FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES
PROGRAMMES & TICKETS
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NCBF AWARD CRITERIA
National Festival - Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 April 2026 | Tickets
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD | Tickets
Tickets:
Full Price £10
Under 18s Free
Programmes £6 buy in advance for collection at box office
See full schedule below
Two Days of Performances
37 Wind Bands & Big Bands from across the UK performing in two prestigious concert halls.
Special Guest Performances
The Central Band of the Royal Air Force
Explore The Trade Show
Instruments, music, merchandise and more!
Refreshments Available All Day
Enjoy food and drinks while soaking in the music.
Trade Stands
ABRSM (Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music) | BASBWE (British Association of Symphonic Bands & Wind Ensembles) | Bandleader Publications | British Army Music | Buffet Crampon | The Oboe Shop at Crowthers of Canterbury | D'addario | Dawkes Music & Windcraft | Henri SELMER Paris | Howarth of London | John Packer Ltd | Larch Music Publications | LeBlanc | Lindsay Music | National Youth Concert Band | National Youth Wind Orchestra | Paxman Musical Instruments Ltd. | Royal Air Force Music Service | Royal Marines Band Service | Royal Norther College of Music | Studio Music
Cafe 08:30 onwards | Bar 12:00 onwards
Trade Show (Upper & Lower Concourse) 09:30 - 16:30
Musicians from Central Band of The Royal Air Force (Mezzanine: Lower Concourse: 11:15; 15:15
NCBF 2026 National Festival | Saturday 11 April 2026
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
Concert Hall
Wind Bands
0930 Wrexham Concert Band (CWB) 40
1005 Huddersfield Wind Band (CWB) 55
1040 Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby Showband (SWB) 40
1115 University of Bristol Symphonic Winds (OWB) 40
1150 Newport Music Centre Wind Band (YWB) 60
1230 Central Band of the RAF + Presentation of Awards
1330 Newark & Sherwood Concert Band (CWB) 48
1405 Durham University Concert Band (OWB) 40
1440 Chiltern Concert Band (CWB) 38
1515 Kew Wind Orchestra (OWB) 35
1555 Central Band of the RAF + Presentation of Awards
1625 Staffordshire Community Wind Orchestra (CWB) 40
1700 Strathclyde University Concert Band (CWB) 60
1735 Stafford Grammar School Concert Band (SWB) 35
1810 Clyde Wind Ensemble (CWB) 50
1850 Central Band of the RAF + Presentation of Awards
Theatre
Big Bands
0915 Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby Jnr BB 19
0955 Warwick School Little Big Band (JBB) 20
1035 Barry Graham Big Band (SBB) 28
1120 Improvisation Session + Presentation of Awards
1250 Warwick School Jazz Lab (SBB) 15
1330 Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby Jazz B 24
1410 Stafford Grammar School BB (SBB) 16
1500 Improvisation Session + Presentation of Awards
NCBF 2026 National Festival | Sunday 12 April 2026
Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD
Concert Hall
Wind Bands
1005 Telford Concert Band (CWB) 30
1040 Barnsley Town Concert Band (YWB) 52
1120 Wrekin College Concert Band (SWB) 45
1155 Reading Senior Wind Band (YWB) 44
1230 Central Band of the RAF + Presentation of Awards
1325 Croydon Symphonic Band (CWB) 50
1400 Chiltern Music Academy Concert Band (YWB) 33
1435 Haberdashers’ Elstree Symphonic Winds (SWB) 55
1510 South Berks Concert Band (CWB) 38
1545 Stewarton Winds (CWB) 54
1620 Northamptonshire County Youth Concert Band (YWB 62
1700 Central Band of the RAF + Presentation of Awards
Theatre
Big Bands
0910 Altrincham Grammar School BB (SBB) 18
0950 Wrekin College Jazz Band (SBB) 27
1030 Northampton School for Boys BB (SBB) 19
1110 Haberdashers’ Elstree Big Band (SBB) 22
1200 Improvisation Session + Presentation of Awards
1320 Northamptonshire County YBB (YBB) 20
1400 St Dunstain’s College Big Band (SBB) 21
1440 Edinburgh Academy Big Band (SBB) 15
1520 Improvisation Session + Presentation of Awards