The Vancouver Police Pipe Band to Perform at the 2026 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
This August, the Vancouver Police Pipe Band will be performing at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. In its 112-year history, the band has performed at the Tattoo in 1980, 1999 and 2016. Since the last time we performed at the Tattoo, the band has been to Basel Switzerland (2X), China, India, Belgium, France and Halifax.
Pipe Major Cal Davis received the call from the Casting Director of the Tattoo last July when a pipe band could not confirm its attendance for the following year. “I called a meeting with our Executive Committee to discuss the opportunity and the decision was unanimous. It’s the Big Show with an amazing setting – The Edinburgh Castle”. It’s 26 shows in front of 9,000 patrons for three weeks. Performers from all over the world come to Edinburgh to be a part of this prestigious event.

Some Highlights of The Vancouver Police Pipe Band Trips:
The band’s rich history of travel began early, with a 1920 trip to the Portland Rose Parade and a 1937 visit to perform at the opening ceremonies of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In 1920 the Band was invited to Portland Oregon to play for the famed RCMP Musical Ride. During this trip one of the Bandsman apprehended a hold-up suspect in an armed robbery of a downtown bank! The Bandsman was made an Honorary Member of the Portland Police Department.
In 1939 the band made its longest trips since its formation to Mexico City to attend the International Police Convention. Pipe Major Alex Johnson took over leadership that year taking the band to Mexico. The band was part of the Canadian representation along with other bands and drill teams from across North and South America. During the “Golden Years” under the leadership of Pipe Major Alex Johnson (1939-1945), the band hits its competitive stride, winning the Stewart Trophy six times.

International Recognition: During a 1963 visit to Hawaii that coincided sadly, with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, led to the band performing a spontaneous full retreat ceremony at Kapiolani Park in tribute. In gratitude, the Governor presented each band member with the Hawaii Silver Star, the highest Hawaiian honour available to civilians. Because of the performance in Hawaii, the band performed for President Lyndon Johnson on his 1964 visit to Vancouver.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace: In 2014, the band celebrated its centennial and performed at the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and became the first non-military pipe band to perform in the ceremony’s 350-year history. In 2017, a documentary called the ‘Queen’s New Guard’ was produced that captured this historic event. In 2014, the band received the Freedom of the City Award in Vancouver.
In 2019 the band embarked on a significant cultural and historical trip to India to acknowledge the 100 th anniversary on the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The tour focused on the region of Punjab where they performed for numerous local audiences in Amritsar, Kartarpur, and Nawanshahar. The band performed at Canada House, Chandigarh’s Elante Mall, and visited the Golden Temple and the Taj Mahal.
To see all the places the band has performed check out our website which has an interactive map of all past band trips:
https://www.vpdpipeband.ca/.
The Vancouver Police Pipe Band is comprised of active and retired Police Officers as well as civilians who have committed to be a part of one of the world’s longest continuous serving pipe bands. Our players have previously competed with RMM, White Spot, Greighlan Crossing and at the Grade One level with SFU, Triumph Street and Viscount Park Pipe Bands.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2026 – ” A CALL TO GATHER”
Music for the Tattoo is sent out in late winter and the work starts on traditional, new and interesting tunes. Rehearsals start on July 31st and it takes a week until everyone is ready for the first dress rehearsal. All performers are shuttled to Redford Barracks Parade Grounds for the first part of the week and then we progress to the Castle Grounds to settle in on our performances.
Experiencing the massed bands, for your first time, there is nothing like it! Waiting with over 120 pipers and 40+ drummers at the Gate House of the Castle and stepping onto the drawbridge (all through a heavy fog) and onto the Esplanade of the Castle with thousands cheering. Paralleling the players experience of the first act is the final act where we play out of the Castle through the East Gate and down the Royal Mile – again to be cheered on by more supporters. The challenge of being a part of the largest and best Tattoo is formidable. But once the shows begin, one feels like a part of an enormous family. Friendships from all over the globe are established as everyone works together to makes the shows the best they can be, you get to do it 26 times!

submitted by: The Vancouver Police Pipe Band

The BC Pipers’ Association Board of Directors and Members wish the Vancouver Police Pipe Band a memorable and wonderful month at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as they continue their legacy on the International stage.