Press Information | Brass Bands England

You can become a member of BBE either as an organisation or as an individual

Press Information

The latest EBBF news will be posted here, including press releases.

For information relating to the event please contact Clair Donnelly on clair@bbe.org.uk or 01226 771015.

The European Brass Band Festival is the world's leading brass band event, celebrating the music making that takes place in the 18 member countries that comprise the European Brass Band Association (EBBA). Formed in 1995, EBBA administers the European Brass Band Championships annually at venues around the continent. 

The 2022 event will take place from Thursday 28 April to Sunday 1 May. The Festival incorporates the European Brass Band Championship, consisting of Championship and Challenge sections. In addition, the weekend includes the European Youth Brass Band Contest, with the Development Section for Under 18s and Premier Section for under 25s, The European Composers Competition and, in 2022, a concert performance from the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain with The Band of HM Royal Marines.

The European Brass Band Festival was founded in 1978 at the Royal Albert Hall in London and it has since gone on to become the most important international brass band competition in the world, with bands from 18 countries competing for the title of European Brass Band Champion. In 2020, Brass Bands England was asked to host the 2022 event, which will be the first to take place following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, relaunching this international event in the cradle of the brass band community. 

The 2022 Festival will take place in Birmingham and will aim to celebrate the return of brass bands from both across the UK and Europe in a celebration of music. The compositions in the Composer Contest will be performed by the world famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band. 

EBBF Gala Concert 

The annual Gala Concert will take place on Sunday 1 May and will feature a unique musical collaboration between world number one ranked brass band and defending European Champion, Cory Band from Wales, and trumpeter, producer and content creator, Louis Dowdeswell, bringing some of the world’s finest brass musicians together for the first time. The evening will finish with Louis and his band playing for a celebration party in the new Symphony Hall foyer.. 

Brass Bands England 

The European Brass Band Festival 2022 is organised by a team from Brass Bands England, which is both the Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation for Brass Bands and the representative membership organisation for bands in England. Brass Bands England represents in excess of 550 bands across the country, covering over 15,000 individuals. BBE is a registered Charity in England and Wales Charity Number: 1148331.  For information relating to the event please contact Clair Donnelly on clair@bbe.org.uk or 01226 771015.

< Back to EBBF homepage