Inverurie, a market town in Aberdeenshire, has been crowned Scotland's Town of the Year for 2026 at the annual Scotland Loves Local Awards. The accolade was announced on Friday, October 23, with judges praising the town as a place "where ideas are turned into action".
Community Effort and Recognition
The award, organised by Scotland's Towns Partnership, recognises the town's community spirit, with residents rallying behind local traders and staging events that attract thousands of visitors. Inverurie was noted for having one of the highest retail occupancy rates of any town in Scotland, featuring historic family businesses and independent shops.
Television presenter and Scotland Loves Local ambassador Sean Batty presented the prize to Inverurie residents. Batty said: "Inverurie is buzzing. It’s fantastic to see the town so busy. It’s a lovely place and it’s clear to see just how proud people and businesses—some of which have been serving the community for three and four generations—are of the area. The way in which they are pulling together to create a real success story is so uplifting."
Local Leaders Celebrate the Win
Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Judy Whyte, added: "I couldn’t be prouder for Inverurie to be Scotland’s Town of the Year. We have so much to offer here—for visitors, as well as people who choose to live and work here. It’s a great place."
We Are Inverurie Business Improvement District manager Derek Ritchie was also named the Scotland Loves Local High Street Hero for North East Scotland. Judges described Ritchie as a "trusted champion of Inverurie town centre who plays a vital role in keeping Inverurie vibrant, welcoming and ambitious".
Events Boost Tourism and Trade
Ritchie said: "The most important prize to me is Town of the Year, but I am delighted. Both awards are testament to the hard work that takes place across the town. Inverurie has a great community feel for quite a small town. Shops and businesses here have great customer service and people recognise that."
We Are Inverurie Business Improvement District works alongside Inverurie Events to attract tourists. Their efforts include The Garioch Pipe Band Championships in Kellands Park in 2025, which welcomed approximately 9,000 visitors. The town's yearly Christmas lights switch-on attracts around 8,000 people, while the monthly farmers' market has doubled in size since 2024, offering more than 30 stalls at Market Square.
The Scotland Loves Local Awards are supported by the Scottish Government. Minister for Business and Fair Work Tom Arthur said: "I would like to congratulate Inverurie on being named Scotland's Town of the Year. This award recognises the collective effort of the local community, businesses and organisations, and highlights how a strong Business Improvement District, combined with a community-led approach, can help unlock a town's potential and create a thriving future for all who live, work and visit there."
Other towns shortlisted for Town of the Year 2026 were East Kilbride, Falkirk, Fort William, and Kirkwall. Previous winners include Paisley in 2025 and Oban in 2024.
