We look forward to welcoming you to Manchester, UK for this year’s Joint Region 31 and 32 Regional convention from 8-10 May 2026.
New Quartet Registration – click here – 15 January
Contest Entry Opens (105 days) – 23 January
Entry deadline (60 days) late entry fees apply after this date – 9 March
Order of Appearance Draw (55 days) – 16 March
Late entry deadline (45 days) – 24 March
Final Order of Appearance Draw (Monday after Late entry) – 30 March
Competitor contact and information confirmation – 12 April – click here
Webcast and app questionnaire – 12 April – click here
Online competition briefing – To be confirmed – likely 5 May at 6:15pm BST/ 7:15pm CET
Ensure competing members are all in good standing – 8 May
Contest Date – 8 May
Contest Entry Opens (105 days) – 23 January
Entry deadline (60 days). Late entry fees apply after this date – 10 March
Order of Appearance Draw (55 days) – 16 March
Late entry deadline (45 days) – 25 March
Final Order of Appearance Draw (Monday after Late entry) – 30 March
Competitor contact and information confirmation – 12 April – click here
Webcast and app questionnaire – 12 April – click here
Online competition briefing – To be confirmed – likely 5 May at 6:15pm BST/ 7:15pm CET
Provide final competitor listing – 9 May – Click here to download the Regionals Chorus list of competing members form
Ensure competing members are all in good standing – 9 May
Contest Date – 9 May
Competition Packet eMailing – To be confirmed – likely 24 January
International 30 day mailing – To be confirmed – likely 9 April
Competitors are required to register for contest at International Headquarters AND purchase an All Events Pass from Region 31 to be eligible for contest. The fee for registration for Region 32 is included in the annual fee so no extra fee for convention for Region 32.
Registration for Region 31 is coming soon and the early bird deadline is March 1st . Registrations after this date will be charged at the standard rate.
Charges are shown in the table below.
| Early Bird (by March 1 2026) | Final Registration (by 31st March 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| SAI Members | £95 | £100 |
| SAI Youth (<25 years old) | £47.5 | £50 |
| Non Members | £120 | £120 |
Ticketing process is still being finalized with The Bridgewater Hall. More information coming soon.
Note that for Region 32 members these fees are included in your regional membership.
Single Events tickets will go on sale soon for convention – More information coming
Charges are shown in the table below.
| Regular | Youth (<25) | |
|---|---|---|
| One Day Competition Entry (Quartet or Chorus) | £40 | £20 |
| Saturday Night Showcase | £30 | £15 |
| Sunday Education Classes | £30 | £15 |
Ticketing process is still being finalised with The Bridgewater Hall. More information coming soon.
IMPORTANT: The paperwork for new and renewing quartets must be submitted and processed before they may register for competition. New quartets or renewals received after 15 January will be charged additional registration fees. Any competing Quartet must be registered no later than 60 days prior to contest.
| International | Late Entry Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chorus | £150 | £250 | Regional Competition Chorus Portal | Sweet Adelines |
| Quartet | £100 | £200 | Regional Competition Quartet Portal | Sweet Adelines |
Competitors must register for the Region 31 and Region 32 Joint Convention by completing the International Contest Entry Forms.
23 January 2026 – Regional Contest Entry opens: Here is a link to the portals where you will find all the required information (including the Contest Entry Forms):
Quartet: Regional Competition Quartet Portal | Sweet Adelines
Chorus: Regional Competition Chorus Portal | Sweet Adelines
All competitors will require an All Events Ticket (“AET”). For Region 32 this is included in your annual fee. All Events Tickets for Region 31 will be on sale soon.
Click Here for Song Assessment Tool – Please remember to check your songs for suitability and to gain approval in plenty of time before contest.
PLEASE READ: You will be required to confirm whether your Song Information (including the order of songs) has altered since you provided this information at the time of competition registration. Quartets and Chorus leaders should provide any updates (to songs or order) at the competition briefing.
Any updates after this date should be emailed directly to the competition coordinator at events@sweetadelines.org.uk and communication coordinator communication@sweetadelines.org.uk.
Regional Competition Entry Form (Submitted to International) – click here
Song Information Sheet (Submitted to International) – click here
Regional CHORUS Open Division and Evaluation Only: Internationally Bound Cue Sheet (Please bring 2 copies to submit to the competition coordinator Sarah Netherton at 12pm Friday at the Octagon) – click here
List of competing members form (Regional Chorus Competition 2025) (Please bring 2 copies to submit to the competition coordinator Sarah Netherton at 12pm (time to be confirmed) Friday at The Bridgewater Hall) – click here
Please ensure that everyone who will be on stage is listed. If there are people missing, inform us straight away. Do not wait until the day of contest briefing to let us know if there are people that should be added or if the total number is incorrect. The Convention Team and Regional Management Team, will NOT be held responsible for your chorus’ disqualification from the competition resulting from an incorrect form.
Competitor contact and information confirmation – click here
Webcast and app questionnaire – click here
Regional Competition Entry Form (Submitted to International) – click here
Song Information Sheet (Submitted to International) – click here
Regional QUARTET Open Division and Evaluation Only: Internationally Bound Cue Sheet (Please bring 2 copies to submit to the competition coordinator Sarah Netherton at 12pm (time to be confirmed) Friday at The Bridgewater Hall) – click here
Competitor contact and information confirmation – click here
Webcast and app questionnaire – click here
Final Traffic patterns and orders of appearance are included here –
Coming soon
Narrated video walkthroughs of the traffic pattern routes for The Bridgewater Hall:
Coming soon
If you have any questions about the route:
Region 31 – email your Competition Coordinator at events@sweetadelines.org.uk.
Region 32 – email your Competition Coordinator at cc@nordiclightregion.com.
Riser configuration – There will be 12 risers for all competing choruses. More information coming soon.
A traffic pattern walkthrough video is available above, providing a full explanation of the route. Coming soon
You can access the Contest Rules here:
Competition handbook (Updated February 2025) –
Quartet competition handbook (Updated January 2025)
2026 updated rules coming soon
Sandy Marron – Sound Judge
Cydney Wentsel – Music Judge
Lea Beverley – Expression Judge
Becki Hine – Visual Communication Judge
Cammi Mackinlay – Panel Secretary
Click here to see the full Schedule of Events – COMING SOON
Friday May 8
Saturday May 9
Sunday May 10
More information coming soon
More information coming soon
More information coming soon
| Level | Score Per Category | Total Score |
| A+ | 188-200 | 752-800 |
| A | 172-187 | 688-751 |
| A- | 160-171 | 640-687 |
| B+ | 148-159 | 592-639 |
| B | 132-147 | 528-591 |
| B- | 120-131 | 480-527 |
| C+ | 108-119 | 432-479 |
| C | 92-107 | 368-431 |
| C- | 80-91 | 320-367 |
IMPORTANT: if you are the current holder of a regional trophy, please double check that you know whose mantelpiece it’s currently gracing, and that they are aware they must bring it with them to competition.
Any questions on engraving/cost reimbursement please contact your regional competition coordinator.
Grants are awarded to winning and eligible choruses and quartets as well as those who are returning to the international quartet contest after finishing in the top 15. These funds are intended as a contribution towards the expenses and costs of going to the Sweet Adelines International Convention & Competition.
| Category | Prize Money |
| Regional Chorus Champion | £2000 |
| Regional Quartet Champion | £2000 |
| Harmony Classic Qualifier | £500 |
| Wildcard Chorus | £500 |
| Wildcard Quartet | £500 |
| Returning Top 15 Quartet | £500 |
Grants can only be claimed if the chorus/quartet has registered for the international competition. If the grant has already been claimed and the chorus/quartet withdraws from international contest, the grant money must be returned to the region.
The Vi Steel Quaich is presented to the chorus that attained the most improved overall score from the previous year.
The Sheila Doherty Novice Chorus Award is presented to the chorus performing with the largest percentage of first-timers on stage.
The Beryl Mort Award goes to the chorus that scored the highest mark in the Music category with a minimum overall score of 500.
The Valerie Taylor Award is presented to the highest scoring chorus in the category of Sound, with a minimum score of 500.
The Jean Miller Rose Bowl is awarded to the chorus that scored the highest mark in the Visual Communication category with a minimum overall score of 500.
The Nicky Salt Coaching Bursary goes to the quartet who attains the most improved overall score from the previous year. This award provides coaching with Nicky.
The Most Entertaining Award goes to the Quartet or Chorus who receives the most votes from random selected audience members.
The #BigDreams Fortuity Youth Quartet Award goes to the highest scoring competing quartet where each member is aged 25 or younger.
The Diamond Quartet Award goes to the highest scoring competing quartet with a minimum combined age of 240, with the youngest member being no less than 55 years old.
The Novice Quartet Award goes to the highest scoring newcomer quartet. The foursome must be made up of at least three first-time quartet competitors in any quartet competition organised by a barbershop organisation; and must not contain any previous medal winners from any competition organised by a barbershop organisation.
Competitor packages containing results and judges’ evaluations will be available to collect for up to 20 minutes after the awards ceremony from a location to be confirmed, which is the warmup room on the ground floor (accessible through the doors next to the cloakroom).
Quartets, please collect your packets promptly after the competition. If you are unable to collect your results packet in the time allocated, it will be stored safely backstage for you to claim later. Only chorus presidents/team coordinator and/or director are allowed to collect the chorus results packet.
There are no rehearsal rooms coordinated by the regions for this convention. Please arrange to book rehearsal space at your hotel if required.
Photography
Videos of your performance will be sent out digitally shortly after the contest to the person named on the original contest registration. If that has changed, please let us know. Please note that by being a competitor in the Region 31/32 Competition you have been granted permission to post the Sweet Adelines International video recording of your performance, only after your performance has been adjudicated. It is understood that you have obtained all applicable licenses and/or permissions from ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC for your chorus or quartet. Sweet Adelines International reserves the right to revoke this permission for any reason.
On-stage Photography
More information coming soon
Off-stage Photography
More information coming soon
Webcast
The webcast will be broadcast on both days. Please be sure to complete your webcast questionnaire by the deadline. The webcast will be available for a price that will be determined soon. Don’t forget to visit the webcast station (which will be at the back of the auditorium) after your performance! You can share the link to the webcast page with family and friends who want to watch the convention remotely.
