Program participation

​​​​​​​​​​Please review the Participation Guidelines​ for a complete overview of the 2026 program participation. 

Regional coordinators

If a school has any questions about the regional festivals, they should contact their fanfare regional coordinator directly via email.

Regional event schedule

Regional festivals

Regional festivals are held throughout May and June in various performance venues around the state.

Once nominations close, all schools receive further details regarding their regional festival via email from their Fanfare regional coordinator. Every nominated ensemble will be allocated a session time for their performance at their relevant regional festival. This will be communicated to the coordinating teacher from the school by the relevant regional festival coordinator.

It is the responsibility of the school's coordinating teacher to inform the various conductors, teachers and ensembles involved from their school of these details.

At the regional festivals, each ensemble performance will receive a written adjudication and certificate from an expert adjudicator. It is the role of the adjudicator to:

• provide positive and constructive feedback to the students and the conductor
• award each participating ensemble with a certificate at the end of their performance
• determine how many ensembles will perform and which ensembles will perform in the regional final.

Fees apply to all schools participating in Instrumental Fanfare. Travel and associated expenses for schools to attend the regional events must be covered by the school. 

Spirit of Fanfare Award  

The Spirit of Fanfare Award is presented at the adjudicator's discretion to acknowledge exceptional achievement within Instrumental Fanfare's early divisions. Designed for ensembles in Divisions 2, 3 or 4, the award recognises groups not selected to progress to regional finals who demonstrate outstanding musicianship, ensemble cohesion, and commitment. 

The adjudicators will present the award in consultation with the Fanfare Coordinator. The award is limited to a maximum of 2 per division, with a maximum of 6 per region. There is no requirement for adjudicators to allocate the full number of awards. The Spirit of Fanfare Award celebrates the dedication, excellence and enthusiasm that embody the true heart of the Fanfare program. ​

Regional finals

The regional finalists are the select group of eligible ensembles who gave the most exceptional performances across the regional festivals. These ensembles will be invited to perform at their respective regional final in June 2026.

All regional finalists will receive a second written adjudication and a framed regional finalist certificate. At each regional final, the adjudicators will award the most outstanding performance award/s for each region (max. 15 across the state).

After all regional finals have finished, the regional final adjudicators will convene to select up to 5 primary and up to 5 secondary ensembles from the most outstanding performance awardees (max. 15 across the state) at the regional finals. No more than one ensemble from any one school can be represented in the state final.

State finals

​The state finals will take place at the Queensland Conservatorium Theatre in Brisbane with evening performances on the following dates:

• primary state final: Thursday 13 August 2026
• secondary state final: Friday 14 August 2026

Schools invited to attend the state final concerts and are located more than 60 km from the Brisbane CBD, will receive a travel subsidy for up to 70 performers per ensemble. Eligible schools will also receive a travel subsidy for one teacher per 15 students, with a maximum of 5 teachers per ensemble.

All travel arrangements, including flights, accommodation, and transfers while in Brisbane, must be organised and paid for by the school. Any expenses exceeding the subsidy will also be covered by the school.​​

Downloadable certificates

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• Participation award - DOWNLOAD
• Bronze award - DOWNLOAD
• Silver award - DOWNLOAD
• Gold award - DOWNLOAD
• Platinum award - DOWNLOAD
  

• Participation award - DOWNLOAD
• Bronze award - DOWNLOAD
• Silver award - DOWNLOAD
• Gold award - DOWNLOAD
• Platinum award - DOWNLOAD