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The 172nd British Open Brass Band Championship:
An ICONIC CONTEST AT AN ICONIC VENUE
The British Open is the oldest and most prestigious brass band contest in the world where the very best bands compete to win its famous Gold Shield Trophy playing to a packed audience at Symphony Hall and a global live broadcast audience.
Date and Time: Saturday 12th September 2026 - 10am
Location: Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Competition Results
The British Open
The British Open is the oldest and most prestigious brass contest in the world.
Since 1853 it has represented the contesting pinnacle of the banding movement, its iconic Gold Shield Trophy engraved with the names of the winners who have made their mark on history.
The competition has also attracted some of the finest composers to write commissioned works for the event embracing tradition as well as innovation, technical virtuosity and lyrical beauty.
It is a combination between performers and music played out against the backdrop of one of the world’s finest concert venues at Symphony Hall, Birmingham, that has made the contest’s global reputation.
Past Winners
2025 – Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof David King)
2024 – Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Frederic Theodoloz)
2023 – Fodens (Russell Gray)
Click to View 2025 Results
Test Piece: Star Crossed Lovers (Stephen Roberts)
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts, Anne Crookston and David Hirst
Brighouse & Rastrick (Prof. David King) *
Brass Band Treize Étoiles (Frédéric Théodoloz)
Cory (Philip Harper)
Foden’s (Russell Gray)
Aldbourne (Glyn Williams)
Leyland (Daniel Brooks)
the cooperation band (Katrina Marzella-Wheeler)
KNDS Fairey (Philip Chalk)
Flowers (Paul Holland)
Whitburn (Luc Vertommen) **
Hammonds (Morgan Griffiths)
Grimethorpe Colliery (Michael Bach)
Tredegar (Ian Porthouse)
Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins) **
Carlton Main Frickley Colliery (Allan Withington)
Black Dyke (Prof. Nicholas Childs)
EverReady (David Morton)
Amersham (Paul Fisher)
Stanley Wainwright Memorial Trophy: Tom Hutchinson, Cornet (Cory)
Brian Evans Memorial Trophy for Best Soprano: Ashley Marston (Brighouse & Rastrick)
The Geoffrey Whitham Memorial Trophy for Best Euphonium: Chris Robertson (Brighouse & Rastrick)
Best Cornet: Tom Hutchinson, Cornet (Cory)
* Brighouse & Rastrick will receive an invitation from Brass Bands England to represent England at the 2027 European Championships in Montreux, Switzerland
** Oldham Band (Lees) and Whitburn are relegated to the Grand Shield
2026 Competing Bands
- Aldbourne
- Amersham
- Black Dyke
- Brighouse & Rastrick
- Carlton Main Frickley Colliery
- Cory
- EverReady
- Flowers
- Foden's
- Grimethorpe Colliery
- Hammonds
- KNDS Fairey
- Leyland
- Sydney City Brass
- the cooperation band
- Tredegar
- Brass Band Willebroek
- Milnrow
- Hepworth
Competition Results
Spring Festival
The bands competing at the Spring festival travel from throughout the United Kingdom to enjoy the high standards of music and the sociable atmosphere during the contest day.
Excellence is rewarded at the Spring Festival. The winner and runner-up at the Grand Shield are invited to compete at the British Open, whilst the Senior Cup and Senior Trophy also offer pathways to promotion.
Grand Shield
Past Winners
2026 – Milnrow (Christopher Binns)
2025 – EverReady (Stephen Roberts)
2024 – Oldham Band (Lees) (John Collins)
Senior Cup
Past Winners
2026 – Kirkintilloch (Martyn Ramsay)
2025 – Pemberton Old Wigan DW (T. Wyss)
2024 – Amersham (Paul Fisher)
Senior Trophy
Past Winners
2026 – Sandhurst Silver (Joshua Ruck)
2025 – Boarshurst Silver (Jamie Prophet)
2024 – Ebbw Valley (Gareth Ritter)
2026 Grand Shield
Test piece: Star Crossed Lovers (Stephen Roberts)
Adjudicators: Stephen Roberts; Anne Crookston
1. Milnrow (Christopher Binns)*
2. Hepworth (Ryan Watkins)*
3. Desford Colliery (Ian Porthouse)
4. Rothwell Temperance (David Roberts)
5. GUS Band (Christopher Bond)
6. Ebbw Valley (Matthew Rowe)
7. Friary Brass (Andrew Porter)
8. Camborne (Gareth Churcher)
9. Whitburn (Prof Nicholas Childs)
10. Ratby Co-operative (Glyn Williams)
11. Redbridge (Chris Bearman)
12. Stannington (Sam Fisher)
13. Northop Silver (Ben Dixon)
14. Pemberton Old Wigan DW (Thomas Wyss)
15. Fishburn (Chris Bentham)
16. St Dennis (Darren R. Hawken)
17. NASUWT Riverside (David Morton)**
18. Wantage Silver (Chris King)**
19. Elland Silver (David McGlynn)**
20. City of Bradford (Lee Skipsey)**
Best Soloist Award: Jack Wilson (soprano) – GUS
* Invitation to the 2026 British Open Championship
** Relegated to the 2027 Senior Cup
2026 Senior Cup
Test Piece: Ballet for Band (Joseph Horovitz)
Adjudicators: David Hirst; Lt Col. Lauren Petritz-Watts
1. Kirkintilloch (Martyn Ramsay)*
2. Rainford (Adam Taylor)*
3. Tongwynlais Temperance (Owen Farr)*
4. East London Brass (Jayne Murrill)*
5. Shepherd Group Brass (Richard Wilton)
6. Boarshurst Silver (Martyn Evans)
7. Verwood Concert Brass (Kevin Smith)
8. Haverhill Silver (Paul Filby)
9. Derwent Brass (Jack Capstaff)
10. Thundersley (Melvin White)
11. Easington Colliery (Graeme Tindall)
12. Unite the Union (Jonathan Beatty)
13. Skelmanthorpe (Jonathan Bates)
14. Enderby (Gareth Westwood)
15. Wingates (Matthew Ryan)
16. Dalmellington (Chris Shanks)
17. Tylorstown (Andrew Jones)
18. Woodfalls (Michael Fowles)
19. Marsden Silver (Leigh Baker)
20. Ashton-under-Lyne (Paul Lovatt Cooper)
Best Soloist Award: Liv Richardson (flugel) – Rainford
* Promoted to Grand Shield
2026 Senior Trophy
Test Piece: Un Vie de Matelot (Robert Farnon)
Adjudicators: Alan Morrison; Andrea Price
1. Sandhurst Silver (Joshua Ruck)*
2. Sovereign Brass (David Maplestone)*
3. Unite Scotland Kinneil (Allan Ramsay)*
4. Yorkshire Imperial (Ian McElligott)*
5. Roche Brass (Matt Green)
6. Eccles Borough (Mareika Gray)
7. Longridge (Mark Peacock)
8. Newstead Brass (Martin Heartfield)
9. City of Hull (Danny Brooks)
10. Newtongrange Silver (Anne Crookston)
11. Dalkeith & Monktonhall (James Chamberlain)
12. Brunel Brass (Daniel Hall)
13. Parc & Dare (Chris Turner)
14. Pontardulais Town (Gary Davies)
15. Haydock (Mark Quinn)
16. Lydbrook (David Barringer)
17. Goodwick (Joshua Ruck)
18. City of Cardiff (M1) (Rob Westacott)
19. Tyldesley (Neil Samuel)
20. Filton Concert Brass (Craig Williams)
Best Soloist Award: Andrew Ashworth (soprano) – Sandhurst Silver
* Promoted to Senior Cup
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