The top 10 biggest derbies and rivalries in Scottish football, including the Old Firm

Scottish football has always punched above its weight in terms of cultural impact, perhaps due to the prevalence of the biggest rivalries in the nation's game, and very few sporting cultures across the globe can match the intensity shown by fans in Scotland on matchdays.

The Tartan Army are competing in World Cup 2026 this summer, with many members of the squad having been tempered by the fires of Scottish derbies.

The Old Firm between Celtic and Rangers is amongst the most famous and heated rivalries in the modern game, though it is far from the only contest that comes with extra weight, with Dundee and Edinburgh derbies being marked on calendars as soon as the fixtures are released.

Cities, communities and even families are often divided by team loyalty, with much more than points at stake when teams do battle, and here, Football Ground Guide covers all you need to know about the biggest and most iconic derbies and rivalries in Scottish football.

Celtic vs. Rangers – Old Firm Derby

The Old Firm is not only the biggest derby in Scottish football, but also one of the most famous and intense derbies in the world.

The fixture means much more than just three points, with social, cultural and religious roots only adding to the emotion of the match, often leading to Celtic vs. Rangers being one of the fiercest and hostile games in European football.

Hearts vs. Hibernian – Edinburgh Derby

The Edinburgh derby between Hearts and Hibernian holds a similar hostility and emotion to those within the city.

Dating back to the 1870s, making it one of the oldest rivalries in football, the divide between maroon and green provides some of the most passionate and electric atmospheres in the country.

Dundee vs. Dundee United – Dundee Derby

Dundee and Dundee United's stadiums are separated by just one street, making it the closest that two professional clubs play their football anywhere in the world.

Consequently, the proximity of this tie is the biggest factor in the rivalry, pitting families and neighbours against one another on matchdays, leading to some fiery atmospheres and matches.

Aberdeen vs. Dundee United – New Firm Derby

Aberdeen vs. Dundee United is not a rivalry based on proximity but rather from a period that saw the two clubs break the traditional Celtic-Rangers dominance back in the 1980s.

The two teams enjoyed periods of domestic and European success, creating a new rivalry that was deemed the ‘New Firm' in honour of the Old Firm rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.

St Mirren vs. Greenock Morton – Renfrewshire Derby

Dating all the way back to their first meeting in 1882, the Renfrewshire Derby between St Mirren and Greenock Morton has only grown in stature in the subsequent years, especially with the two clubs establishing themselves as the region's top two clubs.

Although St Mirren have competed at a higher level more regularly in recent years, the animosity between the two clubs remains as they battle to become the area's dominant side.

Queen's Park vs. Rangers – Original Glasgow Derby

The rivalry between Queen's Park and Rangers was more prevalent in the early era of Scottish football before being eventually overtaken by the importance of the Old Firm derby, but this still remains an emotionally intense encounter.

Ross County vs. Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Highland Derby

The Highland Derby is contested by the only two full-time teams in the Highland Council area, with Ross County and Inverness Caledonian Thistle battling it out to become the biggest and best side in the local region.

Motherwell vs. Hamilton – Lanarkshire Derby

The Lanarkshire Derby between Motherwell and Hamilton represents two smaller towns coming head-to-head, battling for pride and superiority.

This fixture has grown in animosity and intensity in recent years, including incidents such as fan clashes and flares/projectiles being thrown onto the pitch, leading to the on-pitch emotions only growing further.

Dunfermline Athletic vs. Raith Rovers – Fife Derby

The Fife Derby between Dunfermline Athletic and Raith Rovers pits the two most supported teams in the Fife area against one another, with their matches consequently gaining the most interest of any other matches between Fife-based teams.

Ayr United vs. Kilmarnock – Ayrshire Derby

The Ayrshire Derby between Ayr United and Kilmarnock is a fiery clash that encapsulates the emotion and pride of the two towns that are separated only by a short distance.

As a result, the emotions are extremely high on matchdays, with the two teams battling for both the victory and for the bragging rights and pride of beating their close rivals.