2026 Spring Festival
Town Hall and Jennifer Blackwell Hall, Birmingham
2-3 May 2026
May 11
Kirsty Abbotts is to step down from the principal cornet seat at Hammonds Band.
May 11 • Flowers Band MD Paul Holland has been presented with The Mayor's Medal as an expression of the thanks and gratitude of the Citizens of Gloucester following the band's recent European title success.
May 11 • A new test-piece work by Andrew Wainwright will receive its premiere at the Tonga Secondary School Brass Band Festival.
May 11 • 11 venues will welcome performers and listeners alike later this month.
May 11 • More great brass band music to enjoy from downunder with presenter Lucas Burns.
May 8 • The National Youth Band of Great Britain is looking to appoint new trustees and a librarian to help strengthen the organisation's heritage and future.
May 8 • Tickets for the 2026 Championship Section National Final at the Royal Albert Hall are now on sale.
May 8 • There are plenty of great deals to grab at Band Supplies on ex-demo and second hand instruments.
May 8 • Make sure you have plans in place to protest valuable musical and memorabilia assets if potential disaster strikes.
February 26 • Iwan and Chris look forward to the 2026 Regional Championships - the issues, music and tips for victory...
February 1 • Iwan Fox and Chris Thomas look back at the RNCM International Brass Band Festival as well as forward to the Norwegian Nationals and more...
January 16 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox is joined by Chris Thomas and special guest Dr David Thornton to preview the 2026 RNCM International Brass Band Festival in Manchester.
December 31 • Iwan and Chris announce the long list of nominations for the 2025 4BR Awards. Drum roll please...
April 23 • 4BR Editor Iwan Fox takes a closer look at the set-works to be played this weekend from Thomas Doss, Andreas Ziegelback, Otto M Schwarz and Thomas Murauer.
April 21 • 4BR finds out more about the own-choice works to be performed by the bands in the Championship and Challenge Sections in Linz.
April 20 • Increased size and wider vision underpins EBBA's ethos behind its flagship event — but concerns about the direction of future travel remain...
April 8 • Simon Watts of the NYBBGB talks to composer Andrea Price ahead of the world premiere of her work celebrating the life and laughs of the unique Victoria Wood.
April 20 • There was nothing ordinary about the spirit of fun and fearlessness on display by the talented youngsters of the NYBBGB in Manchester.
April 19 • Traditional sounds of brass and voice provide a fine reminder of the qualities of hymn singing and march playing in Huddersfield.
February 14 • Ian Bousfield inspires as well as thrills with his display of consummate musicianship in Cardiff.
| # | Band | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eikanger-Bjørsvik | 971.10 |
| 2 | Brighouse and Rastrick | 860.34 |
| 3 | Brass Band Treize Etoiles | 822.07 |
| 4 | Cory | 791.88 |
| 5 | Foden's | 711.59 |
| 6 | Flowers | 586.54 |
| 7 | Black Dyke | 547.59 |
| 8 | Brass Band Willebroek | 517.67 |
| 9 | Valaisia Brass Band | 471.82 |
| 10 | the cooperation band | 469.21 |
Saturday 16 May • St Andrew's Methodist Church. The Stow. Harlow. CM20 3AF
Sunday 17 May • Dorchester- Park Bandstand DT1 1RG
Sunday 24 May • Forest Town Arena. Clipstone Road West,. Mansfield NG19 0EE
Friday 29 May • Saddleworth & Tameside OL3
Saturday 30 May • Dewsbury Minster, Vicarage Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire WF12 8DD
May 10 • Due to University placement we require a Bb Bass player- we are a First Section band based at our own band room in the village of Hathern LE12 5LJ Leicestershire (between M1 Jcts 23 & 24) and close to Lougborough and Nottingham Universities
May 10 • Newstead Brass are on the lookout for a talented 2nd BARITONE player to join our ambitious and hardworking Nottinghamshire-based Championship Section band.. A rare chance to become part of an ambitious brass band striving for even greater success together.
May 9 • Ibstock Brick Brass are looking for a Solo Cornet, 3rd Cornet, 2nd Horn, Bass Trombone and B Flat Tuba as we move into the second section from 2027. We are a friendly, ambitions and progressive band that rehearse at our own bandroom in Coalville.

Cornet soloist, clinician, conductor and adjudicator