There are currently 12 bands that have appeared in at least 10 European Championships (top section), up to and including the 2015 contest. Seven of these elite dozen bands are in the field this year, with this experienced group having made 130 appearances between them! All of the bands playing this year have appeared at least once before, with the exception of Bayerische Brass Band Akademie (3BA) from host country, Germany (although they have made three previous appearances in the Challenge section).

Cory is making a record 13th consecutive appearance (and will extend this to 14 next year, no matter the result of this year's contest, having won this year's Welsh Area) and a 26th appearance overall.

Bands, with number of appearances, are as follows:

26 - Cory (Wales) *

23 - Black Dyke (England) *

20 - Eikanger-Bjørsvik Musikklag (Norway) *

19 - De Wâldsang (Netherlands), Brass Band Willebroek (Belgium) *

15 - Brass Band Treize Etoiles (Switzerland) *

14 - Manger Musikklag (Norway), Co-operative Funeralcare (Scotland) *

13 - Whitburn (Scotland), Lyngby-Taarbæk (Denmark) *

10 - Hammonds Saltaire (ex-YBS) (England), Brass Band Midden-Brabant (Belgium)

selected others

8 - Brass Band Bürgermusik Luzern (Switzerland) *

7 - Brass Band OberÖsterreich (Austria) * (plus 2 in Challenge section)

5 - De Bazuin (Netherlands) *

3 - Paris Brass Band (France) *

1 - Bayerische Brass Band Akademie (3BA) (Germany) * (plus 3 in Challenge section)

* competing this year