Brisbane Boys’ College’s Pipe Band will represent Australia on one of the world’s most celebrated stages next year, as the Toowong school becomes the only school in Australia and New Zealand invited to perform at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo AUNZ 2026.
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The announcement was made at the school’s Toowong campus by Alan Lane, Creative Director of the Tattoo, who travelled from Scotland to share the news. BBC will perform alongside more than 30 bands and cultural groups from over 12 countries in The Heroes Who Made Us, a large-scale production set to fill Suncorp Stadium from 12–15 February 2026.
Among the confirmed acts are the Combined Military Bands of the Australian Defence Force, Queensland Police Pipe Band, Australia’s Federation Guard, His Majesty the King of Norway’s Guard Band and Drill Team, and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force Central Band. Lane said the line-up brings together excellence in music, pageantry, and performance.
“The Tattoo has always been about celebrating culture, connection and spectacle, and to be able to share that spirit with Australian audiences is a real delight,” said Lane.
A Proud Moment for BBC
For Brisbane Boys’ College, the announcement builds on its established tradition of piping and drumming. The school’s pipe band has a proud record of public performances and competition success.
The news was celebrated on campus by Pipe Major Nicholas Shelburn, an 18-year-old Year 12 student who began learning the bagpipes in Year 3 and has already played twice at the Tattoo with BBC. His role as Pipe Major reflects the dedication of BBC’s current generation of young musicians.
The band is preparing to represent the college and Brisbane community when it performs in February 2026.
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: Tradition Meets Spectacle
First held in 1950, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is an internationally renowned event that blends music, military precision, and cultural display. Staged annually on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, it draws nearly 230,000 live spectators each year and a global television audience exceeding 100 million.
In 2010, the event received the “Royal” title from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, recognising six decades of performance excellence. Over the decades, more than 50 countries have participated, making the Tattoo a truly global celebration of camaraderie through performance.
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The Brisbane edition in 2026 will celebrate the Tattoo’s 75th anniversary, following its record-breaking season in Edinburgh in August 2025, which drew over 220,000 attendees. The local production is expected to feature more than 1,100 performers, including international acts such as Scotland’s Top Secret Drum Corps and Japanese, Norwegian, Tongan, and New Zealand contingents.
Published 9-October-2025
