Music for All Announces Venue Change for 2026 Bands of America Nashville Regional Championship

Music for All has announced that the 2026 Bands of America Nashville Regional Championship, presented by Yamaha, will be relocated to Tucker Stadium on the campus of Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tennessee. The event will take place on Saturday, October 31.

Originally scheduled to be held at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, the decision to move the event follows extensive and ongoing negotiations regarding venue costs. Despite best efforts, Music for All determined that it is not financially feasible to present the event at Nissan Stadium or within other venues in the Nashville metropolitan area due to prohibitive expenses.

“The Nashville Regional Championship continues to see strong enrollment, reflecting the high level of enthusiasm and demand for a Bands of America event in the region,” said Dr. James Weaver, CEO and President of Music for All. “We are committed to delivering a high-quality championship experience, and this move allows us to provide the experience of which Bands of America is known.”

Music for All also expressed appreciation to Tennessee Tech University for its hospitality in welcoming the event to Cookeville. Located approximately 70 miles east of Nashville along Interstate 40, the campus provides a convenient and accessible alternative for participating ensembles and their supporters.

Additional event details, including performance schedules and ticket information, will be announced in the coming months.

See the 2026 Bands of America Championship schedule at marching.musicforall.org/schedule

Ten years ago, Ethan Trace was a high school tuba player in Kennesaw, Georgia. While in high school, he participated in Bands of America Super Regionals and the BOA Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade®.

Before leaving for California, Ethan connected with local Cobb County band kids also performing with the BOA Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade®. One of these performers was Meredith, a color guard captain at the rival high school. The two instantly connected, swapping band stories about traveling across the country, indoor seasons, and everything that comes with being a band kid. Once in California, their bond deepened as they attended rehearsals, leadership sessions, and special outings.

In the months following the BOA Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade®, Ethan and Meredith would hang out every weekend at winter guard shows. Eventually, Meredith went to college out of state, but that didn’t stop their friendship. The two started a new tradition of going to see movies like the Greatest Showman during the holiday breaks.

Now, Ethan and Meredith live in different states and are removed from the band world, but still remain close. Even though Ethan’s band days are behind him, he credits band with shaping him into the person he is today. He would not be as patient, as humble, or as good of a leader if not for his experiences at BOA.

To current and future band kids, Ethan had this to say: “To any current band/orchestra members, enjoy every moment while you can. At least 50% of my core memories came from marching band. Nothing feels quite as exhilarating as spending all that time preparing for a competition and creating that final product.”