Kirkwall Shortlisted for Scotland's Town of the Year 

That the Parliament celebrates the news that Kirkwall has been named as one of five finalists for the title of Scotland's Town of the Year at the 2026 Scotland Loves Local Awards; understands that Kirkwall has been shortlisted alongside Fort William, Inverurie, East Kilbride and Falkirk for the top accolade; recognises that the town was shortlisted after an application was submitted by Kirkwall Business Improvement District (BID), a local business-led initiative that supports developments aimed at strengthening the local economy and keeping Kirkwall vibrant and attractive to visitors and residents alike; considers the town of Kirkwall to be an excellent candidate for the title of Scotland's Town of the Year given its strong sense of community and local identity, rich history, thriving local businesses and beautiful public spaces, among other things; congratulates all of the towns, people and projects shortlisted at the 2026 Scotland Loves Local Awards, and wishes them the best of luck for the awards announcement taking place later this month.