EBC 2026 Program

EBC 2026

THE EUROPEAN BLUES CHALLENGE:

 

Link to buy tickets for EBU members partners and general audience:

https://tickets.ebc26.eu

 

Bracelets for Active EBU members who have renewed their 2026 membership will be distributed at the Blues Market on Thursday & Friday

 

SEMI-FINALS

Thursday 16th & Friday 17th

Miasto Ogrodów

plac Sejmu Śląskiego 2 – Katowice

 

Thursday timeline:

16:00  Doors open

16:30  Welcoming Ceremony

17:00  First semifinal: 12 acts with 20-minute break

23:30  Announcement of the 4 classified acts

 

Friday 17 timeline:

16:00  Doors open

17:00  Second semifinal: 12 acts with a 20-minute break

23:30  Announcement of the 4 classified acts

 

PERFORMANCE ORDER AT THE EBC:

 

The performance order was defined by a raffle at the EBU Board Meeting in Katowice on 11 October 2025:

 

Thursday 16th April Semi-final (A):

 

  1. Portugal: Midnight Club Blues Band
  2. Denmark: Big Martin Band
  3. Spain: Sirjo Cocchi & Balta Bordoy-The Blues Way
  4. Poland: Red Chirowski & Pan Wydro
  5. Greece: Lava Blues
  6. Switzerland: Eve Gallagher Band

20 minutes break

  1. Sweden: Jenny Blue & The Tombstone Shadows
  2. UK: Emma Wilson
  3. Germany: Sean Athens Band
  4. Luxembourg: Rockin’ Dukes
  5. Italy: Gloria And The Doctors
  6. Finland: Unna with Helge Tallqvist Band

 

Friday 17th April Semi-final (B):

 

  1. Hungary: Kustan Adam
  2. Austria: Boogie Kathi & The Muddy Bluesmen
  3. Estonia: South Of Savoy
  4. Norway: Adama Janlo
  5. Georgia: The FreeRide Experience
  6. The Netherlands: The Hoochies

20 minutes break

  1. Bulgaria: Kamen “Katsata” Band
  2. Romania: Green Onions Experience
  3. Croatia: Jadran & Imperfect State
  4. Belgium: Tom Eylenbosch
  5. Czech Republic: Marc Slight & One “O” Eight
  6. France: The Supersoul Brothers

 

More information on the bands at this link:

dropbox repository

THE GRAND FINALE

Saturday 18th

NOSPR Concert Hall – plac Wojciecha Kilara 1 – Katowice

 

Timeline:

16:00 h:       Doors open

17,00 h:       Delivery of the following awards:

EastTop Harmonica Award to the best harmonica player

Delfina Blues guitar to the best guitar player

17:30 h.       EBC Grand finale: 8 acts with a 20-minute break

21,20 h.        Awards ceremony:

Announcement of the Blues Behind the Scenes Awards.

Delivery of “It’s a Blues City” Diploma

Announcement of the best solo/duo act

Announcement of the EBC winners

Short performance by the winners

22.30 h:       End