Perth will welcome dignitaries and visitors from across the globe as it celebrates relationships with its twin cities this weekend.
Perth celebrates several significant twinning anniversaries this year, including 70 years with Aschaffenburg in Germany, 35 years with Cognac in France, 25 years with Perth in Canada and 20 years with Perth in Australia.
To mark these major milestones, Perth and Kinross will host a twinning celebration weekend from Friday 26 to Monday 29 June, welcoming international civic delegations to a programme of events celebrating long standing twinning relationships, with the ceremonial elements centred on shared heritage, civic tradition and international friendship.
Key civic moments on Saturday include a commemorative tree planting on the North Inch, symbolising the enduring friendships between partner cities, followed by a formal visit to Scone Palace, the historic crowning place of Scottish kings and a chance to sample the action at the European Pipe Band Championships on the North Inch.
Young people are very important to sustaining our twinning links and as part of the weekend celebrations, junior golfers from Aschaffenburg will compete against junior golfers from Perth and Kinross. The Perth and Kinross team were selected from the winners of the Perth and Kinross Schools Golf Competition in October 2025.
Sunday forms the ceremonial centrepiece of the weekend, beginning with the traditional Kirking of the Council procession through the city centre, followed by the first ever ecumenical Kirking Service with Ministers from the Church of Scotland, Catholic Church and Scottish Episcopal Church leading the service at St John's Kirk. The service starts at 10am and all are welcome to join.
After the service visiting dignitaries will collectively lay a wreath to honour decades of international military cooperation between our nations as part of UK Armed Forces Day commemorations. Further civic milestones include the unveiling of a new plaque on Tay Street at midday to mark Perth's newest twinning with Nikopol, Ukraine.
Celebrations continue with the annual City of Perth Salute and a special Freedom of the City ceremony on the North Inch, where the citizens of Aschaffenburg will be awarded this prestigious honour in recognition of 70 years of friendship. St. Johnstone Football Club will also be represented with their Freedom of the City honour which was originally unable to be presented in a public celebration due to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
The programme culminates with a concert showcasing cultural performances from Perth and its partner cities, highlighting the strength and diversity of these international relationships.
Provost of Perth and Kinross Xander McDade said: "Celebrating these landmark twinning anniversaries is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the strong and enduring friendships Perth has built with our partner cities across the world. For decades, these relationships have brought people together through cultural exchange, shared experiences and lasting personal connections that enrich communities on all sides.
"These partnerships go far beyond civic links. They are rooted in genuine friendships between residents, community groups and young people, helping us to better understand each other's traditions, heritage and way of life. That cultural exchange continues to play a vital role in strengthening international understanding and enriching life here in Perth and Kinross.
"We are delighted to welcome our international visitors to Perth for this special weekend of celebration. It is a chance to showcase our city, honour decades of friendship and look ahead to the future, ensuring these important relationships continue to grow and thrive for generations to come.
"The programme of events reflects the shared heritage, civic pride and international friendship at the heart of our twinning links, and I would encourage everyone to come along to the City of Perth Salute, take part and help us give our guests a warm Perth welcome."
Further information on this weekend's celebrations is available on the Perth City and Towns website.
