Pipemakers and advocates continue to promote women’s participation and equity in pipe bands, with leaders like Amber Ives highlighting ongoing leadership and contributions.

Historical context includes the 1925–27 Ladies Pipe Band world tour, which faced deportations and hardship but helped popularize women’s piping abroad.

In Melbourne on July 5, 2026, 145 female bagpipers and drummers from Australia and New Zealand set a world record as the largest all-female pipe band, earning a place in the Australian Book of Records.

The event extends the legacy of women in piping, building on momentum from last year’s AC/DC It’s a Long Way to the Top performance in Federation Square.

The performance in City Square included Scotland the Brave and Waltzing Matilda, and organizers highlighted it as a landmark for women in piping.

Organizers emphasize the event as both a tribute to early female pioneers and a call to broaden participation in pipes and drums.

The 1920s tour helped shape perceptions of women in piping, including a 40,000-person reception in Glasgow and royal performances in Braemar.

A pivotal moment in pipemaking culture occurred in 1963 when 12-year-olds Helen and Ruth Dilks joined Bendigo’s Golden City Pipe Band, challenging the male-dominated norms of the era.

Among the participants was 13-year-old Scarlett Cai of the Haileybury Pipes and Drums, illustrating the multi-generational reach of the event.

An external link and product-related site are noted but do not affect the core narrative of the record-setting performance.

Overall, the event celebrates contemporary female pipers while reflecting a century of pioneering women in the bagpipes.

Historians and band members underscore the long-standing contributions of women in pipe bands and their role in advancing the art.