A Night to Remember: Burns Night 2026 with Vienna Pipes and Drums

Our Burns Night celebration was a great success, and we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for this special evening.

Guests enjoyed a wonderful night celebrating the life and poetry of Robert Burns, accompanied by traditional music from Vienna Pipes and Drums. In keeping with Burns Night tradition, our Pipe Major Craig delivered the Address to the Haggis, while senior band member Colin gave the Immortal Memory, both warmly received by the audience. The evening also featured a vocal performance by one of our pipers, Reinhard, together with his partner, and our very own chairman, Peter, on the small pipes, adding a very personal and memorable touch our programme.  A special highlight was Alastair Kapela, a fantastic ceilidh band that accompanied the ceilidh dancing, which quickly filled the floor and got everybody on their feet until the end of the night.

The evening was equally memorable from a culinary point of view. We were proud to serve authentic Scottish haggis, specially imported from Scotland — no small logistical effort, but well worth it. All food for the evening was expertly prepared by our band member Christian, whose dedication and hard work ensured that guests were exceptionally well fed throughout the night. The quality of the food was widely praised and added greatly to the overall experience.

Once again, our raffle proved to be a crowd favourite. Thanks to the generous support of Potstill, the Dobiasch family, our pipe major, and several of our band members and families, we were able to offer a range of fantastic prizes — resulting in many happy winners over the course of the evening. We are sincerely grateful to all sponsors who helped make this possible.

From the sound of the pipes to the shared toasts, dancing, laughter and celebrations, the evening truly captured the spirit of a traditional Burns Supper. We were delighted to welcome both long-standing supporters and new faces, and we greatly appreciate the continued enthusiasm of our community.

We look forward to welcoming you again soon.

Join Us at Our Next Event

If you enjoyed Burns Night — or wish you had been there — we warmly invite you to our next fundraiser: our Annual Whisky Tasting on 18 April. Look forward to a carefully selected range of Scotch whiskies, live music, and great company, all in support of Vienna Pipes and Drums. Get your tickets now!

Slàinte mhath!

Vienna Pipes 2026 Whisky Tasting Event

When: Sat 18 April 2026 7:30 PM – 11:55 PM CET

Where: Pfarrhalle St Florian, Wiedner Hauptstraße 97, Wien, 1050

Vienna Pipes and Drums will be holding their annual Whisky Tasting fundraiser on Saturday 18th April 2026.

Join the band for an evening of music, craic and fine single malt Scotch whisky, now with a fresh twist! This year, we’re taking the experience up a notch: our MC will guide you through the evening, leading you on a journey across some of Scotland’s finest single malts. We will offer plenty of live music, and a cash bar serving beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks.

Tickets are €40 via our ticketing website, or €45 at the door. A ticket allows you to sample as many whiskies as you wish (drinks and snacks from the bar are not included). All proceeds go to supporting the band with tuition, instruments, and competition travel.

World Pipe Band Championships 2025 – Vienna Pipes and Drums in the Final!

The Vienna Pipes and Drums have returned from Glasgow after an unforgettable weekend at the World Pipe Band Championships 2025.

For the first time since 2017, our band qualified for the Grade 4B Final – a milestone we have only ever achieved once before. In our qualifying heat we placed 5th, securing a spot in the Final, where we finished 12th overall out of 45 bands.

This achievement marks a significant step forward for us. Since our first appearance in a Worlds Final in 2017, we’ve competed again in 2019 and 2022, but qualification had remained just out of reach—until now. To be back in the Final is a moment of pride and joy for every member of the band.

The standard across all grades this year was incredibly high, with outstanding performances from bands from around the globe. We are proud to have represented Vienna and Austria on this world stage, and grateful for the support from family, friends, and fellow musicians.

We’ll carry this motivation into the coming months and look forward to building on this achievement. More impressions and highlights from the weekend in Glasgow will follow on our social media pages soon—stay tuned!

📅 If you’d like to hear us live in Vienna: mark your calendars for Friday, 7 November 2025, when we’ll be performing at the St. Andrew’s Night Ceilidh at VHS Döbling. A night full of Scottish music, dance, and tradition – not to be missed!

More about the Event: VPAD 2025 Ceilidh announcement

More about this year’s Worlds: World Pipe Band Chamionships 2025

Burns Supper 2026 – Celebrate Scotland’s National Poet with Us!

📅 When: Saturday, 17 January 2026 | 18:30 – 23:55 CET
📍 Where: Pfarrhalle St. Florian, Wiedner Hauptstraße 97, 1050 Vienna

The Vienna Pipes and Drums bagpipe band is proud to host the 13th Burns Supper on Saturday, 17 January 2026! Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with traditional Scottish food, music, poetry, and dance in celebration of Scotland’s beloved national poet, Robert Burns.

The evening includes a hearty dinner featuring the iconic Scottish haggis with tatties (a vegetarian alternative will also be available). Our haggis is specially prepared by an award-winning butcher from the Scottish Highlands. In true Scottish style, we’ll be offering a selection of fine Scottish single malt whiskies from our well-stocked bar.

Throughout the evening, enjoy live Scottish music and be ready to hit the dance floor with the live Scottish ceilidh band for some ceilidh dancing fun.

The doors and bar will open at 18:30, with the official start of the festivities at 19:00.

Ticket sales start on 1st December 2025 at 12 PM! Buy your tickets here!

St. Andrew’s Night Ceilidh 2025 – Save the Date!

📅 When: Friday, 7 November 2025 | 19:30–23:45 CET
📍 Where: VHS Döbling, Gatterburggasse 2a, 1190 Vienna
🎟️ Tickets: advance booking 30€, at the door 35€ (if available)

This year, Vienna Pipes and Drums and the organisers of the legendary Vienna International School (VIS) Ceilidh have teamed up once again to bring you what’s often called “probably the best night of the year” for fans of Scottish music and dance.

Colin Campbell – piper, band member, and former VIS teacher – founded the VIS Ceilidh in 1985. Since then, Vienna Pipes and Drums have been proud to perform at many of the school’s events. This marks the second edition of the Ceilidh since 2022, the 39th overall, and it will be hosted at the VHS Döbling, featuring the same winning combination of live music, ceilidh dancing, and all the joy of Scottish tradition.

🕺 Live Scottish ceilidh band
🥃 Cash bar with Scotch whisky & snacks
💸 All proceeds benefit Vienna Celtic Rugby youth teams and Vienna Pipes and Drums

Get your tickets now!

Summer Competition Plans 2025

The Vienna Pipes and Drums are tuning up for a packed and exciting competition season this summer!

Our first stop is Scotfest in Goch, Germany, one of the largest Highland Games and Scottish festivals in the region on 21st June. We’ll be competing in three categories: Grade 4A March, Grade 4A MSR, and Open MSR. In addition to our band performances, several of our pipers and drummers will also step into the solo competition arena to showcase their individual skills. We’re proud to represent Vienna on this international stage and look forward to sharing great music and Highland spirit with bands and audiences from across Europe.
More information about the event: www.scotfest.de

Later this summer, we’ll head to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, where we’ll compete in Grade 4B. Known as the pinnacle of pipe band competition, the “Worlds” bring together the best bands from around the globe. It’s an honour to be part of this event, and we’re working hard in rehearsals to give our best performance on the day.

More details on the event: www.glasgowlife.org.uk/arts-music-and-culture/world-pipe-band-championships

Stay tuned, follow us on our journey—and if you’re nearby, come along and support us!

Te Deum Laudamus – Bagpipes, Pipe Organ, and Song

When: Saturday 5th April 2025, 18:00

Where: Bergkirche Rodaun, Rodauner Kirchenpl. 2, 1230 Wien

After a successful premiere in Hungary in September 2024, now performing the first time in Austria! A journey through preludes, enchanting singing, and adaptations of Scottish music. An unprecedented combination!

Vienna Pipes band member and veteran of the Austrian piping scene Reinhard Ladislav will be performing on Saturday 5th April 2025 in the beautiful Bergkirche Rodaun in Liesing. Reinhard’s Scottish Highland bagpipes will blend with virtuoso Pipe Organ playing and signing courtesy of Istvan Matyas and Genoveva dos Santos. Free entry, donations welcome.

Details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1232854701800225

Vienna St Patrick’s Day Parade 2025

When: Sat 15 March 2025 11:00 AM – 13:15 PM CET

Where: Schottenkirche, Wien, 1010

The Vienna Pipes and Drums bagpipe band will be playing again as part of the annual Vienna St. Patrick’s Day parade. This year the parade will take place on Saturday, 15 March 2025.

Schedule:

  • 11:00 – 12:00 Mass at the Schottenkirche.
  • 11:30 – 12:00: Gathering in front of Schottenkirche/corner of Freyung.
  • 12:00 – 12:15: parade starts.
  • Route: Schottenstift/Freyung – Herrengasse – Michaelerplatz – Schauflergasse – Ballhausplatz – Löwelstraße – Josef Meinrad-Platz (Burgtheater).
  • 13:00-13:15: approximate finishing time. The parade should reach the Burgtheater at about 13:00, where there will be closing remarks by Ambassador Cullinane and a few tunes by the pipe band. A great chance to see the band playing through the streets of Vienna city centre!

Vienna Pipes 2025 Whisky Tasting Event

When: Sat 22 March 2025 7:30 PM – 11:55 PM CET

Where: Pfarrhalle St Florian, Wiedner Hauptstraße 97, Wien, 1050

The Vienna Pipes and Drums bagpipe band will be holding their annual Whisky Tasting fundraiser on Saturday 22nd March 2025.

Join the band for an evening of music, craic, and fine single malt Scotch whisky! We will have a range of whiskies from all around Scotland for you to sample, as well as a cash bar selling beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks.

Tickets are €40 and allow you to sample as many whiskies as you wish (drinks and snacks from the bar are not included). All proceeds go to supporting the band with tuition, instruments, and competition travel. The doors and bar will be open from 19:30, with the official start of the tasting at 20:00.

Buy your tickets here on our Ticket Sales Website

Vienna Pipes 2025 Burns Night Event

When: Sat 18 January 2025 6:30 PM – 11:55 PM CET

Where: Pfarrhalle St Florian, Wiedner Hauptstraße 97, Wien, 1050

The Vienna Pipes and Drums bagpipe band is hosting its twelfth Burns Supper on Saturday 18 January 2025. We offer a packed programme with traditional Scottish food, music, poetry, and dance, all in homage to Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.

The €40 ticket price includes a dinner of real Scottish haggis and tatties (a vegetarian alternative is available). Our haggis is made by an award-winning butcher in the Scottish highlands. As always, we will have a well stocked bar serving a wide range of Scottish single malt whiskies. We’ll also have plenty of live music for you and a live Scottish ceilidh band (https://www.facebook.com/alastair.cz/) to dance along to later on in the evening.

The doors and bar will be open from 18:30, with the official start of the festivities at 19:00.

Tickets will go on sale on our ticket website on Saturday 14th December at 12:00 (midday). Expect them to sell out fast!

Buy your tickets here on our Ticket Sales Website