Scottish actor Sam Heughan, famed for his role in the hit series Outlander, is set to take centre stage once more as the leader of New York City's vibrant Tartan Day parade. The 45-year-old star will serve as Grand Marshal for the 2026 event, a role he previously held in 2016.
A Full Circle Moment for the Outlander Star
Heughan expressed his delight at the honour, describing the 2026 parade as a "full circle moment." He noted that a decade ago, he led the parade near the start of his journey on Outlander, and now returns as the show prepares to air its eighth and final season. "There is so much to celebrate this year," Heughan said, adding that he is looking forward to marching up Sixth Avenue and representing Scotland.
The parade is the flagship event of a week-long celebration of Scottish culture that attracts over 30,000 spectators to the streets of Manhattan. It has been a fixture in New York since 1999, one year after the US Senate agreed to designate a national Tartan Day each April.
A Prestigious List of Former Grand Marshals
Heughan joins an illustrious list of Scottish celebrities who have previously led the procession. Previous Grand Marshals include Hollywood star Karen Gillan, comedy legend Sir Billy Connolly, and the late James Bond actor Sir Sean Connery, who led the parade in 2002.
Other notable names are actors Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, and singer KT Tunstall, who made global headlines with her striking Royal Stewart tartan suit in 2018.
The Lasting 'Outlander Effect' on Scottish Tourism
The article highlights the profound cultural and economic impact of Outlander, which is based on Diana Gabaldon's bestselling novels. The show, starring Heughan as Highland warrior Jamie Fraser and Catriona Balfe as time-travelling nurse Claire Randall, has become a global phenomenon since its 2014 debut.
Its success has spurred a significant boost to Scottish tourism, an influence so notable it has been dubbed the 'Outlander effect'. Academics have even conducted research into the show's impact on 25 of Scotland's heritage sites. Picturesque locations like Doune Castle in Perthshire, which featured as Castle Leoch, have seen visitor numbers soar.
Beyond Outlander, Heughan recently earned critical acclaim for his lead role in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Macbeth, set among 1980s Glaswegian gangsters.
