Dingwall is preparing to celebrate eight hundred years as a Royal Burgh in 2026 and the first glimpse of the town’s anniversary identity has arrived with a striking new logo created by three young local artists.
A call out during the summer invited submissions from people aged eight to twenty four and almost forty designs were received from schools, colleges and young creatives across the area.
The judges found the standard so strong that the final emblem is a combination of three entries, with Dingwall Primary pupils Sula Blake, aged ten, and Sean MacPhee sharing first place and Grace MacSween, aged eleven, named runner up.
Prizes were presented at Robertson House with Fèis Rois, Dingwall Community Council and Dingwall Community Development Company all recognising the talent shown by the young artists.
Siobhan MacIntyre, Event Producer for Dingwall 800, said:
“We were blown away by the standard of entries.
“It just shows that Dingwall is a hive of creative talent, with inspiration everywhere you look.
“The winners’ logo will become a frequent sight throughout 2026, you won’t be able to miss it.”
Dingwall 800 will run throughout next year with a programme of events, exhibitions, performances, storytelling and community activities marking the town’s long history and its modern identity.
The project is a collaboration between Dingwall Community Council, Dingwall Community Development Company, Fèis Rois and The Highland Council, with plans designed to bring people together across generations and backgrounds.
Siobhan added:
“Dingwall 800 is a once in a lifetime opportunity to come together as a community to reflect on our past, take pride in our present and shape the future.
“The programme of events taking place next year is shaping up to be really exciting and we will be announcing our January launch event very soon.”
Several activities are already confirmed, including a pollinator parade, a spring seed giveaway, festival weekends in summer featuring music, dance, literature and heritage, a community harvest feast in autumn and a winter awards ceremony to close the year.
Funding support is also being delivered through The Highland Council’s Place Based Investment Fund, which has allocated ten thousand pounds to help local organisations run their own Dingwall 800 projects.
Dingwall Museum has been awarded two thousand pounds to produce a children’s trail and booklet celebrating the town’s story.
Dingwall Scottish Country Dance Group has received three hundred and fifty pounds for a Society Tea Dance where a new Dingwall 800 dance will be created.
Charlotte Mackenzie of Arts in Nature, supported by Fèis Rois, has been awarded two thousand pounds for her project Creative Currents of Connection.
Charlotte said:
“This funding will enable us to deliver an exciting community arts initiative called Creative Currents of Connection, an inclusive, creative programme that connects people with Dingwall’s natural and cultural heritage.
“I’m really excited to bring this vision to life and invite the community to take part.”
Dingwall 800 will officially launch in January with details to be announced soon.
