The European Brass Band Championships return to Austria with EBBA seeking to build further on the festival ethos that has underpinned its development since the return from Covid-19.
It first bore fruit in Birmingham in 2022, and although it has been repeated with varied success since, it now provides the established vision for EBBA’s event. In that respect Linz (above) could well provide a telling blueprint for its future direction of organisational travel.
The last time it was held here in 2010, Austria was keen to play its part in supporting EBBA’s ambitions, and whilst its own domestic banding base has grown slowly, it has done so solidly with a growing emphasis on youth development (with 3 bands in the European Youth Championships this year).
On the other hand, EBBA’s contest has somewhat super-sized.
Growth model
The Championship Section is now packed with 15 bands (there were 10 in 2010) to go with a Challenge Section (halved in size to 3), Youth Championships, Solo Championship, Gala Concert, European Youth Band, educational initiatives and local concerts.
EBBA can justifiably lay claim that their growth ‘model’, as EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg calls it, continues to enjoy a healthy musical appetite
EBBA can justifiably lay claim that their growth ‘model’, as EBBA President Ulf Rosenberg calls it, continues to enjoy a healthy musical appetite. Others may disagree, arguing that the event could do with a bit of a Mounjaro jab or two to rid itself of at least some weight.
Finance
EBBA’s finances can certainly afford to inject some targeted financial support for competing bands, as well as look more closely at prize money allocation. A new focus may well be required to address the contest scheduling and the role and relevance of the Challenge Section, as well as the costs of the ‘additional’ attractions such as the European Youth Band and the series of solo/composer/conductor competitions.
EBBA’s finances can certainly afford to inject some targeted financial support for competing bands, as well as look more closely at prize money allocation.
Those arguments may well be discussed once more at the EBBA delegate’s meeting and AGM over the weekend, but they are ones that haven’t been lost on Ulf Rosenberg (below) either.
Shared vision
However, even in using diplomatic language by saying that a “shared vision and compromise” can come through ‘grown up’ conversions to build “trust and understanding”, he knows EBBA holds the aces in his hand when he can back his arguments with the evidence that demand for tickets continues to far exceed supply for the main events (the main Brucknersaal seats 1,420).
Seen and heard
In addition, the vision of the skilled management team from the Upper Austrian Landesmusikschulwerk, with support from Amt der Oberosterreichischen Landesregierung, has made Linz into a hub of brass related musical activity in the days leading up to the contesting weekend. There is little doubt here that the European Championship will be seen as well as heard throughout the city over the next few days.
he knows EBBA holds the aces in his hand when he can back his arguments with the evidence that demand for tickets continues to far exceed supply for the main events
More importantly, a number of long-term deals with a growing raft of sponsors have been signed, with potential host nations said to be eagerly waiting their turn to welcome the EBBA entourage to their home cities in the years to come.
Rumours
In the last few years EBBA has welcomed a vibrant Lithuania banding movement into its fold, whilst Poland will proudly be represented for the first time his year with the appearance of Pacholski Malopolska Voivodeship in the Challenge Section.
No wonder then that the Swiss, backed by a refurbished Montreux Stravinsky Concert Hall (above) will be eager to ensure it attracts even more bands and hotel guests in 2027, whilst there is a rumour that the decision of Brass Bands England to withdraw from hosting the 2028 Championships may well give EBBA the opportunity to take up that particular challenge itself.
Musical culture
As Thomas Stelzer, the Governor of Upper Austria said in welcoming the event: “The 2026 European Brass Band Championships are more than just a competition. They are a celebration of musical culture.”
The 2026 European Brass Band Championships are more than just a competition. They are a celebration of musical culture
Meanwhile, the Mayor of the Provincial Capital of Linz, Dietmar Prammer added: “Events such as the European Brass Band Championships help position Linz as an open and high-quality cultural hub and further develop this role. They foster collaboration, facilitate new networks, and provide inspiration for future projects. This gives rise to interactions that have a lasting impact and deepen cultural connections in the long term.”
As ‘political-speak’ endorsements go, that tells you a great deal.
And in that respect the success of this year’s event could very well tell us more about what the future holds and the European Championships as it fast approaches its 50th anniversary.
Iwan Fox
4BR will of course be heading to Linz to cover the event with live commentary provided by Steven Mead, Patricio Cosentino and Anabel Voigt as well as links to our friends at Brass Band News in Switzerland.
4BR Editor Iwan Fox will be the host presenter for World of Brass as they bring you all the live-broadcast action over the full weekend, whilst images will be provided by photographer Craig Chapman.
Schedule: (all local time +1 hour GMT)
Thursday 23th April:
7.00pm:
Final of European Soloist Competition
Friday 24th April:
10.00am:
Opening Ceremony
Draw for EBBC Championship Section set piece and EBBC Challenge Section
1.15pm:
Composer’s talk
2.30pm:
EBBC Championship Section Set Piece
Saturday 25th April:
7.30am:
Draw for EBBC Championship Section Own- choice
9.00am:
EBBC Challenge Section
11.00am:
EBBC Championship Section Own choice
8.15pm:
Gala Concert and award ceremony
10.00pm:
Brass Party
Sunday 26th April:
8.00am:
EBBA General Meeting
9.00am:
EYBBC Development section
Noon:
EYBBC Premier section
4.30pm:
Farewell Concert followed by award ceremony
Competing bands
The Blue Riband Championship Section contest will see 15 bands take to the stage at the Brucknerhaus on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May.
Challenge Section:
Three bands will compete in the Challenge Section, with the Italians of Brass Band Wipptal based in the South Tyrol, joined by debutants Brass Band Musicalis Algrange from France and the first ever Polish representatives of Brass Band Malopolska Voivodeship.
European Youth Championships:
This year’s event will comprise 12 bands competing on Sunday 26th May.
Defending Development Section champion, Ytrebygda Skolekorps from Norway will be joined by compatriots Smoras Skolemusikk as well as Brass Band Aukstyn (Lithuania), Wardle Academy Youth Brass Band (England) and Junior Brass Band Oberosterreich (Austria).
Premier Section defending champion Hordaland Ungdomsbrassband from Norway will be challenged by Catch Basin Brass Band (Austria), Jugend Brass Band Oberosterreich (Austria), Liberty Brass Band Junior (Switzerland), Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris (Wales), Youth Brass 2000 (England) and The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark.
Championship Section:
3BA Concert Band (Erik Janssen) – Germany
Brass Band De Waldsang (Rieks van der Velde) - The Netherlands
Brass Band Oberosterreich (Gunther Reisegger) – Austria
Brass LT (Russell Gray) - Lithuania
Brassband Willebroek (Frans Violet) - Belgium
Concord Brass Band (Jesper Juul Windahl) - Denmark
Festival Brass Band (Guy Audenaert) - Belgium
Flowers (Paul Holland) - England
Gota Brass Band (Ryan Watkins) - Sweden
Hauts-de-France Brass Band (Luc Vertommen) - France
Italian Brass Band (Giuseppe Saggio) - Italy
Manger Musikklag (David King) - Norway
Tredegar (Ian Porthouse) - Wales
Valaisia Brass Band (Arsene Duc) - Switzerland
Whitburn Band (Nicholas Childs) - Scotland
Challenge Section:
Brass Band Musicalis Algrange (Sebastien Berettoni) - France
Brass Band Wipptal (Patrick Gruber) - Italy
Pacholski Polish Brass Band Malopolska Voivodeship (Slawomir Pacholski) - Poland
EYBBC - Premier Section:
Basin Brass Band (Georg Pranger) - Austria
Hordaland Ungdomsbrassband (Reid Gilje) - Norway
Jugend Brass Band Oberosterreich (Thomas Beiganz) - Austria
Liberty Brass Band Junior (Roman Ledergerber) – Switzerland
Seindorf Ieuenctid Beaumaris (Pete Cowlishaw) - Wales
The National Youth Brass Band of Denmark (Stig Maersk) - Denmark
Youth Brass 2000 (Chris Jeans) - England
EYBBC - Development Section:
Brass Band Aukstyn (Remigijus Vilys and Piet Visser) – Lithuania
Junior Brass Band Oberosterreich (Stefan Spieler) - Austria
Smoras Skolemusikk (Torstein T. Holmas) - Norway
Wardle Academy Youth Band (Bradley McCulloch) - England
Ytrebygda Skolekorps (Thor-Arne Pedersen) - Norway
