Picture special of Corby Highland Gathering 2026 in England's own heart of Scotland

Packed with entertainment, the two-day family event saw bands, dancers, strongmen and porridge eaters compete for a titles.

The two-day event featured Highland dancing, pipe band competitions, traditional Scottish events, live entertainment, Northamptonshire's Strongest Man and the World Porridge Eating Championship, attracting competitors and spectators from across the UK.

Corby Highland Gathering Committee Member Mark Pengelly said: "We're incredibly proud to have celebrated the 55th Corby Highland Gathering and to have welcomed so many people to the field over the weekend.

"The gathering is about celebrating Corby's unique Scottish heritage while bringing the community together. It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the competitions, entertainment and activities across both days, and especially pleasing to see local competitors achieving success in several of the headline events.

"As a volunteer-run event, none of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, volunteers, competitors, performers and visitors. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make the weekend such a success."

One of the biggest local successes came in the MR Industrial World Porridge Eating Championship, where Corby's Gary Hall was crowned World Porridge Eating Champion after defeating defending champion Jason Jacob in the final.

Local dancers also enjoyed success in the Highland Dancing Championships. While Scottish-based dancers claimed the Open Championship titles across all grades, Corby's Phoebe Donnelly won the Closed England Under-16 Championship and Bella Whittington, from nearby Gretton, secured the Closed England 16-19 Championship title.

On Sunday, the USDAW Pipe Band Competitions took place in the MPB Arena, bringing together bands from across the country. The top-grade competition was won by Macanta Pipe Band, which included several players from Corby among its ranks.

A new attraction for 2026 was Northamptonshire's Strongest Man, sponsored by Forest Gate Ford. The competition drew large crowds throughout Saturday, with James Merry, from Wellingborough, taking the Open Championship title.

This year's Gathering was led by Chieftain Gary Buchan, National Chair of the SIMA Branch of Unite the Union, continuing the long-standing links between Corby's Scottish heritage, steelmaking history and the organisations that continue to support the event today.

The committee has already confirmed that the Corby Highland Gathering will return on July 11 and 12, 2027.