The European Brass Band Association has confirmed the line-up of competing bands that will perform at the 2026 European Championships in Linz.
Championship Section:
The Blue Riband Championships Section contest will see 15 bands take to the stage at the Brucknerhaus on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May — led by defending champion Brassband Willebroek of Belgium.
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.
Speaking to 4BR, EBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg said: "We have a strong line up of bands that will ensure an exciting event for the audience in the hall and for those who will follow the live stream thanks to our partners World of Brass."
We have a strong line up of bands that will ensure an exciting event for the audience in the hall and for those who will follow the live stream thanks to our partners World of Brass EBBA President, Ulf Rosenberg
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
