Although only one band can be crowned British Open Champion this weekend — getting a mention from the stage as one of the top-six finishers is always a marker of excellence to be proud of.
Last year the top-six was:
1. Brighouse & Rastrick
2. Brass Band Treize Etoiles
3. Cory
4. Foden's
5. Aldbourne
6. Leyland
However, there are also some historic top-six lists that any band or conductor should be proud to get into as well.
Most Wins
1. Black Dyke — 30 (last in 2014)
2. KNDS Fairey — 16 (last in 1998)
3. Foden's — 13 (last in 2023)
4= Brighouse & Rastrick — 8 (last in 2025)
4= Cory — 8 (last in 2019)
6= Besses o'th' Barn (last in 1982)
6 = Wingates — 7 (last in 1975)
Conductors with most victories
1. John Gladney (20)
2. William Halliwell (17)
3. Harry Mortimer (9)
4= David King (6)
4= Robert Childs (6)
4= Peter Parkes (6)
4= Alexander Owen (6)
Bands with most appearance
1. Black Dyke (122)
2. Wingates (91)
3= Foden's (85)
3= Besses o'th' Barn (85)
5. Brighouse & Rastrick (84)
6. KNDS Fairey (81)
Conductors with most appearances
1= John Gladney (39)
1= Alexander Own (39)
3. Williams Halliwell (37)
4. David King (34)
5. John Greenwood (32)
6. Nicholas Childs (31)
Tickets and Live Stream
Tickets for the 2026 British Open are available at:
https://bmusic.co.uk/events/the-172nd-british-open-brass-band-championship
Live stream coverage is available at:
https://thebritishopen.net/the-british-open-event/
