The 2026 Glengarry Cup: A Showcase of World‑Class Solo Piping

By Donald Macdonald

Left to Right: Judge John Cairns, PBPSO Ottawa Branch President Anne Seigmiller, Glengarry Cup 2026 winner Andrew Hayes, Judges Andrew Bertoff, and Amy Garson, Photo Donald Macdonald

On September 26, 2026, the prestigious Glengarry Cup returned to Ottawa, held at the Rideau Canal Junior Ranks Mess and hosted by the Ottawa Branch of the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO). Since the early 1980s -- aside from a few years in Guelph and Maxville -- the Cup has been a signature Ottawa event, with the cup itself originally donated by the Glengarry Pipe Band.

In 2023, Piobaireachd was added to the traditional MSR contest, with aggregate points determining the overall champion. The competition is scheduled each year to coincide with the National Police and Peacekeepers Memorial Weekend.

2026 Glengarry Cup Winner

Andrew Hayes of Nepean, Ontario -- himself a past Cup champion-- claimed the overall 2026 Glengarry Cup.

The morning Piobaireachd event was won by Colin MacLellan of Edinburgh, Scotland, a five‑time Glengarry Cup champion.

Top Five – Piobaireachd

Left to Right Colin MacLellan, Jenny Hazard, John Cairns, Andrew Hayes, Ian K. MacDonald, Andrew Bertoff, and Amy Garso, Photo Donald Macdonald

  1. Colin MacLellan (Edinburgh, Scotland)

  2. Ian K. MacDonald (Whitby, Ontario)

  3. Joe Biggs (Bowmanville, Ontario)

  4. Andrew Hayes (Nepean, Ontario)

  5. Andrew Donlon (Washington, DC)

Top Five – MSR

  1. Andrew Hayes (Nepean, Ontario)

  2. Andrew Donlon (Washington, DC)

  3. Joe Biggs (Bowmanville, Ontario)

  4. Jenny Hazzard (Edinburgh, Scotland)

  5. Tyler Harris (Guelph, Ontario)

Additional strong performances came from Gillian Blaney (Lower Sackville, NS), Aidan Bowen (Pickering, ON), and Andrew Hutton (Buffalo, NY).

Ontario Youth Pipe Band at Glengarry Cup 2026, Photo Donald Macdonald

The contests were judged by veteran pipers John Cairns, Andrew Berthoff, and Amy Garson, with Brian Williamson serving as emcee and Ron Graham stewarding the events.

Ontario Youth Pipe Band Performance The evening opened with a spirited performance by the Ontario Youth Pipe Band (OYPB), featuring players under 25 from across the province, offering some rousing sets of classic bagpipe tunes.

Director Tyler Bridge noted that the band was created by PPBSO two years ago with fellow music educator Ross Davidson to encourage and support the next generation of pipers and drummers. Anne Siegmiller, president of PPBSO’s Ottawa Branch, and her team coordinated all activities of the day, including an afternoon piping and drumming workshop.

Tunes played are listed, with and video (soon to be posted) here.

David Johnston