Seven legendary nights: the WMC 2026 concert series
Between 9 July and 2 August 2026, Kerkrade will be all about the World Music Contest for four weekends straight. Alongside the competitions, where the world's best compete for the title, WMC is presenting a world-class concert series for this anniversary year: seven evenings with international top ensembles, each with a programme celebrating their country's musical identity. From Belgian precision to French elegance, from Dutch power to a legendary brass finale.
Below is the full overview, including the programme for each evening and a direct link to tickets.
Brass Gala Concert — Monday 13 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Brassband Willebroek (Belgium) & Cory Band (Wales)
The concert series kicks off with an evening of pure brass at the highest level. The now-legendary Brass Gala Concert promises to be a true treat this year: Brassband Willebroek (current Belgian, European and World Champion) and the innovative Cory Band first go head to head in the Concert Division Brass Band, before joining forces on stage for an unforgettable evening of brass band music.
Programme
Brassband Willebroek — conductor: Frans Violet
- Song t(w)o the North — Lode Violet
- For the Beauty of Life — Stijn Roels (soloist: Tim De Maeseneer, tenor horn)
- Evolution — Philip Sparke
- Baritone Concerto (mov. 2 & 3) — Martin Ellerby (soloist: Thibaut De Bondt, baritone)
- Hommage à Adolphe Sax — Jan Van der Roost
- Cuba Libre — Stijn Aertgeerts
The Cory Band — conductor: Philip Harper
- Anno 1920 — Philip Harper
- Napoli — Herman Bellstedt (soloist: Kyle Lawson, cornet)
- Suo Gân (from A Celtic Suite) — Philip Sparke
- Kopanitsa — Andrew Baker (soloist: Darcy Beck, percussion)
- Samba de Haps — Mark Taylor, arr. Harper
- Leona — Leo Zimmerman (soloist: Brett Baker, trombone)
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom — John Williams, arr. Ray Farr
Massed Band: Brassband Willebroek & The Cory Band
- The Bombardier — T.J. Powell
- Elegy (from A Downland Suite) — John Ireland
- I Want to Break Free — John Deacon, arr. Harper
Get tickets for Brass Gala Concert
German Night — Wednesday 15 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Musikkorps der Bundeswehr (Germany)
Under the banner ‘Best of European Wind Bands’, WMC proudly welcomes the Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, the flagship of German military music. This prestigious symphonic wind orchestra is based in Siegburg and has a tradition dating back to 1957. Its repertoire is remarkably versatile: from classical masterworks and marches to original compositions and modern arrangements.
Programme — conductor: Lieutenant Colonel Timor Oliver Chadik
- Deutsche Nationalhymne — Joseph Haydn
- Königsmarsch — Richard Strauss, arr. Guido Rennert
- Ouvertüre für Harmoniemusik op. 24 — Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, arr. Timor Oliver Chadik
- Bacchanale op. 20 — Rolf Rudin
- Sinfonie in B — Paul Hindemith
Intermission
- Weiter, immer weiter!? (world premiere) — Hubert Hoche
- Lohengrin, Konzertante Fantasie für sinfonisches Blasorchester — Richard Wagner, arr. Guido Rennert
Belgian Night — Thursday 16 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides (Belgium)
An evening celebrating the rich tradition of Belgian wind music. The Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides combines tradition, precision and musicality in a characterful programme spanning historic marches and symphonic works. A particular highlight: the orchestra brings along world-renowned clarinet soloist Annelien Van Wauwe for this performance.
Programme — conductor: Ivan Meylemans
- Brabançonne — François Van Campenhout
- Overture for Band — Frédéric Devreese
- Danse Funambulesque — Jules Strens
- War Concerto — Dirk Brossé (soloist: Annelien Van Wauwe, clarinet)
Intermission
- Vrolijke Ouverture — Marcel Poot
- Colores — Jan Van der Roost
- Impromptu — August De Boeck
- La Grande Moustache — Robert Groslot
- Orgia — François Glorieux
- Mars der Belgische Parachutisten — Pierre Leemans
Dutch Night — Monday 20 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Royal Netherlands Navy Band (Netherlands)
The Royal Netherlands Navy Band brings an impressive programme full of Dutch compositions, showcasing the power, precision and musicality this orchestra is known for. The undisputed highlight of the evening: trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann, flown in specially from the United States, performs the European premiere of a trumpet concerto by composer Johan de Meij.
Programme — conductor: Major Erik van de Kolk
- Wilhelmus — Traditional
- Piet Hein Rhapsodie — Peter van Anrooy
- Trident Rhapsody — Dennis Hazenoot (soloists: Robbert Vos, Rodin Rosendahl and Gerbrich Greijdanus, euphonium)
- Op hoop van zegen — Rogier van Otterloo, arr. Ton van Grevenbroek
- The Girl with a Pearl Earring (world premiere) — Zoran Rosendahl
Intermission
- Poème Symphonique — Rob Goorhuis
- Leaves of Grass (European premiere) — Johan de Meij (soloist: Jens Lindemann, trumpet)
- Destino: ¡Tango! (Homage to Astor Piazzolla) — Willem van Merwijk
International Conductors Contest Final — Wednesday 22 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Royal Military Band Johan Willem Friso (Netherlands)
Since 1970, the Conductors Contest has been a fixture of WMC: the international stage for young conducting talent. From 45 applications, 16 conductors from 11 countries were selected for this edition. In the final, three finalists each conduct the Royal Military Band ‘Johan Willem Friso’ in original compositions for wind orchestra before the intermission. After the break, the orchestra performs a symphonic programme under the baton of Major Frans-Aert Burghgraef. By the end of the evening, it will be revealed who takes home the coveted Golden Baton.
Finalists and participating conductors:
António Novais (CH), Jen-Jen Liu (DE), Rafael Grau (ES), Sergi Rodrigo Delgado (ES), Xavier Kuipers (NL), Sander Van Dorst (NL), Tiago Brás (PT), Yuk-Chuen Yip (HK), Joris Rompen (BE), Wouter Versavel (BE), Chikako Mochimaru (JP), Maxime Maurer (FR), Xianyi Ji (CN), Hardy Li (NL), Fabio Turra (IT), Stephen Biebuyck (BE)
Get tickets for the Conductors Contest Final
Italian Night — Thursday 23 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Banda dell’Esercito Italiano (Italy)
Step into the world of Italian wind music. The Banda dell’Esercito Italiano, the official band of the Italian Army, brings a rich and expressive programme full of Italian masterworks, blending passion, tradition and musical grandeur.
Programme — conductor: Maggiore Filippo Cangiamila
- Il Canto degli Italiani — Michele Novaro
- Nabucco, sinfonia — Giuseppe Verdi, arr. Franco Cesarini
- Concerto per Flicorno basso — Amilcare Ponchielli, arr. Emiliano Gusperti (soloist: 1st Lieutenant Giuliano Cerbarano, euphonium)
- A Tubo!... — Ernesto Paolo Abbate, arr. Salvatore Farina
- Huntingtower — Ottorino Respighi, arr. Filippo Cangiamila
- Al Piemonte — Carlo Alberto Pizzini, arr. Filippo Cangiamila
Intermission
- New World Processional Triumphal March — Pietro Mascagni, arr. Filippo Cangiamila
- Marsia, danze per banda — Amleto Lacerenza, arr. Salvatore Farina
- The Eternal City, suite — Pietro Mascagni, arr. Filippo Cangiamila
- L’altro Ennio, on Ennio Morricone’s Themes — Ennio Morricone, arr. Filippo Cangiamila
French Night — Monday 27 July, 20:00, Rodahal
Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine (France)
A return with true grandeur: the world-renowned Orchestre de la Garde Républicaine, founded in 1848, brings a refined programme showcasing the distinctive French sound — elegant, transparent and polished.
Programme — conductor: Lieutenant Colonel Bastien Stil
- La Marseillaise — Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
- Ouverture Le Carnaval Romain — Hector Berlioz
- Le Chant des ténèbres — Thierry Escaich (soloist: Christian Wirth, saxophone)
- Daphnis et Chloé: Suite No. 2 — Maurice Ravel
Intermission
- Dionysiaques — Florent Schmitt
- Rhapsodie pour clarinette — Claude Debussy (soloist: Amaury Viduvier, clarinet)
- Cheval de Feu (world premiere) — Frédéric Unterfinger
- Ikiru Yorokobi — Roger Boutry
Legendary closer: German Brass — Thursday 30 July, 20:00, Rodahal
German Brass (Germany)
The WMC 2026 concert series closes in style. With more than fifty years at the top of their game, the world-famous eleven-piece ensemble German Brass delivers an evening full of virtuosity, precision and musical versatility under the motto ‘Around the World’.
Programme
The first half builds a bridge to the European tradition, with works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Georg Philipp Telemann and Giuseppe Verdi in exclusive arrangements for brass ensemble.
After the intermission, the ensemble breaks down every genre boundary: from the drive of the big band era to the passion of Argentine tango, from a Viennese Strauss polka to sounds from around the world — a whirlwind journey through music history.
Tickets and programme
Tickets for all concerts, contests and side programming at WMC 2026 can also be found via the WMC agenda. Please note: a number of concerts and venues are already (almost) sold out — sign up for the waiting list so you don't miss out.
WMC 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the World Music Contest, with participants from dozens of nationalities across five continents.