Welcome from the Artistic Director
Eight years ago, the Tannahill Arts Festival began with a simple belief: that Paisley had an immensely rich pool of artistic talent, and that what it needed was a space in which it could flourish.
To this day, that belief has not changed. What has changed and grown is the confidence with which Paisley's artists, musicians, theatre makers and heritage champions are now stepping forward. This year's festival is the most locally rooted we have ever produced. Almost every event you will find in these pages was made here, by people who live and work here, for audiences who know this town and its stories.
It all started in our first year when we produced an opera, performed in Paisley Abbey, based on the life of the festival's namesake — Robert Tannahill.
More than fifty events later, we have programmed film, opera, spoken-word, jazz, classical concerts, emerging artists and established names. We have produced theatre, children's storytelling events, choirs, theatre-writing workshops, songwriting workshops, and established an annual songwriting prize (the Corbin Miles Memorial Prize).
In our early years, we also brought in a lot of well-established artists from beyond Paisley into the town, partly to give local audiences access to work they might not otherwise see, and partly in the hope that those artists would recognise Paisley as a place worth returning to, a town with an audience, a story, and a creative life of its own. Many of them did return. But something more interesting has happened in the years since: the grassroots creative community of Paisley has grown in confidence and ambition. This year, for the first time, almost everything in this programme was made here.
We have tried this year to encourage collaboration between the groups and artists who make up Paisley's creative community. Some of those conversations are already bearing fruit. Others will take longer. But the conversations are happening, and that is the beginning of everything.
Welcome to the Tannahill Arts Festival 2026.
Alan Fleming Baird
Artistic Director, Tannahill Arts Festival
Eight years ago, the Tannahill Arts Festival began with a simple belief: that Paisley had an immensely rich pool of artistic talent, and that what it needed was a space in which it could flourish.
To this day, that belief has not changed. What has changed and grown is the confidence with which Paisley's artists, musicians, theatre makers and heritage champions are now stepping forward. This year's festival is the most locally rooted we have ever produced. Almost every event you will find in these pages was made here, by people who live and work here, for audiences who know this town and its stories.
It all started in our first year when we produced an opera, performed in Paisley Abbey, based on the life of the festival's namesake — Robert Tannahill.
More than fifty events later, we have programmed film, opera, spoken-word, jazz, classical concerts, emerging artists and established names. We have produced theatre, children's storytelling events, choirs, theatre-writing workshops, songwriting workshops, and established an annual songwriting prize (the Corbin Miles Memorial Prize).
In our early years, we also brought in a lot of well-established artists from beyond Paisley into the town, partly to give local audiences access to work they might not otherwise see, and partly in the hope that those artists would recognise Paisley as a place worth returning to, a town with an audience, a story, and a creative life of its own. Many of them did return. But something more interesting has happened in the years since: the grassroots creative community of Paisley has grown in confidence and ambition. This year, for the first time, almost everything in this programme was made here.
We have tried this year to encourage collaboration between the groups and artists who make up Paisley's creative community. Some of those conversations are already bearing fruit. Others will take longer. But the conversations are happening, and that is the beginning of everything.
Welcome to the Tannahill Arts Festival 2026.
Alan Fleming Baird
Artistic Director, Tannahill Arts Festival
Event Listings
The Corbin Miles Memorial Prize
Judge: Stuart Murdoch - lead singer of Belle and Sebastian
Prize: £100
Closing Date: Saturday 3rd October
Winner Announced: Saturday 10th October
Submit to: [email protected]
In the words of those who knew him best, Corbin Miles was a very humble guy who loved Paisley and worked tirelessly to encourage the arts, especially in young people. Contributing to various roles within arts organisations in Paisley, Corbin was one of the first locals to organise open mic nights to encourage and showcase the wealth of musical talent here in Paisley. Every year, Tannahill Arts Festival awards a prize in Corbin's memory. To submit, send your MP3s and lyric sheets to [email protected] by 3rd October.
Judge: Stuart Murdoch - lead singer of Belle and Sebastian
Prize: £100
Closing Date: Saturday 3rd October
Winner Announced: Saturday 10th October
Submit to: [email protected]
In the words of those who knew him best, Corbin Miles was a very humble guy who loved Paisley and worked tirelessly to encourage the arts, especially in young people. Contributing to various roles within arts organisations in Paisley, Corbin was one of the first locals to organise open mic nights to encourage and showcase the wealth of musical talent here in Paisley. Every year, Tannahill Arts Festival awards a prize in Corbin's memory. To submit, send your MP3s and lyric sheets to [email protected] by 3rd October.
The Odd Couple
Company: Burn The Cork Theatre Company
Venue: The Bungalow, Paisley
Dates: Thursday 25th September & Sunday 27th September
Time: 2:00pm
Tickets: General Admission with Drink — £16.50
Throw six gal pals and two stray Spaniards into one apartment and there's absolutely no chance of a quiet games night! Instead, join us for an afternoon of laughs (with a drink in hand) as laid-back Olive makes the spur-of-the-moment decision to let the ultra-organised Flo move in. What starts as a kind gesture quickly turns into complete domestic chaos! Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, this fresh female take on the classic Neil Simon comedy is full of heart and celebrates the wonderful madness of friendship.
Company: Burn The Cork Theatre Company
Venue: The Bungalow, Paisley
Dates: Thursday 25th September & Sunday 27th September
Time: 2:00pm
Tickets: General Admission with Drink — £16.50
Throw six gal pals and two stray Spaniards into one apartment and there's absolutely no chance of a quiet games night! Instead, join us for an afternoon of laughs (with a drink in hand) as laid-back Olive makes the spur-of-the-moment decision to let the ultra-organised Flo move in. What starts as a kind gesture quickly turns into complete domestic chaos! Packed with laugh-out-loud moments, this fresh female take on the classic Neil Simon comedy is full of heart and celebrates the wonderful madness of friendship.
Murder In Victorian Paisley
Event: Paisley Darkside Historical Walking Tour
Date: Sunday 27th September
Time: 1:00pm
Tickets: £6
Join a historical tour and learn of the dark side of Paisley's Victorian past. Explore the cobbled streets and hidden alleyways as our expert guides recount tales of mystery, scandal, and true crime that rocked this town over a century ago.
Event: Paisley Darkside Historical Walking Tour
Date: Sunday 27th September
Time: 1:00pm
Tickets: £6
Join a historical tour and learn of the dark side of Paisley's Victorian past. Explore the cobbled streets and hidden alleyways as our expert guides recount tales of mystery, scandal, and true crime that rocked this town over a century ago.
Microphone Workshop
Date: Sunday 27th September
Time: 12:30pm — 3:30pm
Tickets: Free
Suited to: Ages 16+
Want to take your recording to the next level? Let's talk about mics! In this workshop, we will look at a range of microphones from contact mics to condensers, connecting audio interfaces to AUM and getting into field recording. Join us if you are just starting out or want to know more about recording techniques to help your experimental creativity.
Date: Sunday 27th September
Time: 12:30pm — 3:30pm
Tickets: Free
Suited to: Ages 16+
Want to take your recording to the next level? Let's talk about mics! In this workshop, we will look at a range of microphones from contact mics to condensers, connecting audio interfaces to AUM and getting into field recording. Join us if you are just starting out or want to know more about recording techniques to help your experimental creativity.
3D Printing Workshop
Date: Monday 28th September
Time: 12:30pm — 2:30pm
Tickets: Free
Suited to: Ages 16+
Looking to get into 3D printing and don't know where to start? In this workshop, we will cover getting started with 3D design in Tinkercad and where to get 3D designs, slicing your models for printing for the most success, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your 3D printer. This is a bring-your-own-computer class. You will need to sign up to Tinkercad on the day.
Date: Monday 28th September
Time: 12:30pm — 2:30pm
Tickets: Free
Suited to: Ages 16+
Looking to get into 3D printing and don't know where to start? In this workshop, we will cover getting started with 3D design in Tinkercad and where to get 3D designs, slicing your models for printing for the most success, and tips and tricks for getting the most out of your 3D printer. This is a bring-your-own-computer class. You will need to sign up to Tinkercad on the day.
The Thistle In The Kiss
Event: Scottish Independent Feature Film
Director: Craig Andrew Robertson
Venue: Refractive Community Cinema, The Liberal Club, 32 High Street, Paisley
Date: Friday 2nd October
Times: 4:00pm & 7:30pm
Seats: Only 30 seats per screening
While fixing his car, Declan tries to hide a bad breakup from his sister Rachel, who has her own secrets. As their secrets are exposed, facing ugly truths will lead to a painful roadside reckoning. A Q&A with the director, producers and actors follows each screening.
This event is produced and presented by our friends at Refractive Arts.
Event: Scottish Independent Feature Film
Director: Craig Andrew Robertson
Venue: Refractive Community Cinema, The Liberal Club, 32 High Street, Paisley
Date: Friday 2nd October
Times: 4:00pm & 7:30pm
Seats: Only 30 seats per screening
While fixing his car, Declan tries to hide a bad breakup from his sister Rachel, who has her own secrets. As their secrets are exposed, facing ugly truths will lead to a painful roadside reckoning. A Q&A with the director, producers and actors follows each screening.
This event is produced and presented by our friends at Refractive Arts.
Seven Souls on Gallow Green
Subtitle: A Scottish Folk Music Drama
Venue: Re:Hope Church, Gordon Street, Paisley
Date: Saturday 3rd October
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: £16 | £13 | £6
Director: Karen Herbison
Music & Lyrics: Alan Fleming Baird
Performed by: Members of Starlight Music Theatre
Paisley, 1697. Seven people were hanged and burned on Gallow Green in the last mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe. Their ashes lie at Maxwellton Cross, just minutes from where you are standing.
Seven Souls on Gallow Green asks a simple and uncomfortable question: what happens when a community stops asking questions?
A Scottish folk music drama in song and story, Seven Souls tells the story of the Bargarran Witch Trials through folk music, choral voices and the ancient traditions of community storytelling. With a cast drawn from Paisley's own Starlight Music Theatre, and music and lyrics by Alan Fleming Baird, this world premiere is a show that belongs to this town.
Directed by Karen Herbison. Musical direction and choir arrangements by Maria Wilson.
Subtitle: A Scottish Folk Music Drama
Venue: Re:Hope Church, Gordon Street, Paisley
Date: Saturday 3rd October
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: £16 | £13 | £6
Director: Karen Herbison
Music & Lyrics: Alan Fleming Baird
Performed by: Members of Starlight Music Theatre
Paisley, 1697. Seven people were hanged and burned on Gallow Green in the last mass execution for witchcraft in western Europe. Their ashes lie at Maxwellton Cross, just minutes from where you are standing.
Seven Souls on Gallow Green asks a simple and uncomfortable question: what happens when a community stops asking questions?
A Scottish folk music drama in song and story, Seven Souls tells the story of the Bargarran Witch Trials through folk music, choral voices and the ancient traditions of community storytelling. With a cast drawn from Paisley's own Starlight Music Theatre, and music and lyrics by Alan Fleming Baird, this world premiere is a show that belongs to this town.
Directed by Karen Herbison. Musical direction and choir arrangements by Maria Wilson.
The Paisley Fragment
Status: Ongoing project
The slate of music found in the drains of Paisley Abbey, thought to be the oldest music manuscript in Scotland, is being brought to life by the Tannahill Festival. Using musicological techniques to reverse-engineer the fragment, the project aims to reconstruct what it might have sounded like when first heard. This is an ongoing project leading to an exhibit next year, where a local artist will use Medieval scribing techniques to represent the music in its original form, ready to be exhibited to the public. A choir will perform the music at next year's festival, as it once sounded, for the first time in five centuries. Keep an eye on our website to follow the progress of this work.
Status: Ongoing project
The slate of music found in the drains of Paisley Abbey, thought to be the oldest music manuscript in Scotland, is being brought to life by the Tannahill Festival. Using musicological techniques to reverse-engineer the fragment, the project aims to reconstruct what it might have sounded like when first heard. This is an ongoing project leading to an exhibit next year, where a local artist will use Medieval scribing techniques to represent the music in its original form, ready to be exhibited to the public. A choir will perform the music at next year's festival, as it once sounded, for the first time in five centuries. Keep an eye on our website to follow the progress of this work.
