May 2026 | Simply Colorguard | DCI 2026 | Drum Corps International | Show Announcements | Color Guard
As the summer premiere gets closer, we are getting more peeks behind the curtain every single week. The 2026 DCI season kicks off June 26 in Muncie, Indiana, and between now and then, corps across all three classes will continue revealing what they’re putting on the field this summer.
Below is a running breakdown of every 2026 DCI show announcement made so far — World Class, Open Class, and All-Age — with what we know about each program’s concept. We’ll be updating this as more announcements come in, so bookmark it and check back.
World Class Show Announcements
Blue Devils — Repertoire
Concord, California
Announced literally HOURS before publishing this, the Blue Devils are giving us Hans Zimmer, classical chaos, and more on the field this summer. I can already feel that signature Blue Devils performance coming through the announcement!
Bluecoats — TBA
Canton, Ohio
We don’t have a program name YET, but we DO have selections from their show. They are playing “The Wheel Has Come Full Circle” by Evgueni Galperine, “Familiarity” by the Punch Brothers, “Ritual Being” by Pascal Le Boeuf, “Inhale Exhale” by Anna Meredith, “Don’t Look Down” by Christopher Cerrone, and “I’ve Seen All Good People” by Yes. Guesses on the show title are welcome below!
Boston Crusaders — TBA
Boston, Massachusetts
First-time DCI World Champions, The 2025 Boston Crusaders had one of the most complete seasons in the corps’ history, capping it all with a 98.425 at Finals. Now comes the second chapter. The Crusaders have not yet announced their 2026 show title, but the design team that built BOOM is still intact. Whatever they bring, DCI fans will be watching closely.
Carolina Crown — TBA
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Crown enters 2026 celebrating what has been quietly one of the activity’s most consistent runs — a Finals appearance every single year since 2003. The 2026 show title has not been announced yet, but no doubt that Crown’s color guard will once again be one of the primary storylines of the season.
Crossmen — A Side/B Side
San Antonio, Texas
The Crossmen announced their 2026 DCI program, titled A Side/B Side. The concept plays on the classic vinyl record format — the polished, radio-ready A-side versus the raw, experimental B-side — exploring the tension between what we show the world and what we keep to ourselves. Thematically rich territory for a color guard, and the kind of split-identity narrative that tends to produce memorable visual moments. I, for one, am excited to watch!
Genesis — Abstract
Austin, Texas
With some exciting selections like “Cry” by David Micic and “Spot a Fake” by Ava Max, “Abstract” is set to make a big impression this year. The Texas corps will be on the field at the season-opening Drums Along the Rockies on June 27.
Music City — Venomorphosis
Nashville, Tennessee
Music City announced their 2026 show title: Venomorphosis. The title blends venom and metamorphosis, and program coordinator Shane Gwaltney described it as a show about constant change — using the imagery of a snake’s ever-evolving life cycle as its central metaphor. “The hook is simple,” Gwaltney said. “We present who we are, we get bit by change, and then we evolve across the nine minutes of the show. We have trials. We shed what no longer serves us, and we emerge renewed.” Visually, Venomorphosis will lean into snake imagery (Reputation Era anyone?) — venom, molting, and shedding — with evolving uniforms, equipment, and props that change throughout the show.
Phantom Regiment — TBA
Rockford, Illinois
Phantom Regiment holds the record for the longest consecutive streak of Finals appearances in DCI history — now at 50 straight. The 2026 show title is not yet public, but Regiment’s guard remains one of the most emotionally evocative in the World Class field, year after year.
Santa Clara Vanguard — TBA
Santa Clara, California
SCV broke through to the bronze medal in 2025 after finishing sixth in 2024 — a significant upward move. Their guard work that season was praised for its maturity and restraint. Show title not yet announced, but soon to come!
Seattle Cascades — Against the Grain
Seattle, Washington
The Seattle Cascades announced their 2026 program, Against the Grain, described on the corps’ website as “a reimagining of the rebellious spirit of Pacific Northwest grunge — a daring celebration of youthful expression, anti-establishment identity, and found beauty in defying the expected.”
Spirit of Atlanta — TBA
Atlanta, Georgia
Spirit of Atlanta enters 2026 celebrating their 50th anniversary season — a milestone that executive director Jason Burns described in an open letter as the setup for something meaningful. A 50th anniversary season typically means a production that honors legacy while pushing forward. Show title not yet announced, but the narrative context alone gives this one emotional weight before a single note is played.
Troopers — Into Darkness
Casper, Wyoming
The Troopers posted their 2026 show title — Into Darkness — on social media immediately following their 2025 Finals performance, hours after finishing tenth with a score of 90.050.
The Academy— In The Center of the Ring
Tempe, Arizona
The Academy is putting a performance within a performance–a seemingly “circus style” show. The Academy is always a fan favorite, and the anticipation to see the program is building as we get closer and closer to tour.
Still to announce: Blue Knights, Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, Carolina Crown, The Cavaliers, Colts, Madison Scouts, Pacific Crest, Phantom Regiment, Spirit of Atlanta, and others.
Open Class Show Announcements
Gold — Luminous
Oceanside, California
Gold announced their 2026 program, Luminous, with the program statement: “There is beauty all around you. Take a closer look.” Gold has been one of the most consistent Open Class color guard programs for years, and Luminous sounds like exactly the kind of introspective, light-forward visual concept they do well.
Impulse — Around the Table
Corona, California
Impulse announced their 2026 production, Around the Table, described as an exploration of “the moments of strategy, laughter, and friendly rivalry that bring people together,” featuring cinematic music by Christophe Beck and Lorne Balfe.
Blue Devils B — Mise En Place
Concord, California
“Everything is in it’s place”. This show by Blue Devils B is sure to bring excitement, cinematic elements, and more.
Blue Devils C — Metallic
Concord, California
Described as “being inspired by heavy metal energy”, this show is sure to be a fan favorite, create an interesting soundscape, and have us rocking AND rolling in the stands.
Zephyrus — Neverlost
Tulsa, OK
Exploring the idea of ideas and culture traveling through generations, Zephyrus is sure to bring us unique storylines on the field this year.
Still to announce: The Battalion, Colt Cadets, Columbians, Golden Empire, Guardians, Heat Wave, Les Stentors, Memphis Blues, Raiders, River City Rhythm.
All-Age Class Show Announcements
Hawthorne Caballeros — Entwine
Hawthorne, New Jersey
The Hawthorne Caballeros announced their 2026 production title: Entwine. Entering their 80th anniversary season, the Caballeros have significant motivation. A show titled Entwine — suggesting connection, interweaving, things wound together — carries emotional resonance for a corps celebrating eight decades of history.
Northern Lights — Someday I Might
Muskegon, Michigan
Northern Lights, one of the two new full All-Age members for 2026, announced their debut program Someday I Might, featuring music from Billie Eilish (What Was I Made For?), Muse (Algorithm), Audiomachine (Blood and Stone), and Saint-Saëns (Symphony No. 3). The concept is rooted in the engineering principle POSIWID — “the purpose of a system is what it does” — prompting the question of whether a person, a song, or a system is judged by what it claims to be or what it actually achieves. Heavy conceptual territory for a brand-new corps, and an exciting debut for All-Age fans to watch.
Reading Buccaneers — Simplexity
Reading, Pennsylvania
The defending All-Age World Champions announced their 2026 production: Simplexity, inspired by music from Laufey, Thank You Scientist, and original compositions by the Buccaneers’ design team. The program statement: “Every journey begins with a single step.” A title that blends simplicity and complexity. The Buccaneers swept all captions in 2025, including Best Color Guard. Defending that is the whole challenge of 2026.
Atlanta CV — SinSations
Atlanta, Georgia
Temptation, temptation, temptation! Atlanta CV is coming in red hot this year with a show all about rebellion, the excitement of letting your emotions take over, and the aftermath of it all.
Bushwackers — Hypnotic
Princeton, New Jersey
The Bushwackers are ready to hypnotize the audience and the judges alike this season with their 2026 program, “Hypnotic”. I, for one, am excited to see what spell they put us under this year!
Cincinnati Tradition — Chambers
Cincinnati, Ohio
The parallel between the physical anatomy of the human heart and the complexity of the human experience is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats!
Hurricanes — The Storm
Seymour, Connecticut
The tagline “growth emerges from destruction” is the backdrop of the Hurricanes exciting 2026 program.
Still to announce: Columbus Saints, Fusion Core, Govenaires, MBI, New York Skyliners, Rogues Hollow Regiment.
Keep Checking Back
Show announcements are coming in waves between now and the start of the season on June 26 — and corps often wait until late spring or even the first days of tour to reveal their programs. We’ll update this post every time a new announcement drops.
🎟️ Get tickets: tickets.dci.org
📅 Full 2026 schedule: dci.org/schedule
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