Regional & National Festival Dates

NCBF FestivalsBand Spaces AvailableENTRY CLOSING DATE
Sunday 15th November 2026
WALES - Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff (TBC)AVAILABLEClosing date: Sunday 18th October 2026
Sunday 22nd November 2026
LONDON - Trinity School, Croydon, LondonAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026
Sunday 29th November 2026
NORTHAMPTON - Cripps Hall Theatre, NorthamptonAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 1st November 2026
TELFORD - Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy, TelfordAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 1st November 2026
Sunday 06th December 2026
MANCHESTER - Cheadle Hulme School, Cheadle (TBC)AVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 8th November 2026
Sunday 17th January 2027
SCOTLAND - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, GlasgowAVAILABLEClosing Date: Sunday 20th December 2026
2026/2027
DIGITAL ENTRY - Over 50 Miles away? Participate OnlineClosing Date: Tuesday 5th December 2026
NCBF National FestivalWind Band Slots
Remaining		Big Band Slots
Remaining
NCBF National FestivalBy Invitation OnlyBy Invitation Only
Saturday 03rd & 04th April 2027

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