Delegates of the eighth International Bagpipe Conference at the Musical Instrument Museum, 8 May 2026. Photo credit: Jacques de Kegel.
| Happy International Bagpipe Day!!!!! Today is the day to celebrate the huge diversity and richness of the bagpipe world, which spans from India to Ireland and Sweden to Sudan. Pipers across the world, from Australia to California, Istanbul to Scotland, are celebrating in their own way by playing in public, giving talks, or organising other bagpipe-focused events such as the event at the Macedonian Cultural Centre in Istanbul, celebrating both the Turkish tulum and the Macedonian gajda. Last weekend, over 100 members of the international bagpipe community gathered in Belgium for the Eighth International Bagpipe Conference. After a concert featuring musicians from Belarus, France, Italy, and Belgium, we heard papers on topics as diverse as innovative membrane reeds, nineteenth century dummy bagpipes for aspirational aristocrats, five-voiced Croatian bagpipes, Neo-medieval bagpipes from Germany and Neo-finnish bagpipes, women pipers both today and historically, as well as many more fascinating topics. Do visit the 2026 conference page for more detailed information. The event took place in Leuven and in Brussels, at the University of Leuven (Faculty of Arts) and at the Musical Instruments Museum of Brussels, where the delegates were also able to see the museum's extensive bagpipe collection on display. The event was supported by several organisations and institutions, including 't Ey Muziekclub, Muziekmozaïek, the Bagpipe Society, KU Leuven, and the Musical Instrument Museum of Brussels. |  |
