[Update - Jan 31] Find out here what's happening in January 2026 with our regularly updated one-click, at-a-glance Uist and Benbecula events guide.
Contact us if you would like to have your community event added to the guide. Jump to today
| Thu, Jan 1 | New Year's Day service at 11 am at the Free Church of Scotland in Carinish. There will be a congregational lunch after the service. |
| Mon, Jan 5 | Tagsa Uibhist Community Gardens reopen. |
| Monday Club meeting at Daliburgh Thrift Shop at 1.30 pm. All are welcome. CANCELLED | |
| Wed, Jan 7 | Soup, filled rolls, home baking and tea and coffee at An Caladh in conjunction with warm spaces from 11 am to 2.30 pm. All are welcome—entry by donation. No soft play, but toys will be provided instead. |
| Benbecula Thrift Shop, 41 Airport Road, Balivanich, reopens 11 am to 3 pm with its £1 January clothes sale. The thrift shop is also open on Saturdays, 11 am to 2 pm. | |
| Thu, Jan 8 | Craft and Craic 2-4 pm Howmore Church every Thursday. Bring along any craft you are working on or want to try, or just bring yourself. Homemade cake and plenty of cups of tea available too, come along and join in. |
| Badminton at Eriskay Hall at 6.30 pm for over 16s. Admission £3. | |
| St Mary's Whist at 8 pm in St Mary's Church Hall. | |
| "Svalbard: Iceberges and animals", a photo exhibition by Michael Leather in the Ceann na h-Àirigh & Grimsay Boat Museum cafe. The exhibition will run until Friday, January 30. For sales and further information, email |
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| Fri, Jan 9 | Family ceilidh with Calum Iain MacCorquodale & Friends and the Mairi MacLean School of Dance. Starts at 7.30 pm in the Southend Community Hall. Entry by donation. Bar, tea and raffle. |
| Sat, Jan 10 | Over 60s and families, New Year Lunch at Hosta Hall, 12 pm to 3 pm. The free soup, sandwiches and home baking event is part of the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institute's RSABI Plough On Campaign, which aims to celebrate the huge contribution of older people to Scottish agriculture and to remind older people just how valued they are. Comann Eachdraidh Uibhist a Tuath will also be sharing old crofting-related photos. |
| Drop-in pre-school mini movers session at Lionacleit sports centre, from 10.30 am to 12 pm. During the session, age-appropriate equipment will be provided for parents to use to encourage active play for 3-5-year-olds (pre-school). Slainte Mhath members go free. Non-members £2.60 | |
| Piping recital at 2 pm in Cnoc Soilleir, Daliburgh. Entry by donation. | |
| To mark the end of Calum MacKinnon Ferguson’s ‘Na Raiders: Eilean Mòr aig aon duine is sinne gun fheannag’ installation, Taigh Chearsabhagh will be holding an evening of potato lifting, live music and discussion from 7 pm. This is a free event, but booking is essential - https://buff.ly/rUA6ety | |
| Mon, Jan 12 | Berneray Community Council meeting at 7.30 pm in the Berneray Community Hall. All are welcome to attend. |
| Whist night at Taigh Sgire Sholais at 7 pm. All are welcome. | |
| Uist Youth Cafe at An Caladh, East Camp, Balivanich, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Open to all secondary school pupils. | |
| Monday Club meeting at Daliburgh Thrift Shop at 1.30 pm. All are welcome. | |
| Cupa is Cabadaich beginner and intermediate Gaelic conversation practice at the Cothrom Learning Centre, Ormiclate, South Uist. Mondays from 1.30 pm to 3 pm. | |
| Tue, Jan 13 | Eriskay Hall's youth club resumes at 6.15 pm. |
| Wed, Jan 14 | Cupa is Cabadaich beginner Gaelic conversation practice at the Cothrom Learning Centre, Ormiclate, South Uist. Wednesdays from 10.30 am to 11.30 am. |
| Lunch by donation at An Caladh Cafe, East Camp, Balivanich, in conjunction with warm spaces. Soup and filled rolls, baking, tea, and coffee are all provided. All are welcome. | |
| Borrnish Parish whist drive at Stoneybridge Hall at 7.30 pm. | |
| Iochdar Community Council meeting at 7.30 pm in Tala an Iochdar. | |
| Thu, Jan 15 | Párant is Paiste resumes at the Cothrom Learning Centre in South Uist with Gaelic Bookbug songs, relaxed play and stories. All parents and carers with pre-school children are welcome. Every Thursday during term time from 1.30 pm to 3 pm. |
| Talks on Thursdays' guest is Mike Townsend discussing "From OUTBACK TO ANDES: Searching for gold across two continents" at 7.30 pm in Ceann na h-Àirigh & Grimsay Boat Museum. Mike will be sharing images and anecdotes from trips to Australia and South America in the 1970s. All welcome, entry by donation. Booking and further information from |
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| Fri, Jan 16 | Opening preview of Metaphysical Cosmologies, an exploration of our relationship with the universe, from the Neolithic standing stones at Calanais to present-day cutting-edge astronomy. The work by Meg Rodger takes place at 7 pm at Taigh Chearsabhagh, which the arts centre describes as “astonishing.” In conjunction with the free opening of Metaphysical Cosmologies, a hybrid seminar will be held in Taigh Chearsabhagh and online, on Saturday, January 17, 2 pm - 4.30 pm. More info: https://buff.ly/ThsRIQO |
| Sgoil Lionacleit Parent Council prize bingo night in the school games hall. Doors open at 6.10 pm for eyes down at 6.45 pm. Star prize is a one-night stay at the Kingsmill Hotel, Inverness, plus a range of other prizes to be won. | |
| Sat, Jan 17 | Western Isles XC Championships race at Liniclate. Entries close on Wednesday, January 14. Strictly no entries on the day. Register via https://forms.gle/TPC1kAPybRTfYxfm6. Note that race timings differ from the Uist and Barra XC Series. |
| Poker night at St Mary's Hall, Griminish. Doors open at 7 pm. Tables live at 7.30 pm. Licensed bar. | |
| Mon, Jan 19 | Free foundation coaching course for shinty, 6 pm to 8 pm, at the Liniclate Sports Hub. It is aimed at volunteers aged 16+ who wish to become shinty coaches, introducing them to core skills, drills and teaching. Email |
| Cupa is Cabadaich is cancelled today and Wednesday, January 21. It resumes again on Monday, January 26. | |
| Monday Club meeting at Daliburgh Thrift Shop from 1.30 pm to 3 pm. | |
| Cording, crocheting and finger knitting at Uist Youth Cafe, An Caladh, Balivanich, commencing at 4 pm to 7 pm each Monday for four weeks, S1 to S6 pupils. Transport and meal provided from Lionacleit School and back home. Further information from Mrs Thorpe at Sgoil Lionacleit or by emailing |
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| Tue, Jan 20 | Cupan aig Cairinis, 2 pm to 4 pm, at Cairinis School, with guest speaker Alastair MacEachen presenting some of his father’s North Uist recordings made by his father for the School of Scottish Studies. |
| 'Community Policing in the Uists' public meeting in Griminish Taigh Ceilidh, Uist and Barra Church of Scotland's Benbecula Church Hall. From 2 pm to 4 pm. All are welcome to attend. | |
| Youth club at Eriskay Hall from 6.15 pm. Every Tuesday. | |
| North Uist Community Council meeting at 7 pm in Lochmaddy Village Hall. All are welcome to attend. | |
| Berneray Community Council are hosting a community information evening to discuss Berneray seagrass and a potential project by Namara Projects Ltd. to restore lost habitat, build local expertise and eventually establish community benefits from marine natural capital. The event is at 7 pm in Berneray Community Hall. POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 17 | |
| Wed, Jan 21 | Benbecula Community Council meeting at 6 pm at UCVO, 41 Airport Road, Balivanich. All are welcome to attend. |
| Sewing beginner class at the Cothrom Learning Centre, Ormiclate, South Uist, from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm. Some places are left on this four-week course. If you would like to join, sign up via https://www.cothrom.org.uk/contact | |
| Mini-Sports Stars for P1-3 boys and girls at Liniclate Sports Centre from 4 pm to 4.45 pm. A four-week block. Bookings can be made via the CnEs Sport & Health app and can also be made by calling the sports centre on 01870 603693. | |
| Thu, Jan 22 | Feis Tir a'Mhurain evening classes begin at Cnoc Soilleir, Daliburgh. The Gaelic music and drama classes will run every Thursday for three weeks until January 29, before a new block commences on February 19. Register here. |
| Badminton every Thursday at Eriskay Hall from 6.30 pm. | |
| Fri, Jan 23 | General knowledge quiz at Ceann na h-Àirigh & Grimsay Boat Museum. Entry fee £20 per team, maximum of four to a team. Spot prizes plus prizes for the winning team. 6.30 pm for a 7 pm start. Booking and further information from |
| Sat, Jan 24 | Burns' afternoon at The Beacon, Lochboisdale Pier, 12 pm to 3 pm. An invitation is extended to join them for food, music/poetry, and fun. |
| Uist Squash Club open day. From 9.30 am to 11.30 unveiling the club's new squash programme STAMP, a hybrid of Short Tennis and Mini Padel, played over a net on the squash court. From 13.30 to 15.30, there will be an intro to squash. The squash club is located next door to An Caladh at East Camp, Balivanich. For further information, contact Willie Irvine on 07887 791 398. Optional donations welcome towards squash court funds. | |
| Macmillan Coffee Morning at Carinish Hall, North Uist, 11 am to 1 pm. | |
| Drop-in pre-school mini movers session at Lionacleit sports centre, from 10.30 am to 12 pm. During the session, age-appropriate equipment will be provided for parents to use to encourage active play for 3-5-year-olds (pre-school). Slainte Mhath members go free. Non-members £2.60 | |
| Bingo, teas, and kids' activities in Eriskay Hall at 2 pm. | |
| Balivanich Play Park is holding a new year clean-up at 2 pm. All are welcome to lend a hand. | |
| Three-course Burns Supper at Taigh Sgire Sholais at 7 pm. Cock-a-Leekie soup, traditional haggis or veg haggis, with neeps, tatties and whisky sauce, followed by dessert and tea/coffee & shortbread. Booking essential via the list in the Coop or by emailing |
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| Family ceilidh at St Mary's Hall, Griminish, featuring Billy MacPhee and local artists. Starts 7.30 pm, teas, coffees and home baking. Licensed bar. CANCELLED DUE TO BEREAVEMENT | |
| Sun, Jan 25 | Scottish Episcopal Communion service at Lochmaddy Church of Scotland at 11 am. Rev.John Macleod (Berneray) will preside. |
| Singing rehearsal at St Mary's Griminish, 11.30 am after Mass. | |
| Mon, Jan 26 | Whist evening at Taigh Sgire Sholais at 7 pm. All are welcome, including beginners. |
| Wed, Jan 28 | Winter is the subject of the latest Memories Scotland day at Lionacleit Library. Join the library staff for tea and conversation to spark memories inspired by old photos, articles, and stories from the library's collections. 11 am for Gaidhlig and 2 pm to 3 pm for English. |
| Soup and filled rolls at An Caladh, East Camp, Balivanich, 11 am to 3 pm by donation. All are welcome. Soft play £5. | |
| Learn Gaelic through hymns old and new from the spiritual tradition of the Southern Isles, with Fr Ross and Pauline MacDonald. All levels of Gaelic are welcome; email |
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| Open night at Bayhead Fire Station from 7 pm to 9 pm. Find out more about becoming a firefighter. | |
| Thu, Jan 29 | Tea and cakes at Daliburgh Thrift Shop, 11 am to 1 pm. |
| Craft and Craic at Howmore Church, 2 pm to 4 pm. | |
| Taigh Sgire Sholais Knit and Natter, 2 pm to 4 pm. | |
| Free poetry evening at Taigh Chearsabhagh, Lochmaddy, reading favourite poems on the theme of relationships. All are welcome. More info at https://buff.ly/sWbZMNO | |
| Fri, Jan 30 | Sgoil Uibhist a Tuath family quiz night at 6.30 pm, with proceeds going to the P7 residential trip. Bookings can be made by contacting the School Office on |
| Board game club meeting at 7.30 pm in Howmore Church Hall. All are welcome. | |
| Sat, Jan 31 | Men's Breakfast, 8.30 pm at North Uist Free Church, Carinish. All are welcome. Further details. |
| Uist Squash Club open day. From 9.30 am to 11.30 unveiling the club's new squash programme STAMP, a hybrid of Short Tennis and Mini Padel, played over a net on the squash court. From 13.30 to 15.30, there will be an intro to squash. The squash club is located next door to An Caladh at East Camp, Balivanich. For further information, contact Willie Irvine on 07887 791 398. Optional donations welcome towards squash court funds. | |
| Tea and cakes at Daliburgh Thrift Shop, 11 am to 1 pm. | |
| Bookbug session at Lionacleit Library at 11.30 am. Sponsored by the Scottish Book Trust, Bookbugs are free story, song, and rhyme sessions for babies, toddlers, pre-school children, and their families. | |
| Car wash, teas, and raffle at Daliburgh School, 1 pm to 3 pm. Proceeds to go to the school's P7 residential trip to Fairburn, Muir of Ord. | |
| Curry in a Hurry! takeaway at The Beacon, Lochboisdale Pier, 3pm to 5 pm. Pre-order using the online form payment, on pick up, or a sum up payment link can be requested. Call or text your order to 07507055363. | |
| New Year's Quiz at Lochmaddy Hall. Doors open at 7.30 pm for an 8.30 pm start. Licensed bar. Teams of up to six, £10 per team in advance or £3 per person on the night. Enter online here. |
