*English below*

Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig a’ fàs is prògram 2026 ga chur air bhog

Thèid Seachdain na Gàidhlig a chumail airson a’ chòigeamh thurais agus bidh am prògram maoinichte fiù nas motha am bliadhna.

Cumaidh an iomairt bhliadhnail seo taic ri 63 pròiseact is tachartas am bliadhna eadar 23mh dhen Ghearran is a’ 1ad dhen Mhàrt 2026 agus tha sinn an dùil gum bi na ceudan de thachartasan eile a’ dol rè na seachdaine cuideachd.

Chuir 20% a bharrachd a-steach airson airgead Maoin nan Tabhartas Beag – a tha ga mhaoineachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba – an coimeas ri 2025 is barrachd dhaoine airson pàirt a ghabhail san iomairt nàiseanta seo agus Gàidhlig a chomharradh sna coimhearsnachdan aca.

Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig a’ sealltainn do dhaoine gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig fhathast na cànan beò agus beòthail. Tha cuspair 2026 Cleachd i no caill i a’ tarraing gu ar n-aire dè cho cudromach ’s a tha e gun cuir sinn Gàidhlig gu feum airson ’s gum mair i beò agus airson fàs a thoirt oirre.

Seo a’ chiad turas a bhios Seachdain na Gàidhlig leinn on a chaidh inbhe cànain oifigeil a bhuileachadh oirre ann an Alba fon lagha, clach-mhìle eachdraidheil ann an urram is dìon a’ chànain agus a’ sealltainn aon turas eile gu bheil i na pàirt ro-chudromach ann am beatha agus dearbh-aithne chultarach na dùthcha.

Rè seachdain na bliadhna-sa, bidh gnìomhachdan is tachartasan a’ dol ceithir-thimcheall na dùthcha, le gach rud eadar filmichean is bingo, dannsa agus cuairtean, gach rud le Gàidhlig aig an teis-meadhan.

Tha an fheadhainn as nochdte a’ gabhail a-staigh na leanas:

• Cumaidh Ros an Iar fèill fhiolmichean Gàidhlig aca fhèin fon ainm Fiolmaichean Coimhearsnachd is iad a’ dèanamh taighean-dhealbh de thallachan-coimhearsnachd air feadh Bith-chruinne Ros an Iar fad latha. Bidh prògram goirid dhe filmichean Gàidhlig aig gach ionad, a’ gabhail a-staigh feadhainn a tha ionmhainn aig teaghlaichean, feadhainn ghoirid is chruthachail agus feadhainn aithriseach a chomharraicheas muinntir is cultar an àite.
• Cuiridh Urras Coimhearsnachd Bhràdhagair agus Àrnoil ann an Leòdhas air chois seiseanan cluiche is coiseachd eadar-ghinealach eadar clann, pàrantan, luchd-glèidhidh agus seann-daoine, tachartas air am bi Beul ri Beul, a’ toirt cothroman cudromach dha na diofar ginealaichean a thighinn cruinn agus Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn còmhla.
• Tha An Lòchran a’ planadh deagh àireamh de thachartasan, ’s iad ag amas air daoine le diofar ìrean de Ghàidhlig, bho luchd-tòiseachaidh gu daoine aig a bheil Gàidhlig on ghlùn agus a h-uile duine eadar an dà bhuidheann sin. Bidh iad a’ cumail seisean do dhaoine le Gàidhlig lapach, oidhche-fhiolm, oidhche-bhàrdachd, bùth-obrach ealain agus seisean do luchd-tòiseachaidh agus daoine aig ìre eadar-mheadhanach. Agus bidh an còrr ann cuideachd.
• Bidh cothrom aig daoine, ge be dè an aois no ìre de Ghàidhlig aca, ann an Ionad Thròndairnis san Eilean Sgitheanach na h-àireamhan Gàidhlig aca a chur gu feum aig Oidhche Bingo.
• Cumaidh buidheann Sreapadaireachd Alba seisean air loidhne a mhìnicheas ainmean àite ’s chnoc dhan fheadhainn a choisicheas sna beanntan. Bheir a’ bhùth-obrach seo sùil air a’ cheangal domhain eadar a’ Ghàidhlig agus beanntan na h-Alba – a’ sealltainn mar a tha ainmean-àite, sgeulachdan is abairtean Gàidhlig ag innse dhuinn dè cho mòr ’s a bha an tuigse aig daoine air an tìr aca.
• Cumaidh Taigh-tasgaidh Iasgaireachd na h-Alba ann am Fìobha tachartas ciùil sa choimhearsnachd agus ceum tron taigh-tasgaidh le òrain, sgeulachdan is faclan Gàidhlig, a’ toirt sùil air dìleab an iasgaich ann an Alba.
• Cuiridh Sgrìn Earra Ghàidheal Gàidhlig air sgrìnichean ann an Tiriodh agus Muile ’s iad a’ cumail cèilidhean filmichean teaghlaich.
• Thèid Leabhar-lann Nàiseanta na h-Alba a Ratharsaigh a chumail bùth-obrach mu bhriathrachas an uisge sa bhun-sgoil, a’ toirt sùil air beartas nam facal Gàidhlig a bhuineas do dh’aimsir fhliuch.
• Ann an Earra Ghàidheal is Bòd, cluichidh iomairt Gaelic Music for Littles ceòl Gàidhlig ann an sgoiltean-àraich Beurla ann an Comhghall.

Faodaidh daoine, buidhnean coimhearsnachd is buidhnean eile le comas sam bith de Ghàidhlig gnìomhachdan a chur air chois iad fhèin a bhrosnaicheas an cànan sna coimhearsnachd aca. Faodaidh tu tachartas a chur ri làrach-lìn Seachdain na Gàidhlig an seo: seachdainnagaidhlig.scot/events/community/add.

Tha Là Abairt na Gàidhlig, iomairt air a bheil fèill mhòr, na phàirt de Sheachdain na Gàidhlig cuideachd agus gabhaidh na mìltean mòra pàirt ann gach bliadhna agus bidh e air ais Diardaoin 26mh dhen Ghearran 2026.

Thuirt Joy Dunlop, Ceannard Seachdain na Gàidhlig: “Comharraichidh Seachdain na Gàidhlig an cànan mar rud beò, a’ sealltainn dhuinn gu bheil i fragarrach agus cudromach fhathast agus gu bheil sìor-fhàs a’ tighinn air an fhèill air a’ chànan. Tha an iomairt seo a’ toirt cothrom do luchd-labhairt, luchd-ionnsachaidh is luchd-taice a’ chànain a’ Ghàidhlig a bhrosnachadh far a bheil iad fhèin agus air feadh an t-saoghail.

“Tha e a’ toirt toileachas mòr dhuinn prògram nan tachartas maoinichte 2026 a chur air bhog, prògram a sheallas gu bheil uiread a dhòighean ann a’ Ghàidhlig a chomharradh. Tha gach gnìomhachd co-cheangailte ri cuspair na bliadhna, cleachd i no caill i, abairt a chuireas nar cuimhne gu bheil soirbheachas a’ chànain a’ crochadh oirnn fhìn is sinne ga cleachdadh an-diugh nar beatha làitheil.

“Chan eil e gu diofar a bheil thu fileanta, ga h-ionnsachadh no mura h-eil agad ach ùidh agad sa chànan – bidh Seachdain na Gàidhlig na dheagh chothrom a dhol an sàs innte, a chomharradh an dualchais mhòir aice agus a dhearbhadh gum bi àite aice ann an Alba san àm ri teachd. Tha sinn air ar bioran; a’ faicinn dè cho mòr ’s a tha an spèis aig coimhearsnachdan air feadh na dùthcha agus thall thairis dhi is iad a’ tighinn cruinn a shealltainn gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig beò, beòthail agus ionmhuinn aig daoine.”

Thuirt an Leas-Phrìomh Mhinistear Ceit Fhoirbeis: “Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig fhathast a’ dol bho neart gu neart, agus tha ùidh nach robh ann a-riamh roimhe ann am prògram na bliadhna seo. Tha seo a’ sealltainn gu bheil an dealas a thaobh na Gàidhlig a’ fàs air feadh na h-Alba agus thall-thairis.

“Seo a’ chiad Sheachdain na Gàidhlig bho fhuair a’ Ghàidhlig inbhe oifigeil ann an Alba. Mar sin, ’s e àm air leth sònraichte a bhios ann, agus bu chòir dhuinn a chomharrachadh.

“Tha cuspair na bliadhna seo – cleachd i no caill i – a’ mìneachadh gu soilleir carson a tha tachartasan mar seo cudromach. Co-dhiù ma tha thu fileanta ann an Gàidhlig no am impis tòiseachadh oirre, tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig na chothrom mìorbhaileach airson cànan is cultar na Gàidhlig a chomharrachadh agus a dhol an sàs innte.”

Thuirt Ealasaid Dhòmhnallach, Ceannard Bhòrd na Gàidhlig: “Tha e air leth math fàs fhaicinn anns na tha de thachartasan Gàidhlig maoinichte a thèid a lìbhrigeadh ann an coimhearsnachdan air feadh na dùthcha mar phàirt de Seachdain na Gàidhlig am-bliadhna. Bidh cothroman air leth ann dha daoine tighinn còmhla agus Gàidhlig a chleachdadh ann an raon farsaing de shuidheachaidhean ‘s cinnteach gum bidh buannachd ri fhaighinn bhon phrògram thachartasan seo tron bhliadhna a tha romhainn cuideachd.”

Thuirt Moira Piazzoli, Oifigear Coimhearsnachd Gàidhlig, An Lòchran: “An seo ann an Glaschu, bidh sinn a’ comharrachadh Seachdain na Gàidhlig le tachartasan am pailteas, ’s an cuspair cleachd i no caill i aig cridhe gach fear dhiubh! Bidh rudeigin ann dhan a h-uile duine, bho luchd-tòiseachaidh gu daoine aig a bheil Gàidhlig on ghlùin agus a h-uile duine eadar an dà bhuidheann sin. Le seisean do dhaoine le Gàidhlig lapach, oidhcheannan-fiolm, oidhcheannan-bàrdachd, bùthan-obrach ealain agus seisean do luchd-tòiseachaidh ann, bheir am prògram againn an cothrom dhut a dhol an sàs ann an cànan brèagha na Gàidhlig, agus anns a’ chultar co-cheangailte rithe.”

Thuirt Màiread Bush, oifigear leasachadh na Gàidhlig aig Bith-chruinne Ros an Iar: “Tha amas sìmplidh againn: tha sinn airson àitichean a chruthachadh far an cluinnear is far am faicear a’ Ghàidhlig air an sgrìn mhòr, a’ toirt cruinn na coimhearsnachd aig an aon àm. Tha na tallachan againn nan ionadan cruinneachaidh cudromach rè mìosan fada a’ gheamhraidh. Tha am pròiseact seo gan cumail beò agus beòthail leis a’ Ghàidhlig, ceòl-gàire agus solas. Tha cuspair na bliadhna 2026 na dheagh shamhla air na tha fa near dhuinn. Le bhith a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig ann an dòighean spòrsail agus sòisealta, tha sinn airson a dhèanamh nas fhollaisiche agus airson spèis dhaoine dhan chànan a chur am meud agus, le bhith a’ cleachdadh nan tallachan ionadail againn, a’ neartachadh nan coimhearsnachdan dùthchail againne.”

Le taic bho Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus Riaghaltas na h-Alba, agus fo stiùir buidheann cultar is ceòl tradaiseanta na h-Alba, Hands Up For Trad, tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig air a spreigeadh le iomairtean eile d’ a leithid ann am mion-chànain eile mar Seachtain na Gaeilge ann an Èirinn is Mìos nan Gàidheal ann an Alba Nuadh.

B’ e an iomairt seachdain seo a’ chiad seachdain cànain nàiseanta d’ a leithid ann an Alba a’ toirt cothrom do luchd-labhairt, luchd-ionnsachaidh is luchd-taice na Gàidhlig urram a thoirt dhan chànan is a bhrosnachadh aig ìre ionadail is air feadh an t-saoghail, a’ brosnachadh aire ’s ìomhaigh nàiseanta nas motha.

Tha Seachdain na Gàidhlig air a bhith a’ sìor-fhàs bliadhna air bhliadhna, le 170 tachartas agus 40,000 neach a’ gabhail pàirt ann an 2025. Dh’fhàs àireamh nan daoine a ghabh pàirt ann am prògram nan sgoiltean le 32% ann an 2025 is ghabh 16,700 oileanach pàirt uile gu lèir. Chomharraich daoine Seachdain na Gàidhlig san Argantain, ann an Sasainn, Canada, Astràilia, Èirinn a Tuath, san Fhionnlann, sa Ghearmailt agus sna Stàitean Aonaichte.

Bidh Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 ann eadar 23mh dhen Ghearran is 1ad dhen Mhàrt 2026. Tadhail air seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.

’S e carthannas cultarach Hands Up for Trad a ruitheas Seachdain na Gàidhlig agus is ann air tabhartasan a thig ar n-obair beò mar sin. Cùm taic ris an iomairt aig seachdainnagaidhlig.scot/support-us.

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Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) grows as 2026 programme launched

Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) is set to grow for the fifth consecutive year as it launches its funded programme of events.

Taking place from 23rd February – 1st March 2026, the annual initiative is this year supporting 63 projects and events, with hundreds more expected to be staged across the week.

Applications for their Small Grants Scheme, funded by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Scottish Government, broke records once again, up almost 20% on 2025 as even more people sought to get involved in the nationwide initiative and celebrate Gaelic in their community.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig highlights the vitality and enduring presence of Gaelic as a living language. The 2026 theme, Use It or Lose It (Cleachd i no caill i), emphasises the importance of actively using Gaelic to keep it thriving.

2026 is the first time World Gaelic Week will be staged since Gaelic became an official language of Scotland in law, signalling a historic milestone in the recognition and protection of the language, and underscoring its vital place in Scottish life and cultural identity.

This year’s week-long celebration will see activities and events staged up and down the country, with everything from film screening and bingo to dance and walking events, all with the Gaelic language at their heart.

Highlights include:

• Wester Ross will play host to its own Gaelic Film Festival as Filmichean na Coimhearsnachd (Community Films) transform community halls across the Wester Ross Biosphere into welcoming pop-up cinemas for the day. Each venue will screen a short programme of Gaelic films including family favourites, creative shorts and documentaries celebrating place, people and culture.
• Urras Coimhearsnachd Bhràdhagair agus Àrnoil (the Bragar and Arnol Community Trust) on Lewis will put on intergenerational walk and play sessions with children, parents, guardians and older adults entitled Beul ri Beul (Mouth to Mouth), giving vital opportunities to groups across the generations to speak Gaelic together.
• In Glasgow, Gaelic charity An Lòchran is planning a number of events aimed at different levels of Gaelic, from beginners to native speakers and everyone in between. This includes a film evening, poetry evening, arts workshop, session for lapsed speakers, and more.
• On Skye, Oidhche Bingo (Bingo Night) at the Trotternish Centre will let people of all ages and levels of Gaelic have fun and brush up on their numbers.
• Mountaineering Scotland will host an online session educating hillwalkers on Gaelic place and hill names and what they mean. The workshop will explore the deep links between the Gaelic language and Scotland’s mountain landscapes – uncovering how Gaelic place names, stories and expressions reflect a unique cultural understanding of the land.
• The Scottish Fisheries Museum in Fife will host a special community music event and visitor trail around the museum which share Gaelic songs, stories and words, delving into their legacy in fishing in Scotland.
• Screen Argyll will be putting Gaelic Cinema on the screen on Tiree and Mull with their Family Film Cèilidhs.
• The National Library of Scotland will travel to Raasay for a Rainy Gaelic Words Workshop with the primary school, uncovering the many different Scottish Gaelic words associated with wet weather
• In Argyll and Bute, Gaelic Music for Littles will see traditional Gaelic music played in English-speaking nurseries in Cowal.

Individuals, community groups and organisations with any level of Gaelic can stage their own events or host an activity in their community that promotes the language. Events can be added to the World Gaelic Week website at seachdainnagaidhlig.scot/events/community/add.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig also encompasses the popular Say a Gaelic Phrase Day which engages thousands online each year and returns on Thursday 26th February 2026.

Joy Dunlop, Director of Seachdain na Gàidhlig, said: “Seachdain na Gàidhlig celebrates Gaelic as a living language, highlighting its vitality, enduring presence and growing popularity. The initiative provides a platform for speakers, learners, and advocates to promote Gaelic locally and globally.

“We’re so excited to unveil our programme of funded events for 2026 which showcase the diversity of ways to celebrate Gaelic. Each activity is tied into this year’s theme, cleachd i no caill i (use it or lose it), which is a powerful reminder that the future of Gaelic depends on us all actively using and sharing it in our daily lives.

“Whether you’re fluent, learning, or simply curious, Seachdain na Gàidhlig is an opportunity to connect with the language, celebrate its rich heritage, and ensure its place in Scotland’s future. We’re thrilled to see the enthusiasm and creativity of communities across the country and beyond as they come together to make Gaelic visible, vibrant and valued.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Seachdain na Gàidhlig continues to go from strength to strength, with record-breaking interest in this year’s programme demonstrating the growing enthusiasm for Gaelic across Scotland and beyond.

“This is the first World Gaelic Week since Gaelic gained official status in Scotland, making it an especially significant moment to celebrate.

“This year’s theme, cleachd i no caill i (use it or lose it), captures exactly why events like these matter. Whether you’re a fluent speaker or just starting out, World Gaelic Week offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and engage with Gaelic language and culture.”

Ealasaid MacDonald, Ceannard, Bòrd na Gàidhlig said: “It is wonderful to see the growth in the number and range of funded Gaelic events which will take place in communities all over the country as part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig this year. There are so many opportunities for people to come together and to speak Gaelic in a wide range of settings and there will doubtless be benefits felt throughout the entire year ahead.”

Moira Piazzoli, Gaelic Community Officer at An Lòchran said: “Here in Glasgow we’ll be celebrating Seachdain na Gàidhlig with a flurry of events, with the cleachd i no caill i (use it or lose it) theme at the heart of it all! There’ll be something on for everyone, from beginners to native speakers and everyone in between. With a session for lapsed speakers, film evenings, poetry evenings, art workshops and sessions for beginners in the mix, our programme will give you the chance to interact with the beautiful Gaelic language and the culture around it.”

Mairead Bush, Gaelic Development Officer at Wester Ross Biosphere, said: “Our aim is simple: to create spaces where Gaelic is heard, seen and shared on the big screen, while bringing neighbours together. During the long winter months, our halls are vital gathering spaces. This project keeps them glowing with language, laughter and light. The 2026 theme cleachd i no caill i (use it or lose it) captures the heart of what we hope to do. By using Gaelic in social, joyful ways, we make it more visible and valued, and by using our local halls, we strengthen our rural communities.”

Supported by Bòrd na Gàidhlig and Scottish Government, and spearheaded by Scottish traditional culture and music organisation Hands Up For Trad, Seachdain na Gàidhlig draws inspiration from other minority language movements such as Seachtain na Gaeilge in Ireland and Mìos nan Gàidheal in Nova Scotia.

The week-long initiative was the first official nationwide language week of its kind in Scotland, providing a platform for Scottish Gaelic speakers, learners, and advocates to honor and promote the language locally and globally, fostering greater national awareness and recognition.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig has grown year on year, with 170 events and 40,000 participants in 2025. Participation in the schools programme increased by 32% in 2025, reaching 16,700 students. People celebrated World Gaelic Week in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, England, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and the USA.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig 2026 will take place from 23rd February – 1st March 2026. Visit seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.

Seachdain na Gàidhlig is delivered by cultural charity Hands Up for Trad and donations make their work possible. Support the initiative at seachdainnagaidhlig.scot/support-us.