Regional & National Festival 2025/26 Dates

NCBF FestivalsBand Spaces AvailableENTRY CLOSING DATE
Sunday 2nd November 2025
OLDHAM - Crompton House AcademyAVAILABLE
Closing date: Sunday 5th October 2025
EASTLEIGH - Barton Peveril Sixth Form CollegeAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 5th October 2025
Sunday 16th November 2025
LONDON - Trinity School, CroydonAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 19th October 2025
Sunday 23rd November 2025
NORTHAMPTON - Cripps Hall, Northampton
AVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 26th October 2025
CARDIFF - Cardiff UniversityAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 26th October 2025
Sunday 30th November 2025
TELFORD - Haberdashers' Abraham Darby AcademyAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 2nd November 2025
Sunday 18th January 2026
SCOTLAND - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, GlasgowAVAILABLE Closing Date: Sunday 21st December 2025

NCBF National FestivalWind Band Slots
Remaining
Big Band Slots
Remaining
NCBF National Festival 2026By Invitation OnlyBy Invitation Only
Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th April 2026

RNCM, Manchester

Regional Festival Finder

Bands enter into their local ncbf regional festival where they perform in front of their peers, parents, audience, and ncbf adjudicators who offer feedback based on the ncbf Award Criteria. Bands are not competing against each other but are critiqued against the various aspects of performance and are awarded a certificate signifying their success: Platinum, Gold Silver or Bronze. Read more about the ncbf festival here


About NCBF

Since its modest beginnings 40 years ago, NCBF - National Concert Band Festival has developed and grown in size and prestige until now it is recognised as the largest, most active, enterprising Festival for wind instrument musicians who play in wind bands or big bands throughout the UK.

The ncbf celebrates and promotes the music and activities of wind bands / jazz bands by holding regional festivals across the UK and a National Festival. The organisation aims to provide unique performing opportunities in a friendly, welcoming and musically enriching environment.

What Students Get Out of NCBF