“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band has once again concluded its annual Sousa’s March Mania competition, bringing together students, educators, and music lovers across the country for a spirited month-long celebration of the beloved march form.

Following the excitement of 2025, when The Marines’ Hymn claimed the title in a dramatic final round, the 2026 tournament featured 32 all-American marches competing head-to-head in celebration of America’s 250th birthday.

Throughout March, participants voted each weekday as marches faced off in a series of matchups, narrowing the field from the opening round to the “Sousa’s Sixteen,” “Enlisted Eight” and “Fidelis Four” before culminating in a championship round to crown the 2026 winner.

Early results from the first rounds showcased both decisive victories and razor-thin margins. Standout performances included:

• “The Liberty Bell” opening strong with more than 5,600 votes

• “The Circus Bee” earning one of the highest tallies of the round

• A nail-biter between “American Salute” and “American Patrol,” separated by just 100 votes

• “Franklin D. Roosevelt” delivering some of the most dominant wins in the bracket

As in previous years, the competition is driven by widespread participation. Students and teachers use the event as an educational tool, incorporating listening activities, historical context and bracket predictions into music classrooms nationwide. The program continues to serve as a gateway for introducing young musicians to the rich tradition of the American march and the works of John Philip Sousa.

Participants were able to listen to each competing piece, download brackets, and follow daily results through the Marine Band’s website, making the experience both interactive and educational.

Fans of Sousa’s March Mania let their opinions be heard on the Marine Band’s social media throughout the month. Some fans took to the comments to pull for a specific march. Renee King wrote, “as a graduate of both Liberty High School and Washington College, there was only one choice for me!” “…I went with ‘Liberty Bell!’”

Others, such as Facebook commenter Tim Hendrix, were victims of wishful thinking: “It’s going to come down to ‘Glory of the Yankee Navy’ and ‘National Emblem,’” he wrote. Better luck next year, Tim!

Eventual winner Midway March faced a tough road to the championship but overcame every obstacle on its way to a dominating victory over “Franklin D. Roosevelt” in the final round of the competition. In the first round, it came out on top in a battle of John Williams marches, defeating March from 1941 by less than 1,000 votes. In both “Sousa’s Sixteen” and the “Enlisted Eight,” it ground out victories in close games before coming alive in the final two rounds of the competition.

In the “Fidelis Four,” Midway March won its most decisive victory yet, besting National Emblem by over 2,000 votes and cruising to the final round. In the final, it faced “Franklin D. Roosevelt,” another surprise favorite. “I didn’t expect it to make it out of the first round!,” Marine Band member Master Sgt. Brian Rust said. “’Franklin D. Roosevelt’ is a great march, but I didn’t expect our audience to give it this much love.”

The Cinderella story came to a resounding conclusion in the Sousa’s March Mania final, where Midway March proved itself to be a true champion. In the final match of the competition, it put up over 9,000 votes in one of the biggest blowout victories in March Mania history, earning a well-deserved spot in the Sousa March Mania Hall of Fame.

Whether your bracket was lucky enough to remain intact or was busted after the first round, one thing remains certain: Sousa’s March Mania continues to unite audiences through music, competition and a shared appreciation for one of America’s most enduring musical traditions.