UniBrass Championships countdown now on

There are now just a couple of weeks to go before the student banding world heads to Newport — so why not go along and enjoy the action.

The event takes place in Newport on Saturday 14th March

Sunday, 01 February 2026

The countdown is now on for the 2026 UniBrass Championships which will be held at the ICC Wales in Newport on Saturday 14th February.

Over 800 students will take to the stage representing 23 bands for a day of entertainment competition as they seek to lift either the UniBrass Trophy or UniBrass Shield in triumph.

Judges

Each will perform a 20-minute set in their bid to impress judges Paul Holland and Tracey Redfearn (Trophy) and Christopher Thomas and Lauren Chinn (Shield) as well as claim part of the impressive share of individual and ensemble awards.

The competitive part of the day will be followed by the results ceremony featuring a short concert by the South Wales Youth Band, before an eagerly awaited Gala Concert performance by trumpeter Louis Dowdeswell and the live band 'Rock the Mike'.

Nominate

The fifth Spirit of UniBrass Award will also be made. It recognises the unsung heroes of brass banding who go above and beyond to seek the advancement and progression of the medium and community.

Nominations close Sunday 8th February, and the winner will be announced at the results ceremony.

Nominations can be made at:
https://www.unibrass.co.uk/spirit-of-unibrass

Draws:

Trophy Section:

1. Huddersfield University Brass Band
2. Royal Holloway Brass Band
3. Oxford University Brass Band
4. University of Warwick Brass Society
5. Southampton University Brass Band
6. The University of Manchester, Salford University, and Manchester Metropolitan University Brass Band
7. University of Chichester Brass Band
8. Bristol University Brass Band
9. University of Birmingham Music Society Brass Band
10. The University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Hallam University Brass Band
11. Durham University Brass Band

Shield Section:

1. Bangor University Brass Band
2. Cambridge University Brass Band
3. Keele University Brass Band
4. Nottingham University Brass Band
5. Liverpool University Brass Band
6. UWE Brass Band
7. University of York Brass Band
8. Lancaster University Brass Band
9. Cardiff University Brass Band
10. University of Bath Brass Band
11. Leeds, Leeds Beckett, and Leeds Conservatoire Brass Band
12. Newcastle University Brass Band

Tickets:

Tickets to both the Contest and Gala Concert are available now on the UniBrass website and can be purchased either separately, or as package deal for a discounted price.

Tickets start from £16.99:
https://www.unibrass.co.uk/event-details/unibrass2026

The UniBrass livestream returns, with stream passes starting from only £12.49 at https://www.unibrass.co.uk/watch

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