The Inverness International Blues Festival will take place on Saturday 28 March 2026 at the Northern Meeting Park, with final preparations now underway across the city.
A Big Top tent is being erected this week at the venue, creating a covered space for festival goers as Inverness prepares to host a major new music event.
Sound checks for the international line up are expected to begin, with anticipation building ahead of the opening performances.
Organisers are urging anyone yet to secure tickets to book online before the event, as demand continues to grow in the final days.
Provost Glynis Campbell Sinclair said:
“I am super excited to see works on the Big Top venue starting which will ensure that the audience can enjoy this amazing blues experience in comfort.
“The Inverness Common Good Fund is working with the local hospitality and business sector supporting the event to ensure that this ambitious new venture boosts the local economy in the shoulder seasonal month of March.”
The festival will feature a full day of live music, with performances running from early afternoon into the evening.
Artists set to perform include Alice Armstrong, West Weston’s Bluesonics, The Future Shape of Sound, Robbin Kapsalis and Oscar Wilson with The Giles Robson Band, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Southern Avenue and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.
Several performers have also contributed to the soundtrack of the film Sinners, which has received 16 Oscar nominations.
Alongside the music, a range of local food and drink providers will be on site, offering options throughout the day for visitors.
These include Miele’s Gelateria, Ness Highland Catering, North Roast, Popseys and Seasonal Flavour, alongside a bar operated for the benefit of the Inverness Common Good Fund.
The event forms part of the Inverness Events and Festivals Programme and is funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund, with support from partners including Haventus, Visit Inverness and Loch Ness and the Highland Hotels Association.
Organisers say the festival aims to bring new energy to the city while supporting local businesses during a quieter time of year.
With the stage being set and the line up confirmed, Inverness is preparing to welcome music fans for a full day of blues in one of the Highlands’ most recognisable settings.
The Inverness International Blues Festival will bring a full day of live music, food and entertainment to the city, with final preparations underway ahead of its launch at the Northern Meeting Park.
