The Burns Supper is 225 years old
Our Centre for Robert Burns Studies is launching a new campaign, The Burns Supper at 225 Years: Scottish Tradition, Global Reinvention.
The campaign asks people worldwide to help create a crowdsourced archive of Burns Night events, viewable through an interactive global map launching in July 2026 – the 225th anniversary of the first Burns Supper.
From a small gathering of Robert Burns' friends and admirers, who came together in July 1801 to mark the fifth anniversary of his death, Burns’ Suppers have since grown into one of the world’s most enduring cultural and literary rituals. From Ayrshire to Vancouver, from the Arctic Circle to the summit of Kilimanjaro, more than 9.5 million people now celebrate Burns Night each year on 25 January, the poet’s birthday.
Building on nearly six years of pioneering research, it is hoped the new archive will feature poems and songs performed at Burns Suppers around the world as well as videos, photographs, recipes and clothing worn.
This new crowdsourced archive of global Burns celebrations will also form the basis of a submission to a UK-wide search for traditions to be recognised as UK living heritage following ratification of the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Professor Pauline Mackay is Director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies: “The Burns Supper is not just a historic ritual, it's a modern phenomenon and one of the most wide-reaching and impactful examples of Intangible Cultural Heritage to come out of Scotland and, indeed, the United Kingdom. This celebration is a living tradition that continues to evolve and we want to capture that and link people around the globe celebrating Scotland’s national bard by finding out what foods they eat, what they drink and which Burns poems or songs feature in their celebrations. We are not only interested in who celebrates the Burns Supper and how, but also the ways in which it has been adapted to incorporate different cultures.”
The new phase of the project is made possible by the Shaw Bequest, a significant philanthropic gift from American benefactors Susan Shaw and her late husband Frank of Atlanta, Georgia.
Take part
The Centre for Robert Burns Studies is inviting everyone from seasoned Burnsians to first-time hosts and/or guests to share their stories, images and insights on how they celebrate Burns Night around the globe.
To participate, please visit the Centre for Robert Burns Studies’ website where you will find a link to and instructions for how to complete our global survey and send us your photos, videos, and recipes.