THE shortlist for this year's Scots Language Awards has been revealed, celebrating the people and organisations helping keep one of Scotland's indigenous languages thriving.
Some 49 nominees from across theatre, literature, education, business and the media are competing across 10 categories, with members of the public now able to vote for their favourites.
The awards, now in their eighth year, will be held at Discovery Point in Dundee on Saturday, September 19.
Nominees come from across Scotland, including Aberdeenshire, Dundee, Shetland, Edinburgh, Fife, Lanarkshire, Perth and Renfrewshire.
Among those in the running for Scots Writer o the Year are Craig Aitchison, William Letford, Ely Percy, Lucy Beth, and Michael Mullen.
Simon Thoumire, from award organisers Hands Up for Trad, said: “Whit a shortlist we hae this year! It’s fantastic tae see the range o talent, creativity and commitment tae Scots shinin through, wi nominees comin frae communities richt across the country.
“Scots is a livin, vibrant language that belongs in every pairt o life, and this year’s nominees show jist that.
“They’re findin new weys tae share it, enjoy it and bring it tae new audiences, while makin sure it remains a proud and important pairt o Scotland’s culture.
“Noo it’s ower tae the public tae hae their say. We hope folk will get behind their favourites and vote, afore we bring everybody thegither in Dundee for a richt guid celebration.”
The ceremony will be hosted by Scots ambassadors Lynne Campbell and Taylor Dyson, with performances from singer Iona Fyfe, Shetland writer Yvonne Tait, traditional singer Scott Gardiner, and poet Hugh Macmillan.
Three awards – Scots Champion, the Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award, and Young Scots Writer o the Year – will be decided by a judging panel and presented at the ceremony.
The Scots Language Awards are run by cultural advocacy organisation Hands Up for Trad, which is also behind the BBC Traditional Musician of the Year competition, the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and World Gaelic Week.
Public voting closes on Friday, September 11 and can be done via the Scots Language Awards website.
The full list of 2026 nominees is below:
Scots Writer o the Year, sponsored by National Library of Scotland
● Craig Aitchison
● William Letford
● Ely Percy
● Lucy Beth
● Michael Mullen
Scots Community Project o the Year
● St. Andrew’s Heritage Museum - Hamewith: Celebrating the Scots Language
● Lingo Flamingo - Scots Leid an Culture Coorse fir Scottish Care Hames
● Doric Bootcamp, Portsoy
● Stronsay Heritage Centre / Young Islanders Network - Orcadian Audio Project
● Blether, Dundee
Scots Bairns' Book o the Year, sponsored by Scottish Government
● The Moggie Thit Meowed Too Much by Emma Grae (Luath Press)
● A Meid athin da Twalmont by Yvonne Tait
● Awa Doon e Toon by Julia Lynch (Doric Books)
● The Tale o Jennie Dubbie-Deuk by Susan Rennie
Scots in Business
● Twinkl Scotland
● Tippermuir Books
● Doric Books
● Scottish Storytelling Centre
● Movement Physiotherapy
● Define Bonnie, Dunfermline
Scots Teacher o the Year, sponsored by Qualifications Scotland
● Antonia Cant, Peterhead Academy
● Stewart Clelland, Banff Academy
● Jane Veitch, Monymusk Primary School, Inverurie
● Amy Nicoll, EduBuzzKids
● David Scott, Maisondieu Primary School, Angus
● Nicola Daniel, Broughton High School
Scots Schuil o the Year
● Banff Academy
● Peterhead Academy
● Perth High School
● Airdrie Academy
● Our Lady of Peace Primary School, Linwood
Scots Stage Production o the Year
● Hame. Teeth. Club. (Iona Bremner)
● Common Tongue (Fraser Scott)
● Through the Shortbread Tin (National Theatre of Scotland)
● Long Water Soft Shadows (Jim Mackintosh)
Scots Book o the Year
● Ayont the Thistle: A Gallimaufry of Poetry and Prose to mark the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid's A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle (Tippermuir Books)
● Flitcher by Craig Aitchison (Stewed Rhubarb, Tapsalteerie)
● With My Own Hand: The Secret Life of Marie Maitland, Scotland's Sixteenth-Century Sappho by Ashley Douglas (Headline Press)
● Square Baw by Hamish MacDonald (Scotland Street Press)
● Wirds o Banff: A Doric Glossary o the Wild (Doric Books)
Scots Performer o the Year, sponsored by TRACS
● Lucy Beth
● Taylor Dyson
● Olivia Caw
● Shannon Lynch
Scots Language in the Media, sponsored by Corrie Campbell Communications
● Ally Heather (@historic_ally)
● Claire White, Shetland Media Services
● The Carrying Stream Podcast
● Millie Graham (@whatshername1.0)
● Steph Wemyss (@bluetoongal)
