Great Canadian Kilt Skate 2026
The unseasonably warm temperatures forced the cancellation of Calgary’s event. On the other hand, in Fredericton, Halifax and Orillia kilt skates went ahead in spite of severely cold weather. Winnipeg, Moncton, Ottawa and Concord NH went ahead with goldilocks weather – not too hot, not too cold.
Other organizers avoided the vagaries and uncertainties of winter weather by holding their events indoors. These included Fergus, Montreal, Glengarry South, Antigonish and Toronto. The advantage is that organizers can plan with more confidence and, in the event of Arctic temperatures, more than just the hardy few can join the fun. Indoors or outdoors, many of the events augment their programs with pipers, and other musicians and Highland dancers.
The 2026 kilt skate season was notable again for the return of the “twinning” of Renfrewshire, Scotland, and Renfrew, Ontario. Scotland set the stage (or flooded the rink, if you prefer) for the International Kilt Skate Weekend. The weekend was chosen to correspond with a hockey match between the hometown Glasgow Clan and their rivals the Fyfe Flyers. Renfrewshire’s Lord Provost, Lorraine Cameron, dropped the opening puck and gave a shout out to Canada. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, Renfrew, Ontario, also had a great kilt skate celebrating their relationship with Scotland.
February 21-22 was designated the International Kiltskate Weekend and eight communities in three countries coordinated the timing of their events to participate. In Scotland, a public skate was scheduled to precede the hockey game. Skaters wearing a kilt could skate for free; those wearing tartan could take advantage of a discounted price. The appeal to Scottish frugality led to one of the best-attended kilt skates in recent years.
Whether big or small, indoors, or outdoors, in Canada, Scotland or the USA -- it is wonderful to get together in the depth of winter to celebrate the Scodttish heritage we share in common.
Congratulations to everybody for a great year. Please send us photos, videos and stories, media clips and even poems so we can share them. We will deliberate and announce the always-difficult-to-choose Kilt Skate Capital soon.
