The opening of the 2026 Salmon Fishing Season.

Monday 2 February, Kelso

I am delighted to invite you to join us for the Opening of the Tweed Salmon Season, a much-loved annual tradition and a significant moment for the River Tweed and the wider community.

Community engagement is at the heart of this year’s celebrations, with a programme of events and activities taking place throughout January, culminating in the formal Opening Ceremony in Kelso on Monday 2 February from 9.00am, followed by a public seminar, Farming and Land Management: Supporting River Conservation, at Ednam House Hotel from 10.45am.

This year, the procession will gather at Kelso Town Hall, departing at 9.45am and making its way to the riverbank at Junction Beat, beside Kelso Bridge (Rennie’s Bridge). The season will be officially opened with the traditional blessing of the river, using a quaich of Glenkinchie whisky, led by Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive Scottish Land & Estates.

The opening will begin at 9.00am at Kelso Town Hall, where hot drinks and breakfast rolls will be available. This year Yeti joins us and will be serving barista coffee from their mobile Land Rover. The Co-op will also be providing tea and coffee inside the Town Hall.

The traditional blessing of the river will take place using Glenkinchie whisky, kindly supplied by Belhaven / Greene King. Staff from the Tweed Foundation will be present, alongside representatives from Scottish Land & Estates. The Salmon Fishing Museum will also be open to visitors.

Pupils from Castlegate Nursery will once again lead the procession from the Town Hall at 9.45am to the river at Rennie’s Bridge.

River Tweed Opening
Monday 2 February | 9am–10.30am
Kelso Town Hall

Seminar Farming and Land Management Supporting River Conservation. 

Following the formal opening on Monday 2nd February, a public seminar hosted by the River Tweed Commission will bring together speakers and stakeholders to explore the current challenges and opportunities affecting the river. The Tweed catchment is largely managed by the farming and landowning community, whose role in safeguarding river health and habitat restoration has become increasingly significant.

Guest speakers include James Hunt, Senior Biologist at the Tweed Foundation and Matthew Little Habitat Officer. Jane Gibson Project Officer Tweed Forum. Eleanor Kay Senior Policy Adviser Scottish Land & Estates.

Farming and Land Management Supporting River Conservation Seminar
Monday 2 February | 10.45am–1pm
Ednam House Hotel Kelso