Brath naidheachd

Diluain 23mh dhen Ghearran 2026

Seachdain na Gàidhlig as motha a-riamh fo sheòl

Thòisich Seachdain na Gàidhlig an-diugh, a’ chiad latha ann an seachdain a chomharraicheas aon dhe na cànain oifigeil ann an Alba agus tha e gu bhith nas motha na a-riamh roimhe.

Thèid còrr is 200 tachartas a chumail le luchd-labhairt, luchd-ionnsachaidh agus luchd-taice na Gàidhlig air feadh na h-Alba agus air feadh an t-saoghail fad fèill 2026 – suas 15% an coimeas ri an-uiridh.

Nas motha na riamh roimhe, seo an còigeamh turas a thèid an iomairt cànain bhliadhnail a chumail, am-bliadhna fon t-suaicheantas Cleachd i no caill i, a’ brosnachadh na Gàidhlig mar chànan beò.

Bidh pailteas air a’ phrògram eadar pìobaireachd, ceòl tradaiseanta is seiseanan seinn, òraidean is blasadan dhen chànan, dannsa-ceum is dannsa Gàidhealach, fèilltean fhilmichean, coiseachd san nàdar is innse sgeulachdan, thathar am beachd gun gabh còrr is 40,000 neach pàirt sna tachartasan air feadh 24 sgìre ionadail rè na seachdaine.

Bidh iomairt fhèillmhor Là Abairt na Gàidhlig air ais Diardaoin 26mh dhen Ghearran is na mìltean de dhaoine a’ feuchainn no a’ sgaoileadh facal no abairt Ghàidhlig sna meadhanan sòisealta, a’ sealltainn gu bheil gaol aca air a’ chànan.

Gheibh còrr is 7,000 sgoilear cothrom air clas cànain làitheil tron t-seachdain agus chlàraich 357 clas air feadh na dùthcha airson tionalan is seiseanan rè Seachdain na Gàidhlig.

Ged a tha a’ Ghàidhlig air a bhith mun cuairt còrr is 1,000 bliadhna, ach cha d’fhuair i inbhe mar chànan oifigeil ann an Alba ach sia mìosan air ais – a’ toirt togail fheumail dhan chànan.

Tha mu thuaiream 70,000 neach ann an Alba an-diugh aig a bheil Gàidhlig, agus tha co-dhiù beagan dhith aig 1 ann an 40 a rèir a’ chunntais-shluaigh mu dheireadh agus b’ ann am measg daoine fo aois 30 agus sna bailtean a bha am fàs as motha, ag innse dhuinn gu bheil an cànan dùthchasach seo a’ tighinn am feabhas.

Thuirt Joy Dunlop, Ceannard Seachdain na Gàidhlig: “Abair bliadhna de chlachan-mìle! Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig air a bhith mun cuairt còig bliadhna a-nis agus tha e a’ toirt misneachd cho mòr dhomh mar a tha an taic is othail mun iomairt, agus mun chànan, a’ fàs. ’S e cànan is cultar ath-sheasmhachd, spèis, dhàimhean is blàiths a th’ ann an Gàidhlig – tha e na cheangal domhain eadar sinn fhìn agus ar tìr, ar dualchas, ar faireachdainnean agus daoine eile a tha mun cuairt oirnn. Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig a’ sealltainn dhuinn gur e cànan a th’ ann a tha beò, beòthail agus a’ fàs – cha leig thu leas ach coimhead air na ceudan de thachartasan a tha gu bhith againn an t-seachdain seo agus an àireamh de luchd-ionnsachaidh a tha a’ sìor-fhàs. 

“Ma bha annas agad dhen chànan roimhe, ’s e an t-seachdain seo cothrom air leth airson a dhol an sàs innte – tha uiread a’ dol agus ’s e àm cho togarrach a th’ ann a bhith nad neach-labhairt no neach-ionnsachaidh na Gàidhlig. Tha sinn cho taingeil dhan fheadhainn a tha a’ cur taic dhan iomairt agus bidh e cho math na diofar dòighean fhaicinn air an comharraich daoine aon dhe na cànain dhùthchasach ann an Alba an t-seachdain seo. Tha an cànan beò!”

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis na leanas: “Chan e dìreach dualchas na h-Alba a th’ anns a’ Ghàidhlig – ’s e àm ri teachd na h-Alba a th’ innte, ’s i a’ ceangal coimhearsnachd eadar-nàiseanta ri chèile de chòrr is 130,000 neach-labhairt is neach-ionnsachaidh.

“’S ann eachdraidheil a tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig am-bliadhna – a’ chiad Sheachdain bho fhuair a’ Ghàidhlig inbhe oifigeil tro Achd nan Cànan Albannach againn. Tha an t-Achd a’ toirt seachad chumhachdan ùra leis an gabh an cànan fhàs, nam measg cumhachdan do phàrantan airson sgoil Ghàidhlig iarraidh anns na sgìrean aca.

“Tha sinn a’ cumail taic ris na cumhachdan seo le £1.8 millean a bharrachd ann an dreachd a’ Bhuidseit againn, airson soirbheas a’ chànain a chumail suas fad ghinealaichean ri teachd.”

Thuirt Ealasaid Dhòmhnallach, Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig a’ toirt cothrom do dhaoine pàirt a ghabhail ann an agus iomadh seòrsa gnìomhachd agus tachartas Gàidhlig a tha a’ gabhail àite air feadh na h-Alba agus faicsinneachd a thoirt don chànan. Tha mi an dòchas gun còrd e ribh uile a bhith a’ comharrachadh ar cànain tro Sheachdain na Gàidhlig agus gun toir sibh an gnìomhachd sin air adhart tron bhliadhna.”

Tha an dà chuid Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ cumail taic ri Seachdain na Gàidhlig agus ’s e buidheann cultar is ceòl tradaiseanta na h-Alba, Hands Up for Trad, a tha ga lìbhrigeadh.

Thig Seachdain na Gàidhlig gu crìoch Didòmhnaich 1ad dhen Mhàrt 2026. Tadhail air seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.

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Media release

Monday 23rd February 2026

Biggest ever World Gaelic Week blasts off

The biggest ever edition of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) blasts off today, heralding the start of seven days of celebrations for one of Scotland’s official languages.

More than 200 events are set to be staged by Gaelic speakers, learners and supporters across Scotland and around the world for the 2026 edition – up 15% on last year.

The record-breaking fifth edition of the annual language initiative aims to promote the theme, Use it or Lose it (Cleachd i no Caill i), championing the vitality of Gaelic as a living language.

From bagpiping, folk music and singing sessions, talks and language tasters, to step dance, Highland dance, film festivals, nature walks and storytelling, the diverse programme of events taking place across 24 local authority areas are expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees across the week.

The popular Say a Gaelic Phrase Day will also take place this Thursday 26th February, where thousands of people share or try a favourite Gaelic word or phrase and highlight their love of the language on social media.

Daily language classes will also reach more than 7,000 school children across the week, with 357 classes across the country signed up for World Gaelic Week online assemblies and sessions.

Despite being spoken for over 1,000 years, Scottish Gaelic has only been an official language of Scotland for around six months – and the minority language is enjoying a welcome buoyancy.

There are now around 70,000 Gaelic speakers in Scotland, with 1 in 40 people thought to have some level of understanding in Gaelic according to the last Census, while the greatest areas of growth for the language are among under 30s and in urban communities, spelling a bright future for the indigenous tongue.

Joy Dunlop, Director of Seachdain na Gàidhlig, said: “Talk about a milestone year! Five years into World Gaelic Week and it is heartening to see the growing support and excitement for the initiative, and the language. Gaelic is a language and culture of resilience, passion, connection and warmth – it helps us connect deeply with our landscape, heritage, emotions and others around us. World Gaelic Week shows us that Gaelic is alive, dynamic and thriving – just look at the hundreds of events taking place this week and the growing numbers of learners.

“If you’ve ever been tempted to discover the language, this week is the perfect opportunity to get involved – there is so much going on and it is such an exciting time to be a Gaelic speaker or learner. We’re very grateful to all those getting behind the initiative and can’t wait to see the different ways people celebrate one of Scotland’s indigenous languages this week. Tha ar cànan beò – our language is alive!”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Gaelic is not just Scotland’s heritage – it’s Scotland’s future, connecting a global community of more than 130,000 speakers and learners.

“This World Gaelic Week is historic – the first since Gaelic gained official status through our Scottish Languages Act. The Act provides new powers to grow the language, including empowering parents to request a Gaelic school in their area.

“We are backing those powers with an additional £1.8 million in our draft Budget to help the language thrive for generations to come.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard (CEO), Bòrd na Gàidhlig, said: “Seachdain na Gàidhlig is providing an opportunity to participate in and showcase the wide variety of activity that goes on across Scotland all in Gaelic. I hope you all enjoy celebrating our language throughout Seachdain na Gàidhlig and take that activity forward throughout the year.”

Seachdain na Gàidhlig is supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Scottish Government, and is delivered by Scottish traditional culture and music organisation Hands Up For Trad.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 runs until Sunday 1st March 2026. Visit seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.