Industry News — July 2026
Industry News — July 2026
by PAS Staff
July 28, 2026
FREEDOM BEAT
Record-Setting “Freedom Beat” Performance at Drum Island Fest RaisesSpirits and Support While Showcasing Ukraine’s Intrepid Drumming Community
A new national record for the number of people playing drums simultaneously was recently established when 250 drummers participated in “Freedom Beat” during Drum Island Fest in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 25th and 26th, 2026.
Along with the record-setting performance, the 4th annual drum festival brought young musicians from 14 regions and 27 cities of Ukraine together with educators, professional artists, representatives of the music industry and percussion enthusiasts. The program combined competition, concerts and an exhibition area. In addition, 14 masterclasses were presented by leading Ukrainian musicians, performers, and educators.
These milestones marked another step in the festival’s growth as well as that of the Ukrianian drumming community. Participation grew from 65 drummers in 2023 to more than 200 in 2026. Sponsorship also expanded with contributions from sponsors like Tama, Meinl, Gretsch, Hudson Music, Rohema and Drumeo as well as international corporations including Mitsubishi Motors and Radisson Hotels. Extensive print and digital media promotion and market development featured segments on multiple local radio and TV stations, as well.
From its beginning, the festival has carried not only an artistic mission but also an important social one. In just 4 short years, Drum Island has become a powerful symbol of rhythm, resistance and resilience with drummers from across Ukraine supporting the country and standing up to bombs and bullets with drums and percussion.
As Drum Island founder Dmytro Khoroshun explains, “Every drum stroke at our festival is not just a beat— it is inspiration you can feel and hear.”
Video: https://docs.google.com/videos/d/15iGk0KpVdb_awWutGe7BkGn0UbpVfQvVBPTYrvXqBUE/edit?usp=sharing
DrumIsland Fest 2027 is scheduled for April 9-11, 2027. Contact drumislandfest@gmail.com or visit @drumislandfest for details.
GUITAR CENTER
Guitar Center’s Drum-Off returns to Hollywood to crown its next champion on August 20 at the iconic Fonda Theatre
Hosted by comedian Bill Burr and Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, the finale brings together drumming legends from Green Day, Maná, No Doubt, Slipknot, Rage Against the Machine and more for a night of live competition, special guest performances, and unforgettable collaborations
Guitar Center today announced the full lineup and event details for its Drum-Off 2026 National Finale, taking place August 20 at the historic Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, CA. After nearly a decade away, the iconic Drum-Off competition returns to crown its next champion. Six finalists selected from thousands nationwide will compete live before a panel of legendary judges, celebrity guests, and a live audience. The winner will receive a brand endorsement, career-changing opportunities, $25,000 in cash, and a complete pro-level drum, hardware and cymbal setup. Tickets are available now to the public at AXS.com, with 15 percent of each ticket price benefiting the Guitar Center Music Foundation.
Hosted by comedian, actor, and drummer Bill Burr along with former Drum-Off host and Jane’s Addiction drummer Stephen Perkins, the star-studded finale event will feature special performances from Robert Trujillo (Metallica) and the Kate Mess project featuring Tosh Peterson (Lady Gaga, Alkaline Trio, MGK), Jordi Radnoti (Olivia Rodrigo), Tim Stewart (Lady Gaga) and Tiara Stewart (Ashlee Simpson, Cyco Miko). The show closes with Kenny Aronoff and Friends, an all-star power trio featuring Kenny Aronoff (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Chickenfoot, Smashing Pumpkins), Michael Anthony (Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, Chickenfoot), and Phil X (Bon Jovi, TRIUMPH, Phil X & The Drills). They will perform classic rock favorites, including songs made famous by Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and other legendary artists.
“One of the best parts of what we do at Guitar Center is discovering talented musicians before the rest of the world does,” said Gabe Dalporto, CEO of Guitar Center. “Drum-Off gives us the chance to put those players on a national stage and help launch the careers of drummers who went on to play in legendary acts such as Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Alice Cooper and The Mars Volta, and with artists like Jay-Z, Katy Perry, Prince and Beyoncé.”
First launched in 1988, Drum-Off ran for 28 years and helped launch the careers of drummers including Tony Royster Jr. (Jay-Z, Katy Perry), Cora Coleman-Dunham (Prince, Beyoncé), Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta), Glen Sobel(Alice Cooper), and Ilan Rubin (Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters). The competition has also featured iconic drummers including Travis Barker (Blink-182), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), Peter Criss(KISS), and Steve Ferrone (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) as judges, performers, and special guests. More than 100,000 drummers participated throughout Drum-Off’s history, cementing its status as one of the most influential competitions in the drumming community.
For Adrian Young, drummer for No Doubt and a Drum-Off 2026 judge, the competition represents one of the most important platforms for emerging drummers.
“Drum-Off has always been a place where great players can step up and be recognized,” said Young. “It’s exciting to see it back and to watch a new generation of drummers compete for an opportunity that can truly change the course of their careers.”
The upcoming finale will combine live competition, special performances, celebrity hosts and judges, and unforgettable collaborations as six finalists compete head-to-head in the electrifying culmination of one of music’s most influential competitions.
“I’m really excited that Guitar Center brought Drum-Off back!” said comedian and Drum-Off host Bill Burr. “The lineup for this thing is incredible, and the finalists are going to have to bring their absolute best. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The judging panel includes (all appearances subject to change):
• Tré Cool (Green Day)
• Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters, Sting, Guns N’ Roses)
• Brad Wilk (Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine)
• Pocket Queen (Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Alicia Keys)
• Alex González (Maná)
• Eric Moore II (Drum-Off Champion, Sly & The Family Stone)
• Adrian Young (No Doubt)
• Daniel Jensen (Founder, OCDP)
• El Estepario Siberiano (drummer, content creator and educator)
• Jared Falk (Drumeo founder & CEO)
• Jay Weinberg (Slipknot, Suicidal Tendencies)
• Dave Elitch (Miley Cyrus, The Mars Volta)
• Thomas Lang (stOrk)
The Drum-Off finale marks the culmination of a nationwide search that began in May, when drummers visited over 300 Guitar Center stores across the country to record and submit original three-minute audition videos. Guitar Center received over 2,600 submissions nationwide. Competitors advanced through District Finals at 24 Guitar Center locations before Regional Finals in Hollywood, Nashville, and New York City, with six finalists earning their place on the Fonda Theatre stage.
Finalists will be judged on skill and technique, groove and feel, originality and creativity, stage presence, and overall performance. The Drum-Off Champion will receive $25,000 in cash, a complete pro-level drum, hardware and cymbal setup, a brand endorsement, a Roland electronic drum kit, and a trip to Drumeo HQ to create original content.
On Thursday, August 20, doors open at 6 p.m., with the competition beginning at 7 p.m. Following the finale, VIP ticket holders will be invited to an exclusive rooftop after-party overlooking Hollywood.
For tickets and additional event information, please visit https://www.axs.com/events/1493743/the-return-of-guitar-centers-drum-off-2026-tickets.
TAMBURI MUNDI
Tamburi Mundi Freiburg e.V. would like to take the initiative, together with you and the international frame drum community, to launch “World Frame Drum Day” and establish it as an annual international day of action celebrated worldwide on October 2.
What’s planned:
Under the patronage of Glen Velez, the Tamburi Mundi e.V. association—which has been actively promoting frame drum culture for more then 20 years—will take responsibility for organizing the event. We would like to coordinate an online gathering with frame drum musicians, frame drum institutions, communities, and associations around the world to jointly proclaim the first “World Frame Drum Day.” We have chosen October 2 as the symbolic date (which, among other things, was established by the UN as the International Day of Non-Violence).
What is the goal:
A “World Frame Drum Day” aims to highlight the global popularity of the frame drum, bring different frame drum cultures into contact and foster exchange among them, and emphasize their contribution to international understanding.
Future Plans:
The plan is to celebrate this day annually with musical events worldwide. There will also be a website where all events related to World Frame Drum Day will be announced and documented.
Join us on October 2, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CEST when a international frame drum community will gather for an online meeting to officially declare and celebrate the first World Frame Drum Day.
If you love playing frame drums:
Send us a short video of yourself and your frame drum, which will then be shown alongside many other videos throughout the day to showcase the diversity and vast cultural range of the frame drum.
Video details:
Length: max. 1 min / Landscape format
Content of the video: A) Short performance on your instrument, B) Complete the sentence: “I love the frame drum because…”
Please send the video via download link to office@tamburimundi.com
Please include the following information: your name, instrument, and country (we will then compile the individual videos and add captions)
Submission deadline: August 15th, 2026
TROMP PERCUSSION
TROMP Percussion unveils 2026 competitors set to push percussion’s boundaries
TROMP Percussion has announced the participants selected for both the 2026 TROMP International Percussion Competition and the first-ever TROMP Next Gen: Mallet Competition.
Ten performers from around the world have been selected to compete in the TROMP International Percussion Competition 2026. In addition, fifty young marimba and vibraphone players from around the world have been selected to take part in the first edition of the TROMP Next Gen: Mallet Competition. A full list of participants is available via the link below.
Chosen from a highly competitive international field, the participants stand out for their creativity, artistic individuality and technical mastery. Together, they represent the future of percussion and showcase the breadth of talent that will be on display at TROMP Festival 2026.
Renewed competition format
For 2026, TROMP introduces a renewed competition structure. Alongside the International Percussion Competition for ten selected professional percussionists, TROMP launches the first edition of the TROMP Next Gen: Mallet Competition, bringing together fifty young marimba and vibraphone players aged 15–30. Together, the two competitions create a platform for emerging talent at different stages of artistic development.
TROMP Festival
The TROMP International Percussion Competition forms the core of TROMP Festival, transforming Eindhoven into an international meeting place for percussion from 19–27 September 2026. The nine-day festival combines competition rounds with concerts, workshops, educational activities, open jam sessions and performances in public spaces like CKE and Dynamo.
First concerts
Alongside the competition, TROMP has also announced the first artists and ensembles for the 2026 festival programme, including Stravinsky & Takemitsu with Philzuid and Bladi Festival kicking off with Drums United. Additional programme announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
For more than five decades, TROMP has played a significant role in supporting the development of percussion as an artistic discipline, providing a platform for emerging talent while fostering international exchange between performers, composers, educators and audiences.
Tickets for the festival and the competition final are now available on the website: www.tromppercussion.nl.
Participants Tromp International Percussion Competition 2026:
https://www.tromppercussion.nl/tromp-international-percussion-competition-2026
Participants TROMP Next Gen: Mallet Competition:
https://www.tromppercussion.nl/tromp-next-gen-mallet-competition-2026
TRX CYMBALS
Gritty In Pink and TRX Cymbals Team Up To Support Female Musicians
Combining forces to bring more public attention, media coverage and performance opportunities to female and GNC musicians, Gritty In Pink and TRX Cymbals are proud to announce a newly formed partnership. The launch of the collaboration will feature TRX handcrafted cymbals on stage as part of the backline for the “Gritty In Pink Jam” at the upcoming Vans Warped Tour 2026 stop in Long Beach, California. Featuring Gritty In Pink house band: Shiragirl, Vashonda Sherra (SHEblime), Raine Palladino (Shiragirl), Sabrina Winter (Love Stallion), Tatiana Tate (Doechii, Stevie Wonder, Macklemore, LA Dodgers), Allie Kay (Jason Charles Miller, Steel Panther), Amanda Noland, Raine Stern, with appearances by Gritty talent Izzy T and Mia FluxXx.
TRX cymbals will also be on hand for other Gritty In Pink events, including the organization’s epic Gritty In Pink Jams, otherwise known as “All GRL Jams” happening in Los Angeles later in the year. Gritty In Pink is a platform empowering women in music, building the INPINK marketplace. Founder Shira Yevin has a history of breaking down barriers and carving out a space for women as the creator of the Vans Warped Tour Shiragirl Stage, featuring 300+ female musicians, including Joan Jett and Paramore. Gritty In Pink continues the legacy of providing a community for female voices in a male-dominated industry.
TRX Cymbals is a progressive, female-friendly company that encourages drummers to “Take your drumming to the next stage” and boasts an artist roster that includes Myra Gallarza (Bad Cop, Bad Cop), Pauline Roberts (The Furious Bongos), Jenna Terranova (Mermaid Island), Jasmine Day (Unpolished), Lindsey Raye Ward (YouTube), Helly (Hand Of Juno), Val Sepulveda (Big Wild), Ilse Santana (Moenia), Jessica Godwin (Blaze Francisco) and many more.
