Tickets for UniBrass 2026 Contest and Gala Concert Launched

Get Your Tickets to the 2026 UniBrass Contest and Gala Concert Starring Louis Dowdeswell

The UniBrass Foundation has announced that tickets have been released for its 2026 Unibrass Contest and Gala Concert.

The annual entertainment contest will see over twenty university bands from across the country return to South Wales and descend on Newport’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on Saturday 14th February to perform programmes, which always promise to be filled with humour, storytelling and musical talent. 

Unibrass will also be presenting a one-of-a-kind Gala Concert to close out the day, headlined by world-famous trumpet soloist, Louis Dowdeswell, alongside City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 Brass Band, in an exciting evening of music, curated by UniBrass alumnus Alex Walton. 

UniBrass Contest 2026

Over 800 of the country’s best young brass musicians will head to the International Convention Centre, Wales to compete across two sections: the UniBrass Shield and the UniBrass Trophy. However, it’s not just the coveted UniBrass Trophy and Shield that are up for grabs, with participants also aspiring towards a variety of prizes, including Best Student Conductor and Best Solo/Feature. The competition is sure to be fierce, so you don’t want to miss it!

After their rapturous reception following their performance at the 2025 UniBrass results ceremony, the South Wales Youth Brass Band will be returning to open the results ceremony at the 2026 contest. A spokesperson for the South Wales Youth Brass Band said:

“Our members tell us one of the most memorable events of 2025 was performing at UniBrass. UniBrass is a very special event with an amazing atmosphere. The welcome and encouragement we received from the audience last year was phenomenal and we can’t wait to do it all again!”

UniBrass Gala Concert Featuring Louis Dowdeswell

The contest will be followed by a superb Gala Concert, headlined by internationally acclaimed trumpet soloist, Louis Dowdeswell, alongside the City of Cardiff (Melingriffith) M1 Brass Band. 

Louis, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, has performed with artists, such as Michael Bublé, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Robbie Williams and his Louis Dowdeswell Big Band has attracted millions of listeners worldwide. 

Lia Teague, the 2026 UniBrass Gala Coordinator, said this about the event: 

“We are all so excited to bring together such brilliant musicians, and to put on a gala concert to cater to many different tastes! We’ll go from traditional brass band music from M1, to top hits from Rock the Mike. Combining this with a world-class trumpet soloist in Louis, and UniBrass winning alumnus Alex - we can’t wait to share it with you! It’s definitely not one to miss!”

Get Your Tickets Now!

It’s set to be an incredible event and you have the opportunity to secure yourself a discount on the Gala and Contest with a joint ticket deal from just £31.49 for both events. 

Tickets to both the Contest and the Gala Concert are available now on the UniBrass website: https://www.unibrass.co.uk/event-details/unibrass2026

Can’t make the event in person? The UniBrass livestream will showcase the day’s events, with stream passes starting from £12.49, which can be purchased here: https://www.unibrass.co.uk/watch

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