The sounds of booming drums, blaring brass and high notes from piccolo's will fill Savannah State University’s Theodore A. Wright Stadium on Sunday as nine historically Black colleges and universities compete in the 2026 Big HBCU Battle of the Bands.
South Carolina State, Fort Valley State, Virginia State, Bethune Cookman, Talladega, Albany State, Winston Salem State and Benedict College will square off in the Battle of the South, according to bighbcu.com.
"The band is the spokesperson for the university - we bring the excitement, the joy - we really contribute to the culture of what an HBCU is," said Dr. Gabriel Arnold, director of university bands at SSU.
Arnold graduated from Florida State University after serving as the head drum major for
the band and said this is SSU's first time hosting the event, making it a major milestone for the school.
"It is big because we are having a game on Saturday," said Arnold. "Everybody is excited about bringing high caliber bands."
He went on to say HBCU's stand out not just because of the songs they play, but for all of the other elements — blending musical excellence, tradition and Black cultural expression into a performance unlike any other.
"It’s the excitement of our routines - its the swagger we have," said Arnold.
Under his guidance, the program has grown from just 30 band members in 2021 to 120 in 2026.
"The powerhouse of the south is going to show out," said Arnold. "There might be some bands that are bigger but quality is better than quantity."
Fan Fest kicks off at 12 p.m., gates open at 2 p.m., the Parade of Bands starts 3 p.m. and the Battle of the Bands competition starts at 4 p.m.
"Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of HBCU culture, tradition, musicianship and showmanship as some of the nation’s premier HBCU marching bands take the field," reads a statement on Big HBCU's Facebook page.
Ticket information
Tickets are on sale now at eventbrite.comfor $30. Eventgoers can purchase an early bird ticket for parking for $16 until Friday. Prices increase to $21 Saturday. It is unclear how much tickets for parking will be the day of. Click here to learn more about vendor registration.
Latrice Williams is a general assignment reporter covering Bryan and Effingham County. She can be reached at lwilliams6@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah State hosts 2026 Big HBCU Battle of the Bands
