Location
Youth Champs 2026 – King Edward’s School, Birmingham | Saturday 28 March 2026
The 2026 event will take place at King Edward's School in Birmingham (Edgbaston Park Rd, Birmingham B15 2UA) on Saturday 28 March. Participation is open to youth bands of all levels in both competitive and non-competitive sections.
Register your band via the Youth Champs 2026 registration page.
What's it all about
The National Youth Brass Band Championships of Great Britain (Youth Champs) is a celebration of youth brass banding across the UK. It brings together young musicians for a day of performance, learning, and inspiration. Whether you’re a player, conductor, parent, or supporter, there’s something to enjoy, from the buzz of stepping on stage to the joy of discovering new music and meeting fellow brass enthusiasts.
Youth Champs is organised by Brass Bands England (BBE) – the national body for brass bands. We create a safe, fair, and inspiring environment for all participants, while promoting excellence, creativity, and enjoyment in youth brass banding.
Why enter Youth Champs?
Bands who register benefit from much more than the performance itself:
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Performance opportunity – Play on a professional stage, with full event support and an appreciative audience.
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Adjudicator feedback – Receive constructive comments from experienced adjudicators to help your band grow.
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Listening opportunity – Hear other youth bands from across the country, picking up new repertoire ideas and inspiration.
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Networking – Meet other young players, bands, conductors, and supporters in a friendly, national setting.
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Workshops & learning sessions (TBC) – Extra opportunities for players to develop skills beyond the contest stage.
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Trade stands – Explore the latest instruments, music, and accessories from leading suppliers.
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Certificates and awards – Every band receives recognition for their performance, with trophies in competitive sections.
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Profile and publicity – Be featured in BBE and wider press coverage of the event.
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A day out for the whole band – An unforgettable shared experience that strengthens band identity and enthusiasm.
Register for Youth Champs 2026 now to secure your band’s place at the biggest celebration of youth brass banding in Great Britain — and give your players a day packed with music, inspiration, and memories.
Contest sections
In 2026, bands will perform in four different ‘Sections’:
Showcase Section
This non-competitive section offers bands a friendly space to perform without the pressure of adjudication. Bands may present a 10-minute programme, extendable to 15 minutes with prior approval.
Performance Section
This section gives young musicians their first experience of competitive performance in a supportive and flexible environment.
Challenge Section (NEW FOR 2026)
The Challenge Section bridges the gap between entry-level competition and the elite Championship Section, offering bands the opportunity to take the next step in their musical journey.
For 2026, bands will perform one challenging work from a pre-selected list as part of a well-rounded programme, with the Section overall encouraging a gradual shift towards more traditional instrumentation and repertoire, while still allowing creativity through own-choice pieces.
From 2027 onwards, bands participating in this section will also be asked to feature at least one student-composed or arranged work, or one piece led by a student conductor.
With its focus on technical ability, imaginative programming and musical exploration, the Challenge Section truly lives up to its name – broadening horizons and pushing bands to reach new heights.
Championship Section
This top-level Section is aimed at youth bands prepared for a high standard of performance, providing a pathway to adult or university banding.
Important dates
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Monday 8 September 2025 – Applications open (entry fee and estimated player numbers required)
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Monday 1 December 2025 – Applications close
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Saturday 28 March 2026 – Contest day
Rules and information packs
The Pre-Entry Information Pack and Competitors Pack, which includes the aims and rules, are both available to download from the Band Information page.
Please note that there has been a rule change (as of 21 November) to apply to the 2025 and 2026 Youth Champs contests. You can read the full details here.
Contest entry
Entry to the contest will be opening on Monday 8 September 2025 for registration.
Visit the Youth Champs band information page for the latest information and instructions.
Tickets
Tickets are available on the day of the event.
On the day ticket prices
Adults: £16
Children under 18: £5
Children under 5: free
Advance tickets will be collected from the Box Office under the name registered at the point of order.
Please see the Ticket information page for full details.
Questions?
If you are an audience member please visit the Event Information page for details on travel, parking, catering, and ticket collection.
If you are a band registered to take part please visit the Band Information page which is updated regularly with resources and information.
For any further information regarding the championships, please contact the contest controller at: youthchamps@bbe.org.uk
To stay up-to-date with Youth Champs and other BBE news you can register for the Brass Bands England newsletter.