Portsoy Boat Festival 'paused' for 2027 as organisers consider event's future

The Scottish Traditional Boat Festival held in Portsoy has been cancelled next year.

The festival first took place in 1993 and since then has grown to become a well-attended event, welcoming more than 13,000 people in 2026 and boosting tourism for the local area.

However, event organiser, Portsoy Community Enterprise (PCE), have announced that the fesival has been “paused” and will not return in 2027.

It comes just months after long-time chairman David Urquhart stepped down after more than three decades, while other long-serving committee members have opted to retire.

PCE described the situation as a “substantial loss of experience and organisational capacity”, which led to the decision to pause the festival and review its long-term future.

Anne McArthur, interim chair, said: “Pausing the event in 2027 has been a difficult decision and one that we have not taken lightly.

“However, delivering an event of this scale requires strong leadership, significant volunteer commitment and a sustainable organisational structure.

“Following a period of change within the committee, we believe this is the right time to reflect and consider how best to secure the future of community celebrations in Portsoy.”

Ms McArthur noted that the festival had been “a highlight of the summer for more than 30 years”, and brought together communities, volunteers, performers, skippers, craftsmen and visitors from across Scotland.

She added: “The festival’s success is a testament to the dedication, commitment and passion of generations of volunteers who have invested countless hours in creating an event that has become nationally recognised.”