The Midwest Pipe Band Association

Contests 2026

MWPBA 2026 Regular Season Contests and Events

All MWPBA sanctioned contests are open to bands and soloists with membership in good standing with the MWPBA, any association with reciprocal membership agreement within ANAPBA, or any other association properly recognized by the MWPBA Advisory Board.

Champion Supreme points are awarded only to MWPBA member bands, drum corps and MWPBA individual members in regular season competitions with official sanctioned status. Events at Champion Supreme games are awarded double points. Where multiple band events are offered, points and prize money is awarded based on the aggregate result.

New in 2025, there is now a Champion Supreme Drum Corps award for each grade, in addition to the Champion Supreme Band award. The Solo Champion Supreme awards remain for each music discipline in each grade.
The music requirements for each band contest is shown, either
  • QMM – Quick March Medley
  • MSR – March, Strathspey, and Reel
  • Medley – Timed Medley

All contests and events are run in accordance with current MWPBA Rules.

Entry forms are on the MWPBA home page, and CONTESTS menu. Late entries will be permitted for 7 days after the deadline, with a late fee assessed.

Note that “travel money” is no longer paid for band contests.

Orders of play will be posted on mwpba.org about one week before each contest.

The band, quartet, and solo events offered at each contest is after the list of games.

 

Contest Host Games and Event Information
Terry McHugh Memorial
Saturday, March 21, 2026
On-time entry by Sunday, February 22(Late entry until Sunday, March 1)

Terry McHugh Memorial Amateur Piping

Park Ridge Presbyterian Church

1300 W. Crescent Ave. Park Ridge, IL

Amateur Grade Solo Contest:
G1 MSR – Piobaireachd
G2 2/4 March – S/R – Piobaireachd
G3 2/4 March – S/R – Piobaireachd
G4 Jr. & Sr. 2/4 March – S/R – Piobaireachd
G5 Jr. & Sr. 2/4 March
Ohio Indoor
March 27, 28, 2026
On-time entry by Sunday, March 1(Late entry until Sunday, March 8)

2026 Ohio Scottish Game Indoor Competition

College of Wooster Scheide Music Hall

525 E. University Street, Wooster, OH

https://ohioscottishgames.com/indoor-competition

Open Grade, Amateur Solo, and Band contests
Open piping on Friday night
G2 & G3 MED/MSR – G4 Medley – G5 QMM
All Solo events including bass & tenor
Open piping & snare prize money = $100, $75, $50
No prize money for bands
P/M Ian Swinton Open
Saturday, May 2, 2026
On-time entry by Sunday, April 5(Late entry until Sunday, April 12)

P/M Ian Swinton Open

Park Ridge Presbyterian Church

1300 W. Crescent Ave. Park Ridge, IL

Open Solo MSR and Piobaireached
St. Louis

Saturday, May 16, 2026
Friday evening, May 15, 2026
(Open Grade Piping/Piobaireachd)

On-time entry by Sunday, April 26

(Late entry until Sunday, May 3)

St. Louis Highland Games

Schroeder Park,
359 Old Meramec Station Road, Manchester, MO

https://stlouis-scottishgames.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piobaireachd = $150 – $100 – $50
MSR = $150 – $100 – $50
H/J = $75 – $50 – $30
6/8 March = $75 – $50 – $30
Snare Drumming (per event) = TBD

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1400 – $1200 – $1000 – $800
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1200 – $1000 – $800 – $600
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1000 – $900 – $800 – $700
G5 QMM = $400 – $350 – $300 – $250
Alma

Saturday, May 23, 2026

On-time entry by Sunday, May 3

(Late entry until Sunday May 10)

US Open Pipe Band Championship

Alma Highland Festival (Saturday)

Alma College,
Alma, MI

http://www.almahighlandfestival.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piping, Light Music (per event) = $100 – $75 – $50
Piobaireachd = $100 – $75 – $50
Snare Drumming (per event) = $100 – $75 – $50

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G1 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1400 – $1300 – $1200 – $1000
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1000 – $900 – $800 – $600
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $800 – $700 – $600 – $400
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $600 – $500 – $400 – $200
G5 QMM = $400 – $300 – $200 – $100

Milwaukee

Saturday, June 6, 2026

On-time entry by Sunday, May 17

(Late entry until Sunday, May 24)

Milwaukee Highland Games

Croatian Park,
9100 S. 76th Street, Franklin, WI

https://milwaukeehighlandgames.org/

MWPBA Standard Sanctioned
Amateur Solo and Band contests (no Quartets)

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G3 MSR = $500 – $400 – $300 – $200
G4 MED = $400 – $300 – $200 – $100
G5 QMM = $300 – $200 – $150 – $100

Chicago

Friday, June 12, 2025
(all solos)
 
Saturday, June 13
(bands)

On-time entry by Sunday, May 24

(Late entry until Sunday, May 31)

Midwest Pipe Band Championship

Chicago Scots Scottish Festival and Highland Games

DuPage County Fairgrounds,
Wheaton, IL 60187

https://chicagoscots.org/festival/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests
Open Grade Piping, Piobaireachd, and Snare solo contests

Open Grade Solo Contest Cash Awards:
Piping, Light Music (per event) = $100 – $75 – $50
Piobaireachd = $100 – $75 – $50
Snare Drumming (per event) = $100 – $75 – $50

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G1 MED/MSR Aggregate = $4500 – $4000 – $3000 – $2000
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $3500 – $2500 – $1500 – $800
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1800 – $1000 – $800 – $500
G4 MED = $1200 – $800 – $500 – $300
G5 QMM = $500 – $400 – $300 – $200 

Ohio
June 26, 27, 2026

On-time entry by Sunday, May 31

(Late entry until Sunday, June 7)

Ohio Scottish Games & Festival

Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds
164 Eastland Road, Berea, OH

https://ohioscottishgames.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2  = $1,200 – $1,000 – $800 – $600 – $500
G3 = $800 – $700 – $600 – $450 -$350
G4 = $650 – $550 – $500 – $350 – $250
G5 = $450 – $400 – $350 – $250 – $150

Minnesota

Saturday July 18, 2025

On-time entry by Sunday, June 29

(Late entry until Sunday, July 6)

Minnesota Scottish Fair and Highland Games

Macalester College,
1600 Grand Ave., St Paul, MN

https://www.mnscottishfair.org/

MWPBA Standard Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $600 – $500 – $400 – $300
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $500 – $400 – $300 – $200
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $400 – $300 – $200 – $100
G5 QMM = $300 – $200 – $150 – $100

Wisconsin

Saturday, September 5, 2026

On-time entry by Sunday, August 9

(Late entry until Sunday, August 16)

Mid America Pipe Band Championships

Wisconsin Highland Games

Waukesha County Expo Center,
1000 Northview Rd, Waukesha, WI

https://www.wisconsinscottish.org/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Band contests

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MSR = $1000 – $900 – $800 – $600
G3 MED = $800 – $700 – $600 – $400
G4 MSR = $600 – $500 – $400 – $300
G5 QMM = $400 – $300 – $200 – $100

Scotfest

Saturday, September 19, 2026

On-time entry by Sunday, August 30

(Late entry until Sunday, September 6)

 American Grade 5 Pipe Band ChampionshipOklahoma ScotFestCentral Park,
1500 S. Main St, Broken Arrow, OKhttps://okscotfest.com/

MWPBA Champion Supreme Sanctioned
Amateur Solo, Quartet, and Grade 2 -5 Band contests

Band Contest Cash Awards:
G2 MED/MSR Aggregate = $1000 – $900 – $800 – $600
G3 MED/MSR Aggregate = $800 – $700 – $600 – $400
G4 MED/MSR Aggregate = $600 – $500 – $400 – $200
G5 QMM = $400 – $300 – $200 – $100

The band events offered at each contest are as follows:

BAND Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio  Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago   Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G1 MSR Y Y
G1 MED Y Y
Grade 2 Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago  Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G2 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 MED Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 3 Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G3 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 MED Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 4 Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G4 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 MED Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Grade 5 Ohio (indoor) St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago  Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G5 QMM Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

The quartet events offered at each contest are as follows:

QUARTET St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Grade 1 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G1 MSR Y
G1 MED
Grade 2 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G2 MSR Y Y
G2 MED Y Y Y
Grade 3 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G3 MSR Y Y
G3 MED Y Y Y
Grade 4 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G4 MSR Y Y Y
G4 MED Y Y
Grade 5 St Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
G5 QMM Y Y Y Y Y Y

The solo events offered at each contest are as follows:

 SOLOS Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Piping – Light Music Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open MSR Y (Fri) Y (Fri) Y Y Y
Open H/J Y (Fri) Y (Fri) Y Y Y
Open 6/8 Y (Fri) Y (Fri) Y Y Y
G1 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G1 H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G1 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 Jig Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 Sr. 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 Sr. S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 Jr. 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 Jr. S/R Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G5 Sr. 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G5 Jr. 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Practice Chanter 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Piobaireachd Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open Piobaireachd Y Y (Fri) Y Y Y
G1 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 Piobaireachd Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Snare Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Open MSR Y Y Y Y Y
Open H/J Y Y Y Y Y
G1 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G1  H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G2 H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G3 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G4 6/8 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
G5 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Tenor Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Adv. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Adv. Solo H/J Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Int. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nov. Solo 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Beginning Tenor Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Bass Ohio (indoor) St. Louis Alma Milwaukee Chicago Ohio Minnesota Wisconsin Scotfest
Adv. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Int. Solo MSR Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Nov. Solo 2/4 Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y