2026 Youth in Music Marching Band Championships: Schedule and info

For 22 years, the Youth in Music Marching Band Championships has brought together high school marching bands from across Minnesota and the Upper Midwest. This year’s gathering on Saturday, Oct. 10, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis showcases 35-plus high school ensembles from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

"Marching band is an intensive activity through our schools that demand students learn discipline, cooperation, collaboration, competition and service leadership skillsets,” says Youth in Music founder Brent Turner. “The contemporary marching band student leaves high school with a wide array of competencies that they will need in today's real world."

Session I (full details)

Starting at 7 a.m., Session I features nine high schools competing at the Class A level. An exhibition by Hudson High School (Hudson, Wisconsin) is at 9:45 a.m. Class AA begins at 9:30 a.m. featuring eight high schools. St. Croix Central HIgh School (Hammond, Wisconsin) has an exhibition at 11:30 a.m., and the Class A and AA awards follow at 11:45 a.m.

In the afternoon, nine high schools take part in the Class AAA competition starting at 12:15 p.m. A pair of exhibitions begin at 2:30 p.m. featuring Thomas Edison High School (Minneapolis) and North Dakota State University (Fargo, North Dakota). Then, at 3 p.m., the five Class AAAA schools compete, including last year’s reigning champ, Rosemount High School. An exhibition by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Blugold Marching Band begins at 4:15 p.m.

Session II (full details)

Session II features the Youth In Music Championship, featuring the champion from each of the four classes and the next seven high-scoring bands from Session I. It runs from 7 p.m. until the 10:30 p.m. awards ceremony.

Tickets are available at the Youth In Music website.

“Youth in Music serves middle school, high school and college age students who participate in our Marching Band Championship event at US Bank Stadium,” Turner says. “These youth are the most talented and service leadership students you will find in our schools. Thank you to MyClassical for their loyal coverage of this event and supporting youth in music."

At the event, the YourClassical booth will share information for students who are interested in preparing an entry for the 2027 Karin Larson YourClassical Prize, which features a cash prize, recording session, and more.

After the event, we will share photos from the 2026 competition.

All photos by Jorge Valenzuela Mora and Todd Snover of Ceremony Photos, exclusively for YourClassical MPR, which does not make reprints available. To order official photos from the event, go to Ceremony Photos.

Youth in Music lineup

Youth in Music Marching Band Championships at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Oct. 10

Note: All are Minnesota high schools unless noted otherwise.

• Blaine: 7 a.m.

• Andover: 7:15 a.m.

• Hutchinson: 7:30 a.m.

• Osseo: 7:45 a.m.

• Lourdes: 8 a.m.

• Minnetonka: 8:15 a.m.

• Coon Rapids: 8:30 a.m.

• Anoka: 8:45 a.m.

• Harrisburg (S.D.): 9 a.m.

• Hudson (Wis., exhibition): 9:15 a.m.

• Sioux Falls O'Gorman (S.D.): 9:30 a.m.

• Baldwin - Woodville (Wis.): 9:45 a.m.

• Chippewa Falls (Wis.): 10 a.m.

• Onalaska (Wis.): 10:15 a.m.

• Sioux Falls Roosevelt (S.D.): 10:30 a.m.

• Waseca: 10:45 a.m.

• Hastings: 11 a.m.

• Champlin Park: 11:15 a.m.

• St. Croix Central (Wis., exhibition): 11:30 a.m.

• Class A and AA Awards: 11:45 a.m.

• Mankato Area 77 Lancers: 12:15 p.m.

• Grand Rapids: 12:30 p.m.

• River Falls (Wis.): 12:45 p.m.

• Lakeville South: 1 p.m.

• Farmington: 1:15 p.m.

• Brookings (S.D.): 1:30 p.m.

• Marshall: 1:45 p.m.

• Eden Prairie: 2 p.m.

  

• Irondale: 2:15 p.m.

• Thomas Edison (Minneapolis, exhibition: 2:30 p.m.

• North Dakota State University (N.D., exhibition): 2:45 p.m.

• Brandon Valley (S.D.): 3 p.m.

• Greendale (Wis.): 3:15 p.m.

• Sioux Falls Lincoln (S.D.): 3:30 p.m.

• Eastview: 3:45 p.m.

• Rosemount: 4 p.m.

• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, exhibition: 4:15 p.m.

• Class AAA and AAAA Awards: 4:30 p.m.