2026 is sure to be a busy year for bands and soloists as they contemplate performances on and off the contest stage.
Although there are no longer early season battles to put in your diary at the Butlins Mineworkers Championships in Skegness, or for those of a slightly older vintage, the Yeovil Entertainment Contest, bands will soon be back at rehearsals refreshed after their short festive break.
Weather permitting then, these are five events to consider booking in January and February to go along and enjoy.
National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain Conductor’s Competition
Tidworth Garrison Theatre
Wiltshire (SP9 7EP)
Saturday 17th January
Start: 10.00am – 2.30pm
Tickets: Free
Four young conductors, all wishing to make their mark on the banding world will battle for the NYBBGB Conductor’s Prize, supported by British Army Music.
Ammal Bhatia, Megan Bousfield, Tommy Tynan and Joey Wong will work on one of four major compositions with an ensemble made up of a mix of players from the NYBBGB and British Army Music. The chosen works are ‘Resurgam’; 'Music for a Festival’; ‘Shine as the Light’ and ‘Dimensions’.
They will be assessed by Major Craig Bywater (Chief Instructor at the Royal Military School of Music) and Dr Robert Childs (Artistic Director of the NYBBGB).
In addition to a cash prize of £750, they will also gain the opportunity to become Assistant Conductor for the NYBBGB's 2026 Summer Course working alongside Lieutenant Colonel Petritz-Watts
The event is free to attend and there will be a 45-minute concert given by a brass quintet from The Royal Corps of Army Music before the winner is announced.
In addition to a cash prize of £750, they will also gain the opportunity to become Assistant Conductor for the NYBBGB's 2026 Summer Course working alongside Lieutenant Colonel Petritz-Watts and conducting at its end of course concert at The Forum, Bath on 8th August.
Find out more:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nybbgb-young-conductors-competition-2026-live-final-tickets-1967543299975
RNCM International Brass Band Festival
RNCM, Manchester
Friday 23rd January – Sunday 26th January
The most important showcase event in the UK banding calendar returns curated by Dr David Thornton, with an enticing mix of repertoire performed by leading bands and world class soloists.
Black Dyke, Brighouse & Rastrick, Cory, Foden’s and Tredegar are joined by Danish National Champion Concord Brass Band as well as the Yorkshire Youth Brass Band, RNCM Brass Band and RNCM Junior Brass Band – each paying homage to composer Philip Sparke.
Soloists include Glenn Van Looy, Chris Robertson, Les Neish and percussion star Yasuaki Fukuhara providing major concerto performances, as well as Swiss soprano star Louis Kroni and a host of other leading performers.
It adds up to three days packed with great music, and plenty of other attractions. If you are serious about your banding, then this should be on your annual bucket list.
World premieres will come from the likes of Richard Blackford (‘Orbital’) as well as Dorothy Gates, Bruce Broughton, Phil Lawrence, Simon Dobson and Theo Koita-Bocard, whilst there will be the chance to enjoy Paul Mealor’s latest major work ‘Tranquil Abiding’, as well as a newly re-scored version of Edmund Rubbra’s ‘Variations on the Shining River’.
It adds up to three days packed with great music, and plenty of other attractions. If you are serious about your banding, then this should be on your annual bucket list.
Find out more:
https://www.rncm.ac.uk/festivals/rncm-international-brass-band-festival/
Norwegian National Championships
Grieg Hall
Bergen
Friday 6th February – Saturday 7th February
The wonderful Grieg Hall in Bergen welcomes around 80 bands for their annual battle for Norwegian domestic supremacy.
Once again it promises to be two days packed with fantastic competitive music making – from the own-choice blockbusters and the intriguing challenge of 'Concerto No. 1 for Brass Band' by Derek Bourgeois as the set-work for the 10 Elite Division contenders, to the fun and ambition on show in each of the other sections.
There is a great atmosphere of inclusiveness and ambition to enjoy, the playing is invariably excellent and even the beer prices are now on par with the UK.
Bergen is easy to get to and a super city to visit too. There is a great atmosphere of inclusiveness and ambition to enjoy, the playing is invariably excellent and even the beer prices are now on par with the UK.
UniBrass Championships
ICC Wales
Celtic Manor Resort
Newport (NP18 1DE)
Saturday 14th February
The annual UniBrass Championships takes place on Valentine’s Day this year, hosted by Cardiff University, but taking place just along the M4 in Newport at the ICC Wales. You can’t miss it – it’s got a huge red dragon outside.
You can’t miss it – it’s got a huge red dragon outside.
There are titles up for grabs for the students in the Trophy and Shield Competitions (both starting at 10.30am).
Lots to enjoy with a gala concert featuring Louis Dowdeswell, the alternative indie band, ‘Who’s Frank?’ and the City of Cardiff (M1) Band to enjoy too.
Find out more:
https://www.unibrass.co.uk/event-details/unibrass-2026
Peter Moore
BBC National Orchestra of Wales
Conductor: Jack Sheen
BBC Hoddinott Hall
Cardiff
Thursday 19th February (7.30pm)
Since stepping down as principal trombone of the London Symphony Orchestra, Peter Moore has become one of the most in demand brass concerto performers in Europe.
The 2025 ‘4BR Solo CD of the Year’ award winning virtuoso heads to Wales to give the world premiere of Deborah Pritchard’s ‘Light Circle’ concerto.
Her works are informed by her synaesthesia and visual art from artists such as Chagall, Kandinsky and Maggi Hambling.
Her works are informed by her synaesthesia and visual art from artists such as Chagall, Kandinsky and Maggi Hambling. She won a British Composer award for her work, ‘Inside Colour in 2017.
Also included on the programme are four other UK premieres of contemporary orchestral works from Isabella Gellis (‘Valedictions’); Juste Janulyte (‘Confluere for Orchestra’); Hannah Eisendle (‘Azinheira’) and Katherine Balch (’Musica Pyralis’).
Find out more:
http://https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ebdhj5
