AROUND 8,000 pipers and drummers from across the world will compete in Glasgow this weekend.

The World Pipe Band Championships will feature 214 bands from 13 countries who will compete at the Glasgow Green for the ultimate prize.

More than a quarter of the total entry are coming from overseas with nations represented including New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, Canada, Oman, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Eire, USA, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Up to 40 per cent of the competitors this year are expected to be under the age of 25. The World Pipe Band Championships is part of the Partner Programme for the Year of Young People 2018. The Year of Young People 2018 provides a platform to promote and celebrate the talents, achievements and contributions of Scotland’s incredible young people.

Glasgow first hosted the World Pipe Band Championships in 1948 and has been the host city for the event every year since 1986.

This year, the Chieftain of the World Pipe Band Championships will be Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Eva Bolander, who first visited the city as a piper in a band.

The World Pipe Band Championships are the pinnacle of competitive Pipe Band competition and are organised on behalf of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association by the City of Glasgow. The current World Champions are Inveraray and District Pipe Band.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for piping events and EventScotland is delighted to be a long-standing supporter of the Worlds, the pinnacle competition in the global piping calendar.”

Tickets for the World Pipe Band Championships, are on sale with some categories already sold out.