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Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament is coming back in 2027!
Galashiels will host Scotland’s 6th Rural & Islands Parliament in October 2027
Galashiels is set to welcome the 6th Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament (6th SRIP) during the last week of October 2027.
Hundreds of delegates will come together in the town’s historic Volunteer Hall to explore shared priorities and ensure rural and island voices are heard in national discussions and policy-making. Other venues across the Scottish Borders will host a variety of workshops, study trips and cultural celebrations. The location announcement was made at the Borders Community Action inaugural conference which also ran a workshop with young people and representatives from youth groups to help design the 6th Scottish Rural & Islands Youth Parliament.
The chosen theme for 6th SRIP is ‘The Power of Lived Experience’ and the Scottish Rural and Islands Youth Parliament forms an important part of the SRIP, providing a dedicated platform for young people to share their experiences, contribute ideas and lead discussions about the future of their rural and island communities.
Planning of the 6th SRIP is a collaboration between host region and national partners including Borders Community Action, Youth Borders, Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, the Southern Uplands Partnership, South of Scotland Enterprise, the CLLD Local Action Group and Youth Local Action Group, Scottish Rural Action, the Scottish Government and Scottish Rural Network.
Speaking on behalf of Borders Community Action, the Borders TSI, Juliana Amaral, CEO, said:
“We’re delighted that Scottish Borders will host the 6th Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament in 2027, taking place in Galashiels. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the pride, warmth and community spirit that defines the Scottish Borders, while bringing people together from across Scotland to share ideas, learn from one another and help shape a positive future for our communities, with young people playing a vital role in those conversations.”
Speaking on behalf of the host region partners, Hans Waltl, Chair of the CLLD Local Action Group said:
“Communities in the Scottish Borders each have a distinct history and heritage, as well as unique assets and challenges. The region provides a rich source of learning to inform discussions at the 6th Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament. Recent years have seen profound changes for our rural and island places and the programme we design will enable us to collectively identify what future policy should look like.”
Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Government, Cabinet Secretary Gillian Martin MSP said:
“After the success of Scotland hosting the 2025 European Rural Parliament, I am looking forward to seeing that momentum carried forward to Autumn 2027 with the 6th Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament and Youth Parliament in the Scottish Borders. The Scottish Government looks forward to engaging delegates on a range of matters, including a Rural Renewal Bill and the next stages in the implementation of the Community Wealth Building Act, and the National Islands Plan.”
Delegate registration will open in 2027. The SRIP is a free event, and open to all. People, organisations and businesses from communities across the Scottish Borders are invited to get in touch with Nikki at Scottish Rural Action (nikki@sra.scot) to discuss any projects or priorities they would like to see included in the programme.
The SRIP has a dedicated website, which can be accessed at Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament (SRIP) – Scotland’s rural and island assembly
