Featuring 8,000 pipers and drummers from 16 nations around the globe, and from as far afield as New Zealand and Pakistan, the event has become a highlight of Glasgow's cultural calendar.
Last year's winners Simon Fraser University - hailing from Canada - will be pulling out all the stops to defend their title in the elite Grade 1 competition.
Today's event always attracts huge crowds, and this being the year of Homecoming around 45,000 spectators have arrived to witness the world's premier pipe band competition.
As well as the piping contest, today also sees the world drum majors championships and the RSPBA highland dancing championships taking place side by side.
Glasgow Green has been split into different areas and arenas for the event, with a mini "Euro highland games" taking place away from the main competitive events at the McLennan Arch, and at the other side of the green the People's Palace and Winter Gardens has been taken over by an impressive crafts fair.
The competition has followed the week-long Piping Live! International festival, which featured a multitude of events around Glasgow. Along with the world championships, Piping Live! has played host to over 16,000 performers.
Other than the Grade 1 finals, the real highlight of the day at the "Worlds" will be the March Past at 5.45pm, where all the competing bands will assemble and march to Nelson's Monument for the prizegiving ceremony.
For all our coverage of the World Pipe Band Championships and Piping Live!, including previews, performances and interviews, visit www.stv.tv/piping
