New nationwide Scots Language Week announced following record

A NEW nationwide week celebrating the Scots language has been announced as the winners of the 2026 Scots Language Awards were revealed. The inaugural Scots Language Week will take place from September 6 to 11 next year and will aim to celebrate the importance of the Scots language. The initiative, supported by the Rubric Foundation, will be modelled on World Gaelic Week. News of the event was announced at the eighth Scots Language Awards, which took place at Dundee’s Discovery Point on Sunday. READ MORE: New Labour boss Michael Marra urged to distance himself from Palantir Organised by Hands Up for Trad, the sold-out ceremony celebrated people, organisations and communities working to promote Scots across literature, performing arts, education, business and other areas. A record 7000 votes were cast by the public to decide 10 of the 13 awards – almost double the number recorded last year. Lucy Beth was named Scots Writer o the Year following work including her solo show Ma Name is Isabelle, while Wirds o Banff: A Doric Glossary o the Wild was named Scots Book o the Year. The latter was created during a year-long collaboration involving pupils at Banff Academy and celebrates the natural world around them. Banff Academy also won Scots Schuil of the Year, while Peterhead Academy's Antonia Cant was named Scots Teacher o the Year for her work championing the modern relevance of the language. READ MORE: Bid to permanently expel Tom Watson from Lords over Palantir job Actress Olivia Caw was named Scots Performer of the Year for her role as Bonnie McKay in the one-person play Common Tongue, while National Theatre of Scotland's Through the Shortbread Tin won Scots Stage Production of the Year. The Scottish Storytelling Centre received the Scots in Business award, while TikTok creator Millie Graham, whose whatsername1.0 account has attracted more than three million followers, won the inaugural Scots Language in the Media award. Singer and traditional music advocate Sheena Wellington received the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to Scots over several decades. Dr Clive Young, author of Unlocking Scots: The Secret Life of the Scots Language, was named Scots Champion, while Innes Ingram received the Young Scots Writer o the Year award for End o’ the aul ways. READ MORE: Gordon Brown intervened in police SNP investigation, reports say Simon Thoumire, of organisers Hands Up for Trad, said: “The sheer variety o work and activities celebratit at these awards is as inspirin as it is impressive. Fae literature and the performin airts, tae education and business, the Scots leid is woven through sae mony pairts o everyday life, which is jist braw tae see. “Oor congratulations gang tae aw oor worthy nominees and winners, alang wi oor heartfelt gratitude. It’s thanks tae dedication like theirs that oor mither tongue remains truly thriving and relevant in Scotland the day.” Karen Dick, head of place, partnerships and communities at Creative Scotland, added: “The Scots Language Awards celebrates all the creative ways the Scots leid is being used to influence Scotland’s culture and identity today and into the future. “Congratulations to all the winners and nominees recognised for their amazing work, set to the braw backdrop of Dundee’s silvery Tay. We especially look forward to Scots Language Week and more opportunity to highlight Scots leid talent.” Share