Further information is being learned about the recently cancelled Cambridge Scottish Festival, but as more details are being released, it’s made the full details of the cancellation more cloudy.
The details of the original cancellation were brought to light through the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario (PPBSO), which said that it was given notice that the festival, previously known as the Cambridge Highland Games, have been called off.
“The board of directors of the Cambridge Scottish Festival regret to announce that the 2026 Cambridge Scottish Festival has been cancelled,” the festival said in a statement on its website.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances and after careful consideration, the board determined that cancelling the 2026 festival is the most responsible course of action.”
While the reasoning was originally not given as to why the games and the festival as a whole were called off, local media sources reported that the Cambridge Scottish Festival Committee called off the event due to a lack of volunteers.
However, according to a recent statement from the City of Cambridge and Mayor Jan Liggett, the deeper reasons for the cancellation may, allegedly, stem deeper.
“A couple days ago, Councillor Adam Cooper was notified by the organizers of the Scottish Festival that they may have to cancel their event this year,” Liggett stated in a release.
“Councillor Cooper began searching for external sources of funding as I took steps to arrange a special council meeting, as additional funding has to be approved by council, and we did not have a council meeting scheduled until July 21st. However, time was not on our side.”
Looking at the timeline of the information released and the comparisons with Liggett’s statement, it appears as though the festival reached out to the city for assistance prior to notifying their performers and vendors of the cancellation.
This has raised questions about whether the cancellation was due to a lack of volunteers or overall funding.
Until this point, the festival has relied on a few sources for its overall funding, ranging from grants to corporate sponsors, and private revenue through ticket sales and vendor fees.
“The City has proudly supported the Festival over the years through municipal services, operational assistance, and funding, recognizing the important role the event has played in fostering cultural appreciation and community engagement,” said Liggett.
For context, in previous years, the festival had been provided roughly $10,000 from the Region of Waterloo through its Cultural Drivers of Tourism grant and $7,500 from the City of Cambridge.
FM 985 CKWR has reached out to the Cambridge Scottish Festival Committee for comment on the cancellation and the associated reasoning for it, but has not responded after multiple attempts.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to everyone who has been involved in the Cambridge Scottish Festival throughout its history and recognize the lasting cultural legacy it leaves in our community,” Liggett said.
“I am left feeling optimistic. Just because the Festival could not go ahead this year does not mean we cannot continue to support it next year.”
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