SuperState
Illinois SuperState Concert Band Festival
May 8–9, 2026
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts
Important Dates:
- Applications Open: 9:00am, Monday, December 1, 2025
- Recordings, Applications, and Application Payments from Schools Due by: Monday, February 23, 2026
- Recordings Renamed, Sorted, and Provided to Listening Adjudicators by Illinois Bands Due by: Monday, March 2, 2026
- Adjudicator Rankings and Comments Due by: Friday, March 20, 2026
- Rankings Tabulated and Notification of Acceptance Due by: Monday, March 30, 2026
- Program, Repertoire, Seating Chart Submitted by: Monday, April 13, 2026
- Registration Payment Due by: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Schedule:
In response to feedback we have received, starting in 2025, we began rotating the high school classes in order to more equitably serve schools that might have various conflicts on Fridays or Saturdays. This schedule will continue on a three-year rotation cycle:
- 2026
- Friday: Middle School/Junior High; High School Class 3A
- Saturday: High School Class 1A; High School Class 2A
- 2027
- Friday: Middle School/Junior High; High School Class 1A
- Saturday: High School Class 2A; High School Class 3A
- 2028
- Friday: Middle School/Junior High; High School Class 2A
- Saturday: High School Class 3A; High School Class 1A
A note regarding superstate programming:
Participating ensembles are strongly encouraged to consider equitable, representative, and diverse programming for SuperState. The University of Illinois Bands regards diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values integral to guiding our progress toward excellence.
For invited ensembles, following the April program submission deadline, we will review your submission for concert duration. Please remember that total on-stage time is 20 minutes, and your repertoire selections should total less than 20 minutes. Repertoire choices should account for time between pieces, tuning, etc. Please be courteous to other performers and our schedule as you select your program. If a program exceeds the time limit, cuts or other alternatives will be requested.