Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival is proudly embracing its reputation as the “Glastonbury of the North” as excitement builds for its return to the Highlands in 2027.
Organisers say tickets for next summer’s festival are already “flying out the door”, with Belladrum leaning into a comparison which has followed the much loved Highland gathering for years.
It is an ambitious comparison, but one Belladrum wears comfortably, with the festival spreading across multiple fields and offering far more than the headline acts appearing on its biggest stages.
Part of Bella’s enduring appeal has always been what happens when you wander away from the main arena, where small stages, unexpected performances, food, entertainment and wonderfully eccentric corners can turn an aimless stroll into one of the best parts of the weekend.
The festival itself sums that up rather neatly, describing the experience of going from singing at the main stage one minute to drinking Earl Grey and eating a scone in the tea tent the next.
Belladrum has already revealed a formidable main stage lineup for 2027, with James, Fatboy Slim and Amy Macdonald leading the bill when the festival returns next summer.
More than 300 further artists are also promised across the weekend, giving the Highland festival the scale and variety which has helped it grow from its early days into one of Scotland’s best known independent music events.
Belladrum is also looking beyond its own fields by joining forces with the Association of Independent Festivals for a nationwide survey examining people’s experiences of UK festivals during the 2026 season.
The association represents more than 150 independent festivals which together welcome an audience of more than one million people each year, with festivalgoers being encouraged to spend five minutes sharing their experiences.
The findings are intended to provide a clearer picture of what audiences value and help independent festivals make the case for a sector which has faced considerable challenges in recent years.
But for Belladrum, the immediate focus is firmly on next summer and another gathering in the fields which have given the festival its unmistakable character.
Glastonbury may have Worthy Farm, but the Highlands have Bella, and Belladrum appears more than happy with the comparison.
