Welcome to the Saddleworth & Oldham Whit Friday Band Contests
Friday 29th May 2026
Registration for the 2026 Contests is now open.
Although each contest is run by separate and independent village committees, there are many common practices and these are set out in this CODE OF PRACTICE. Please note especially the first section which sets out our commitment to, and our expectations of, participating bands. Each contest’s specific rules, prize lists, organisation and disabled access can be found in the Contest links below.
Chav Brass Support for Youth Bands
The Chavs want to see more young people playing music, and so Chav Brass has generously committed to donating a proportion of their winnings each year to support Youth Bands that have participated in more than three of the Saddleworth Whit Friday contests.
Bands do not need to take any action to claim this additional funding. The Contest organisers already hold records of registered bands, including details of the contests attended, and will use this information to allocate the support accordingly.
contest links
AREA MAP
This map shows temporary road closures and one way systems in place for band coaches for Whit Friday.
DO NOT rely on GOOGLE MAP or SAT NAV directions.