-
NCBF 2025/26 NATIONAL FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
RNCM Royal Northern College of Music - Manchester | 11 -12 April 2026
-
NCBF 2025/26 NATIONAL FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
RNCM Royal Northern College of Music - Manchester | 11 -12 April 2026
-
NCBF 2025/26 NATIONAL FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
RNCM Royal Northern College of Music - Manchester | 11 -12 April 2026
-
NCBF 2025/26 NATIONAL FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
RNCM Royal Northern College of Music - Manchester | 11 -12 April 2026
-
NCBF 2025/26 NATIONAL FESTIVAL
TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
RNCM Royal Northern College of Music - Manchester | 11 -12 April 2026
Regional & National Festival Dates
| NCBF Festivals | Band Spaces Available | ENTRY CLOSING DATE |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday 15th November 2026 | ||
| WALES - Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Cardiff (TBC) | AVAILABLE | Closing date: Sunday 18th October 2026 |
| Sunday 22nd November 2026 | ||
| LONDON - Trinity School, Croydon, London | AVAILABLE | Closing Date: Sunday 25th October 2026 |
| Sunday 29th November 2026 | ||
| NORTHAMPTON - Cripps Hall Theatre, Northampton | AVAILABLE | Closing Date: Sunday 1st November 2026 |
| TELFORD - Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Academy, Telford | AVAILABLE | Closing Date: Sunday 1st November 2026 |
| Sunday 06th December 2026 | ||
| MANCHESTER - Cheadle Hulme School, Cheadle (TBC) | AVAILABLE | Closing Date: Sunday 8th November 2026 |
| Sunday 17th January 2027 | ||
| SCOTLAND - Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow | AVAILABLE | Closing Date: Sunday 20th December 2026 |
| 2026/2027 | ||
| DIGITAL ENTRY - Over 50 Miles away? Participate Online | Closing Date: Tuesday 5th December 2026 | |
| NCBF National Festival | Wind Band Slots Remaining | Big Band Slots Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| NCBF National Festival | By Invitation Only | By 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.
-
We are pleased to announce four new initiatives to widen the participation in ncbf.
ncbf Digital | ncbf at Home | ncbf Youth Ambassadors | ncbf Young Composers Scheme
Festival Information
Repertoire Lists
What Students Get Out of NCBF
