With the 2026 Regional Championships taking place over the next four weekends, the annual debate into the musical health of the contesting movement in the UK will once again be brought into focus.
This year 481 bands are scheduled to take part – a remarkable figure in many ways (up from 478 last year), especially given the struggles organisations faced when Covid-19 brought things to a standstill in 2020.
Yet despite the increase in numbers since the event returned in 2022, it still has not approached the figure of 494 that took part in the last full series in 2019 – and nowhere near the 577 that took part in 1992, when the ‘Areas’ underwent its last fundamental structural change.
Opinions and viewpoints
Opinions and viewpoints to what to do to safegurad the future are as varied and plentiful as ever (from own-choice selections and open adjudication to allowing no limit on performer numbers), but at its core is the numerical data that provides the stark reality of the situation – and which should surely dictate the arguments about the future direction of travel.
but at its core is the numerical data that provides the stark reality of the situation – and which should surely dictate the arguments about the future direction of travel.
Without seeming to be repeating the same thing again and again after another year of missed opportunity - the need for fundamental structural change to safeguard the event in the years to come is now more pressing than ever.
We may believe that we are combating the speed of inexorable glacial decline with some short-term increases in some sections, but the long-term evidence in numerical terms suggests otherwise. Slowly but surely, we are eroding away – and not just from the foundations up.
Changes
Kapitol Promotions has brought in changes to help bands compete at the Areas: Allowing bands in Sections 1 to 4 to borrow players and in revising registry and National Final qualification rules. However, these are mere sticking plaster remedies rather than the fundamental structural surgery that is now needed more than ever.
Slowly but surely, we are eroding away – and not just from the foundations up.
This article simply gives you the figures from the immediate period before and since the Covid hiatus.
In 2019, the last year in which the Area series was completed (2020 saw Covid related withdrawals and the London & SC Contest cancelled), 494 bands took part. In the first full year after the championships returned in 2022, many bands were themselves returning to full contesting health. As a result, 444 took part.
By 2023 that had gone up to 471 and by 2024 to 476, with an incremental increase the following year to 478 and again this year to 481.
What happened?
It appears to be good news. But what has happened to the majority of the 96 that have been lost since 1992 when the last major structural overhaul of the sections took place?
Just look at the figures and come to your conclusions. If you think everything is OK, then fine. If not, what is your answer?
Plenty to debate and ponder then as bands take to the various stages in Blackpool, Huddersfield, Bedworth, Perth, Torquay, Swansea, Durham and Stevenage over the next four weekends.
Just look at the figures and come to your conclusions. If you think everything is OK, then fine. If not, what is your answer?
Iwan Fox
The number of competing bands:
2026: This year's entry number
2025: Last year's series
2022: The first year back from the Covid-19 break
2019: The last complete year of the Regional Championship Series
| Championship | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | 11 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 13 | 75 |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 54 |
| Midlands | 12 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 69 |
| West of England | 12 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 75 |
| North | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 42 |
| Wales | 7 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 36 |
| Scotland | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 54 |
| London & SC | 11 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 76 |
| Total | 83 | 98 | 103 | 101 | 96 | 481 |
| Championship | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | 12 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 73 |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 54 |
| Midlands | 12 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 73 |
| West of England | 11 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 71 |
| North | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 40 |
| Wales | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 37 |
| Scotland | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 52 |
| London & SC | 12 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 78 |
| Total | 86 | 100 | 105 | 99 | 88 | 478 |
| Championship | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | 12 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 73 |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 49 |
| Midlands | 10 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 67 |
| West of England | 12 | 15 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 63 |
| North | 8 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 37 |
| Wales | 7 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 35 |
| Scotland | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 47 |
| London & SC | 12 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 73 |
| Total | 83 | 97 | 96 | 89 | 79 | 444 |
| Championship | First | Second | Third | Fourth | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West | 12 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 72 |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 54 |
| Midlands | 12 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 20 | 76 |
| West of England | 13 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 79 |
| North | 9 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 40 |
| Wales | 7 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 40 |
| Scotland | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 53 |
| London & SC | 12 | 15 | 18 | 15 | 20 | 80 |
| Total | 88 | 100 | 102 | 101 | 106 | 494 |
Total Comparison (2019-2026)
Regional recovery rate (2019 - 2026)
