The 36TH Annual UGA Middle School Band Festival: Thursday, December 10 - Saturday, December 12, 2026 2026 MidFest Clinicians TBA 2026 MidFest Featured Ensembles TBA Important Registration Dates Online Registration Begins: Oct. 5 Nomination & Video Submission Deadline: Nov. 2 Acceptances Published: Nov. 16* Cancellation Deadline: Dec. 2 * approximate date Registration information will be emailed on Oct. 5 Contact us at bandfestivals@uga.edu if you have questions or need to be added to the MidFest mailing list. Yearly MidFest information: MidFest information will be mailed to band directors the first week of October of each year. If you are a new director to a school, email us at bandfestivals@uga.edu before September 1 to be included in the mailout. "MidFest" (established 1990) is a three-day event for middle school band musicians. Students are nominated for participation by their director by way of this website early in the academic year after receiving the MidFest announcement in the mail. MidFest staff selects students to participate based on the order of the director’s submission, the instrumentation need of the festival bands, and the reported musical achievements of each student. Typical festival attendance is approximately 1000 students from 130 schools. Directors and other adult chaperones accompany students to Athens for the event. Directors are responsible for housing and food arrangements for the students. The festival announcement includes a list of hotel properties in close proximity to the festival site. Students are placed in festival bands on the basis of an initial audition. These bands rehearse four times before a final performance on the final afternoon of the event. Attendees also enjoy several featured performances by guest middle school bands and the UGA Wind Symphony. For more information regarding MidFest or to update contact information, email Director of Band Festivals, Dr. Mia Athanas at bandfestivals@uga.edu.
