26-28 JUNE 2026
BURNS BEYOND SCOTLAND – CELEBRATING OUR DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND OUR CONNECTION TO THE BARD
#CamperdownCeltic #CamperdownBurnsFestival #RobertBurnsCelticFestival
A festival weekend full of music, history, dance, choirs, food, fun… celebrating Celtic connections, Burns beyond Scotland… There’s now even more ceilidh action making it easy for everyone to join in the fun, along with Irish and Scottish dance concerts. We cannot wait for the 2026 festival! On Sunday January 25th we will be celebrating Burns Birthday from 4-6pm up in Camperdown’s beautiful Botanic Gardens. Bring a picnic and come along for the celebrations.
The Robert Burns Celtic Festival Committee invite you to a relaxed, family friendly afternoon. The annual Robert Burns Birthday Celebrations are to be held at the Camperdown Botanic Gardens on Sunday the 25th of January, from 4-6pm.
This is a free event, with donations appreciated. A raffle will also be held, so grab a few tickets on the way in. Please BYO picnic and chairs.
A natural stage appears under the sheltered canopy of Linden trees, near where the Robert Burns statue used to be seated and from around 3.40 Dr. John Menzies will play the bagpipes, inviting guests to make their way to the performance space.
A welcome message invites the ‘Piping in of, and address to the Haggis’. This kilted parade, featuring honoured guests and a sword bearer, is a grand sight and sound. While the haggis is prepared for tasting Geelong Scottish Dance, led by Christine Shields, will dance a highland fling to a pipe tune. Dr. Menzies follows with a word on Burns to set the scene even further.
Merran Moir will bring beautiful Celtic melodies, performing on harp, accompanied by Laura Flanagan on fiddle. An inspiring poem will be presented by Andrew O’Flynn, then the raffle will be drawn. A showcase of Scottish Dance follows.
The Twa Bards will offer songs and stories, bringing in singers from the RBCF Celtic Choir, also featuring Laura Flanagan. We’ll have some song books ready if you’d love to sing-a-long.
The finale will see everyone invited to join in for for Auld Lang Syne. A beautiful afternoon shared.
On Sunday the 25th of January The Festival Committee is presenting ‘A Burns Beyond Event’ at the Camperdown Botanic Gardens, featuring Highland Dancing by the Geelong Scottish Dancers (led by Christine Shields), Address to the Haggis, Merran Moir on harp, The Twa Bards, RBCF Celtic Choir, Laura Flanagan, Andrew O’Flynn and Bagpipes. Entry to the Gardens Gold coin, raffles. BYO picnic and chair from 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm. This event will kick start what is promised to be a fabulous Robert Burns Celtic Festival in 2026.
The 2026 Camperdown’s Iconic Robert Burns Celtic Scottish Festival will be held on 26th – 28th of June, 2026.
Robert Burns Celtic Festival is a winter literary and music festival, celebrating Scotland’s national Poet and the Celtic culture in poetry, song, music and dance, in and around the historic buildings of Camperdown. Putting Camperdown on the map. Watch this space – The Robert Burns Celtic Committee are working to bring the community and visitors to our unique festival held in Camperdown, organised by Community Volunteers and supporting Local Community Organisations and Local Sponsors.
Dr John Menzies OAM, Chair of the festival is delighted to announce that City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band will be performing at the 2026 festival. Returning to Camperdown also in next year’s festival program is the Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club and The Melbourne Welsh Male Choir, to have all three performing at the festival next June is a real coup for the committee, all have performed internationally as well as nationally, and to have all three performing in Camperdown at the festival next year is a very special treat.
Patrons will experience a program offering wonderful musicians travelling to Camperdown to also includes and confirmed for 2026 The Raglins, Fiona Ross, Tolka, Pete Daffy and Band, Southwest Harpistry, John Corby and Anne Daffy, The Twa Bards, Merran and Peter Moir, The Victorian Piping Solo competition, Tuniversal Band, The Warrnambool Pipes and Drums, The Lakes and Craters Band. Festival coordinators Catherine O’Flynn and Jordy Hickey are currently in the process of booking other bands and performers to come to Camperdown in June next year.
The Festival Program will also have the Friday Night Dinner at the Theatre Royal, the History Talks on Saturday, and Concerts at various venues. Visiting Regional Choirs perform on Saturday morning, and with The Melbourne Male Welsh Choir in Concert on Saturday afternoon.
Market Stalls on Saturday and Sunday, Highland Dancing and Irish Dancers, Whisky Tasting, Shortbread competition, both Saturday and Sunday visit the Statue. On Sunday the Twa Bards will present the gathering at the bard.
Displays at the Camperdown Heritage Centre and the Masonic Hall. There will also be free entertainment and events over the weekend for the public, including Wee Stories and Activities at the Library for the kids. For the Golfers the Burns Ambrose at the Camperdown Golf Club is a popular annual event.
For further information please contact Catherine O’Flynn, Festival Coordinator.
Support the festival’s Burnsian spirit! “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft a-gley.”
Please contact our festival coordinator to make a donation.
Here’s a few of our favourite photos from previous years.
Please Support Our Local Sponsors.
Special thanks to Cobden & Districts Community Bank Branch and Camperdown Branch for being our MAJOR SPONSOR for RBCF2025. The community support that they provide is valued.