|
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --
A bold cultural showcase sparks travel to Scotland in 2026
Scotland brings its iconic tartan and cultural heritage to the Southern Hemisphere as part of a global invitation to visit in 2026. With the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow this year, alongside major new attractions, Scotland is stepping into the international spotlight.
Scotland paints Brisbane tartan
As The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo prepares to take centre stage in Brisbane and Auckland, VisitScotland has illuminated the historic pillars of Brisbane City Hall with the Tattoo tartan. The striking display celebrates Scotland's deep-rooted traditions and cultural pride, creating a moment of connection with Australia.
Marking its 75th anniversary, the Tattoo brings massed pipes and drums, military precision and contemporary storytelling to audiences in Australia and New Zealand, having captivated more than 100 million people worldwide.
Why Scotland in 2026?
With global attention on Scotland in 2026, travellers are encouraged to look beyond postcard moments and discover a destination evolving in exciting new ways. New and reimagined experiences launching across the country include The Inverness Castle Experience, the reopening of Paisley Museum, a transformed Calanais Standing Stones Visitor Centre on the Isle of Lewis, and landmark exhibitions in Glasgow and Dundee.
Scotland is closely aligned with the travel preferences of Australian and New Zealand visitors, who are increasingly seeking wellbeing–focused, community–minded and immersive experiences. This growing appetite for wellness, noctourism and slow travel is reflected across the country from floating saunas on Highland lochs to new dark sky observatories in southern Scotland.
The Tattoo's visit to Australia and New Zealand provides a platform for VisitScotland to connect with local partners and promote Scotland as a must-visit destination. Jill Walker, Director of Marketing at VisitScotland, said: "The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a globally recognised symbol of Scotland's culture and a compelling platform to engage audiences in Australia and New Zealand. Alongside these high–profile cultural moments, we are working closely with media, travel trade and partners to showcase the breadth of Scotland's visitor offer and encourage future travel."
Australia also shares a longstanding connection with Scotland through whisky, craftsmanship and storytelling. The country was Johnnie Walker's first major export market in the 1870s, a legacy continuing to draw Australian travellers to Scotland.
For more on holidays in Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on X: @visitscotnews or @VisitScotland on Linkedin
- VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value in Scotland.
- As an economic growth agency, VisitScotland's activity focuses on three key priorities – market development, place development and business and experience development.
- VisitScotland's work helps deliver the ambitions of the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st century tourism, and the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.
- It leverages tourism and events as a force for good for all of Scotland's people and places and builds Scotland's international profile as a leading place to visit, live, work, study and do business.
- VisitScotland is a proud signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.
- For VisitScotland's press releases go to Media Centre (visitscotland.org) tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --
A bold cultural showcase sparks travel to Scotland in 2026
Scotland brings its iconic tartan and cultural heritage to the Southern Hemisphere as part of a global invitation to visit in 2026. With the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow this year, alongside major new attractions, Scotland is stepping into the international spotlight.
Scotland paints Brisbane tartan
As The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo prepares to take centre stage in Brisbane and Auckland, VisitScotland has illuminated the historic pillars of Brisbane City Hall with the Tattoo tartan. The striking display celebrates Scotland's deep-rooted traditions and cultural pride, creating a moment of connection with Australia.
Marking its 75th anniversary, the Tattoo brings massed pipes and drums, military precision and contemporary storytelling to audiences in Australia and New Zealand, having captivated more than 100 million people worldwide.
Why Scotland in 2026?
With global attention on Scotland in 2026, travellers are encouraged to look beyond postcard moments and discover a destination evolving in exciting new ways. New and reimagined experiences launching across the country include The Inverness Castle Experience, the reopening of Paisley Museum, a transformed Calanais Standing Stones Visitor Centre on the Isle of Lewis, and landmark exhibitions in Glasgow and Dundee.
Scotland is closely aligned with the travel preferences of Australian and New Zealand visitors, who are increasingly seeking wellbeing–focused, community–minded and immersive experiences. This growing appetite for wellness, noctourism and slow travel is reflected across the country from floating saunas on Highland lochs to new dark sky observatories in southern Scotland.
The Tattoo's visit to Australia and New Zealand provides a platform for VisitScotland to connect with local partners and promote Scotland as a must-visit destination. Jill Walker, Director of Marketing at VisitScotland, said: "The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a globally recognised symbol of Scotland's culture and a compelling platform to engage audiences in Australia and New Zealand. Alongside these high–profile cultural moments, we are working closely with media, travel trade and partners to showcase the breadth of Scotland's visitor offer and encourage future travel."
Australia also shares a longstanding connection with Scotland through whisky, craftsmanship and storytelling. The country was Johnnie Walker's first major export market in the 1870s, a legacy continuing to draw Australian travellers to Scotland.
For more on holidays in Scotland, visit www.visitscotland.com
Notes to Editors
- Follow us on X: @visitscotnews or @VisitScotland on Linkedin
- VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value in Scotland.
- As an economic growth agency, VisitScotland's activity focuses on three key priorities – market development, place development and business and experience development.
- VisitScotland's work helps deliver the ambitions of the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, for Scotland to be a world leader in 21st century tourism, and the national events strategy, Scotland the Perfect Stage.
- It leverages tourism and events as a force for good for all of Scotland's people and places and builds Scotland's international profile as a leading place to visit, live, work, study and do business.
- VisitScotland is a proud signatory of the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism and Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.
- For VisitScotland's press releases go to Media Centre (visitscotland.org) tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Scotland Lights Up Brisbane with Iconic Tartan
- Gen Z singles spend 156 hours per year on dating apps for only six connections
- Knorr is turning up the heat on dating culture by blending food and friendship
- #ServingSingles encourages friends to recommend single cooks
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After clocking up roughly 156 hours a year on dating apps, equivalent to six and a half days, yet securing on average just six meaningful connections, Gen Z and young Millennial singles are officially breaking up with the "swipe-by" culture that leaves them feeling burnt out.
This cultural shift reflects a growing trend among young singles who are embracing more authentic dating methods, such as friend referrals and shared experiences, instead of relying on the impersonal nature of dating apps.
New research commissioned by the food company, Knorr, found that nearly three quarters (72%) of Gen Z singles question the authenticity of dating profiles, while two thirds (65%) admit they struggle finding someone whose priorities match their own. Swipe-fatigue is sky high, but one thing is sizzling through the noise: the irresistible charm of cooking.
According to the survey, more than four fifths (82%) find an interest in cooking highly attractive in a potential partner, with 78% charmed by kitchen confidence and 76% melting for anyone who cooks for others. In fact, for three quarters (74%) of Gen Z singles, cooking tops the list of attractive traits, beating those who own a flashy car (47%) and fitness fanatics (59%).
Check out #ServingSingles, where Knorr is empowering people to spotlight their single foodie friends. Flipping the script on "swipe-by" culture, it champions cooking as the new secret ingredient to real romance, swapping endless scrolling for trusty friend referrals. By blending food, friendship and modern love, it keeps authenticity at the heart of modern dating.
Inspired by the viral #DateMyFriend trend #ServingSingles invites people to hype up their single friends with a passion for cooking, to prove love truly starts in the kitchen.
Gen Zs can refer their single friends who love to cook on TikTok, sharing their first name, age range, and signature dish using the #ServingSingles hashtag and branded filter. Knorr will boost standout referral videos to reach even more singles turning the kitchen into the ultimate stage for romance.
The survey further revealed that cooking is seen as appealing because it brings you closer together (35%) shows genuine effort (32%) and heats up the romance (34%) - qualities that no dating profile can capture.
Additionally, friends and family play a bigger role in modern dating than ever before, with nearly two thirds (64%) of singles saying they'd trust a date recommendation from a friend while more than a third (36%) look to siblings for love life advice.
Evidently, the need for a dating sidekick has never been higher as the research shows Gen Z singles swipe past more than 29 profiles a week, on average. Over the past 12 months, nearly half (48%) have been on less than 5 first dates, while the average relationship from a dating app lasts just six months.
Nicky Neerscholten, Global Head of Digital and Masterbrand at Knorr, said: "With #ServingSingles, Knorr is championing singles by spotlighting cooking as the ultimate dating superpower. We're on a mission to make single cooks unmissable - because whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting your cooking journey, sharing a homemade meal is a powerful way to show creativity, care, and individuality - traits that go far beyond a filtered profile picture.
"Our research proves that simply highlighting your love of cooking can dramatically boost your chances of landing a date. Food has always been the universal language of love, so if you're looking for sparks join the #ServingSingles movement and let your signature dish do the talking."
Got a single best friend who cooks?! Create a video introducing them and their tastiest signature dish, using Knorr's #ServingSingles branded filter on TikTok (@knorr). Don't forget to tag #ServingSingles and @Knorr, who will boost profiles of everyday single cooks, giving them a better shot at finding a romantic connection.
Survey info: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 14,503 respondents (aged 18-35) who are open to dating and using dating apps, across the UK, US, Germany, Mexico, France, Benelux (Netherlands & Belgium), Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Italy. The data was collected between 24.12.2025 – 30.01.2026. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles.
ROTTERDAM, Netherlands, Feb. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- After clocking up roughly 156 hours a year on dating apps, equivalent to six and a half days, yet securing on average just six meaningful connections, Gen Z and young Millennial singles are officially breaking up with the "swipe-by" culture that leaves them feeling burnt out.
This cultural shift reflects a growing trend among young singles who are embracing more authentic dating methods, such as friend referrals and shared experiences, instead of relying on the impersonal nature of dating apps.
New research commissioned by the food company, Knorr, found that nearly three quarters (72%) of Gen Z singles question the authenticity of dating profiles, while two thirds (65%) admit they struggle finding someone whose priorities match their own. Swipe-fatigue is sky high, but one thing is sizzling through the noise: the irresistible charm of cooking.
According to the survey, more than four fifths (82%) find an interest in cooking highly attractive in a potential partner, with 78% charmed by kitchen confidence and 76% melting for anyone who cooks for others. In fact, for three quarters (74%) of Gen Z singles, cooking tops the list of attractive traits, beating those who own a flashy car (47%) and fitness fanatics (59%).
Check out #ServingSingles, where Knorr is empowering people to spotlight their single foodie friends. Flipping the script on "swipe-by" culture, it champions cooking as the new secret ingredient to real romance, swapping endless scrolling for trusty friend referrals. By blending food, friendship and modern love, it keeps authenticity at the heart of modern dating.
Inspired by the viral #DateMyFriend trend #ServingSingles invites people to hype up their single friends with a passion for cooking, to prove love truly starts in the kitchen.
Gen Zs can refer their single friends who love to cook on TikTok, sharing their first name, age range, and signature dish using the #ServingSingles hashtag and branded filter. Knorr will boost standout referral videos to reach even more singles turning the kitchen into the ultimate stage for romance.
The survey further revealed that cooking is seen as appealing because it brings you closer together (35%) shows genuine effort (32%) and heats up the romance (34%) - qualities that no dating profile can capture.
Additionally, friends and family play a bigger role in modern dating than ever before, with nearly two thirds (64%) of singles saying they'd trust a date recommendation from a friend while more than a third (36%) look to siblings for love life advice.
Evidently, the need for a dating sidekick has never been higher as the research shows Gen Z singles swipe past more than 29 profiles a week, on average. Over the past 12 months, nearly half (48%) have been on less than 5 first dates, while the average relationship from a dating app lasts just six months.
Nicky Neerscholten, Global Head of Digital and Masterbrand at Knorr, said: "With #ServingSingles, Knorr is championing singles by spotlighting cooking as the ultimate dating superpower. We're on a mission to make single cooks unmissable - because whether you're a seasoned chef or just starting your cooking journey, sharing a homemade meal is a powerful way to show creativity, care, and individuality - traits that go far beyond a filtered profile picture.
"Our research proves that simply highlighting your love of cooking can dramatically boost your chances of landing a date. Food has always been the universal language of love, so if you're looking for sparks join the #ServingSingles movement and let your signature dish do the talking."
Got a single best friend who cooks?! Create a video introducing them and their tastiest signature dish, using Knorr's #ServingSingles branded filter on TikTok (@knorr). Don't forget to tag #ServingSingles and @Knorr, who will boost profiles of everyday single cooks, giving them a better shot at finding a romantic connection.
Survey info: The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 14,503 respondents (aged 18-35) who are open to dating and using dating apps, across the UK, US, Germany, Mexico, France, Benelux (Netherlands & Belgium), Philippines, Indonesia, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Nigeria and Italy. The data was collected between 24.12.2025 – 30.01.2026. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles.
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
Are dating apps over? Gen Z is ditching 'swipe-by' culture for meaningful connections in the kitchen
