Since the first-time World Champion Boston Crusaders hoisted the Founders Trophy last August, the Drum Corps International community has been counting down the days until the start of the 2026 DCI Tour. Now with spring training camps across the country in full effect and corps itching to get back under the bright stadium lights, the long wait and off-season is almost complete.
This summer’s nationwide celebration of marching music excellence, featuring more than 75 events over the course of seven weeks, is close at hand. Opening weekend and the Road to Indianapolis driven by Yokohama Tire is ready to roll starting Friday, June 26.
DCI Tour Preview presented by Bands of America
- Friday, June 26
- Muncie, IN
The kickoff event of the 2026 DCI Summer Tour is a non-competitive showcase featuring Carolina Crown, The Cavaliers and All-Age Class corps Cincinnati Tradition joining the lineup for the first time. Attending fans will get the first look at all three productions for the 2026 tour and will also experience a special encore with the Bands of America Summer Camp Marching Band performing alongside Carolina Crown to conclude the event.
Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase
- Friday, June 26
- Moscow, ID
Santa Clara Vanguard will wrap its time at the University of Idaho — the corps’ spring training stomping grounds — with a very special community showcase. The free and open to the public event will also feature Open Class corps Gems and Columbians in the lineup. FloMarching’s cameras will be inside the Kibbie Dome, giving audiences across the country a first-look at what these corps are bringing to the field for the 2026 DCI Tour.
Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade
- Saturday, June 27
- Shelton, CT
The kickoff event for a huge swath of DCI’s All-Age Class corps, Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade also serves as a “home show” for the Connecticut Hurricanes. The event’s first block will feature an incredible lineup of senior corps grouped into DCI’s SoundSport Class including performances by North Star (celebrating 50 years since the organization’s founding in 2026), Crusaders Senior, Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni and CT Alumni.
The show then rolls into the debut of New London, Connecticut’s 7th Regiment, the lone Open Class corps in this lineup, before igniting an early season clash among the All-Age Class corps. Reading Buccaneers, Hawthorne Caballeros (kicking off their milestone 80th anniversary season) and Buschwackers all medaled in 2025. Along with the Hurricanes, this first foray into 2026 will be a great first indicator of how this summer’s competitive results may shake out.
Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration presented by Huntington Bank
- Saturday, June 27
- Alliance, OH
The Bluecoats will launch their 2026 campaign with a massive opening night and community performance exhibition. An all-Ohio, All-Age Class corps lineup takes the field first with the debuts of Columbus Saints and Rogues Hollow Regiment, before Cincinnati Tradition marches along for its second performance of the weekend.
Eclipse, making its debut as an Open Class affiliate, will also appear before giving way to a cavalcade of groups under the Bluecoats umbrella. This includes EN-CORPS by EN-RICH-MENT, the Bluecoats Alumni Legacy Arc, the Rhythm in BLUE SoundSport ensemble and students from The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp. Bluecoats will debut its yet-to-be announced 2026 production before a special encore performance triumphantly ends this Ohio-centric opening night.
Drums Along the Rockies
- Saturday, June 27
- Fort Collins, CO
One of the most anticipated events of opening weekend is one of DCI’s longest running competitions, Blue Knights’ “home show” and the first judged competition of the World Class Tour. Drums Along the Rockies returns to Fort Collins for a fourth-consecutive season to feature the debuts of Genesis, Troopers, Phantom Regiment (coming to Colorado for the first time since 2011), Blue Devils and the Denver-based Blue Knights. The night will also feature performances from Rocky Mountain Brassworks, the Blue Knights’ BKXperience student group and the Troopers Legacy Corps SoundSport ensemble.
Corps Encore
- Sunday, June 28
- Ogden, UT
As Phantom Regiment splits off to head back toward the Midwest, Genesis, Troopers, Blue Devils and Blue Knights will turn west for Sunday’s Corps Encore at Weber State University. The rematch from Drums Along the Rockies should offer an incredible finish to opening weekend and serve as a tone setter for the rest of the 2026 tour. Special to this event, keep an eye out for the Ogden’s very own Crosstown Big Band to kick off the show, and for “instant encores” from each World Class corps immediately after their performances.
