73rd Ulster Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships 2026

The 73rd Ulster Pipe Band and Drum Major Championships took place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 11am to 6pm, at Ward Park, 4–10 Gransha Road, Bangor, BT20 4TG. Admission was free.

Organiser: Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Ireland Branch (RSPBANI).
Contact: contests@rspbani.org.

General parking and shuttle buses

Ards and North Down Borough Council advertised a free courtesy shuttle every 15 minutes, 7:30am–9pm, from Balloo Park & Ride (Elim Church car park) to Bloomfield Shopping Centre and the city centre. The Bangor Hospital bus stop, beside Ward Park’s entrance, provided championship access.

Additional first-come parking was advertised 8am–7pm at:

• Glenlola Collegiate: 2 Valentine Road, Bangor BT20 4TH.
• Bethany Baptist Church: 27 Gransha Road, Bangor BT20 4TN.
• Ward Park Arras hardstanding: entry from Broadway, Bangor BT20 4RG.

Bangor Vibes travel information · City centre car parks. Displayed parking tariffs apply.

Accessible parking

70 Blue Badge spaces were advertised at Ward Park Arras Pavilion, via the Gransha Road entrance. Spaces required advance booking through the parking pass application form, allocated first come, first served until full.

Entry required both the unique parking pass and a valid Blue Badge belonging to an occupant of the vehicle. Passes were to be emailed at least one day before the event.

Band coaches, minibuses and motorhomes

Six coach/minibus spaces and 12 day motorhome spaces were advertised at Ward Park Arras hardstanding, via Broadway. Vehicles had to use their designated zones and pre-book through the parking pass application form. Passes were to be emailed at least one day before the event and required for entry.

No overnight motorhome parking was available. Local caravan and camping options.

Information for bands

Gazebos

Gazebos were permitted only in the designated practice area, away from the main event site and contest arenas, and required a Season 2026 Gazebo Permit. Entered bands that had already applied did not need to apply again; their gazebo parking passes were to be emailed one day before the event.

Season 2026 gazebo application. Bands were required to take gazebos down if organisers requested this for safety reasons.

Practice and tuning

Practice must not interfere with band or drum-major contest arenas or final tuning areas. Bands were instructed to sound only within the final tuning area and follow directions from RSPBA directors, stewards and branch officials.

Finale and parade

The finale was planned as a massed band advance playing “The Battle’s O’er”. Bands and drum majors were to prepare at the conclusion of competition; nominated lead bands would be informed by email.

Participants were required to follow Local Branch Rules 7.1 and 7.2 and RSPBA Rule 4.79. Drum-major flourishing was prohibited throughout the finale for safety reasons.

After the finale and prize giving, Ravara was scheduled to lead a parade from the event area along Gransha Road and Castle Street, finishing at Asda/Boots.