arms.”
Margaret Cameron, MG ALBA Director of Content, said: “This year’s winners embody everything that makes Scotland’s traditional music so powerful. It’s always a special moment to celebrate the creativity and artistry shaped by the people and places that keep these traditions thriving. As Gaelic and Scots gain greater visibility and confidence across the country, these artists and organisations are helping that cultural momentum reach even wider audiences. MG ALBA is proud to continue our longstanding sponsorship of the Scots Trad Music Awards and to bring this celebratory night and its outstanding performances to viewers on BBC ALBA.”
Jenni Steele, Film and Creative Industries Manager at VisitScotland, said: “It’s hugely inspiring to see the calibre and creativity of the talent within our outstanding trad music scene.
“Scots trad music is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of Scotland. It offers visitors an extra layer of authenticity during their stay in Scotland – something we know is important to them – and remains a thriving, exhilarating experience embraced by Scots of all ages.
“Encouraging visitors to engage with our exciting traditional music scene and the languages of the Scots, is an integral part in our work to promote Scotland as a must-visit destination.”
Catriona Hawksworth, Traditional Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Na Trads is a bastion of Scotland’s traditional music scene and an integral force in the celebration and fostering of our cultural heritage. This year’s awards line-up proves the variety and vibrancy of a thriving community, and recognition of the part it plays in Scottish culture.
“In particular, Innes Watson’s award of Music Tutor of the Year is testament to his dedication to his local community of Skye and Lochalsh, and the Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award honours the decades of work Gerda Stevenson has contributed to Scots Leid that has now allowed it to be officially recognised language. These awards and the unwavering commitment of individuals involved across the sector play an important role in these huge milestones for Scotland’s cultural heritage.”
Hosted by Scottish personalities Mary Ann Kennedy and Alistair Heather, the night also saw live performances from piper Ross Miller and his band, Gaelic singer Mairi MacInnes, the Rory Matheson Dance Band, young musicians from Plockton Music School and Orkney youth project Hadhirgaan, songstress Hannah Rarity, UK folk legends The Poozies, Aberdeenshire singer Ellie Beaton and trad pop band Mec Lir.
The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards were broadcast live on BBC ALBA and can be watched back on BBC iPlayer or via bbc.co.uk/alba. For more information, visit www.scotstradmusicawards.com.