The 2023 National Festival will take place at:

RNCM NCBF National Festival 2019

Royal Northern College of Music
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th April 2023

The National Festival 2023 will feature over 34 Wind Bands and Big Bands performing throughout the weekend with additional performances by the Band of the RAF College.

Saturday 15th April 2023
Sunday 16th April 2023
ncbf London Regional
Ticket Information

Early Bird Day Tickets (until Mon 10 April 2023):
£6 (Full)
£4 (Under 18s/65 +)

Early Bird Family Day Tickets (until Mon 10 April 2023):
£18 (2 adults + 3 children)

Day Tickets (from Tue 11 April 2023):
£8 (Full)
£6 (Under 18s/65+)

Family Day Tickets (from Tue 11 April 2023):
£25 (2 adults + 3 children)

Regional & National Festival 2022/23 Dates

NCBF FestivalsBand Spaces AvailableENTRY CLOSING DATE
Sunday 6th November 2022
WARWICK - Warwick Hall
Completed Closing date: 5th October
Saturday 12th November 2022
LONDON - The Muse, Watford Grammar School
CompletedClosing Date: 11th October
Sunday 20th November 2022
TELFORD - Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy
CompletedClosing Date: 19th October
Sunday 27th November 2022
OLDHAM - Crompton House Academy
CompletedClosing Date: 26th October
Sunday 15th January 2023
NORTHAMPTON -
Cripps Hall, Northampton
YESClosing Date: 18th December
Sunday 22nd January 2023
SCOTLAND - Garnock Community Campus, Glengarnock
YESClosing Date: 21st December

NCBF FestivalsWind Band Slots
Remaining
Big Band Slots
Remaining
Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th April 2023
NCBF National Festival
RNCM Manchester
By Invitation OnlyBy Invitation Only

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 over 30 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.

Festival Classes

A Festival, Not a Competition

What Students Get Out of NCBF

Why Band Leaders Get Involved

Regional Festival Results

NCBF National Concert Band Festival Awards

National Festival Results