The Banjo & Fiddle Contest celebrates its 45th event on September 12, 2026 from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

The event is free for contestants, as well as all traditional music fans who would like to come and listen.

Never been to a banjo and fiddle contest before? Bring your lawn chairs and settle in to watch the friendly competition and get in touch with our country’s musical roots.

PRIZES

1st Place: $100 (Youth: $50)
2nd Place: $50 (Youth $25)
3rd Place: $25 (Youth $10)

JUDGING CRITERIA

Musicality: 40%
Technical Competence: 40%
Tune Difficulty: 10%
Start & Stop Strength: 10%

Meet the 2026 Contest Judges

We’re excited to welcome the judges for the 2026 Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest — returning judge Tim Rowell and first-time judge Natalie Rae Padilla!

Tim Rowell
BostonBanjoTeacher.com

Natalie Rae Padilla
nataliepadillamusic.com

Contest Registration

Registration takes place on-site the day of the contest.

Save time by downloading, completing, and bringing your contest registration form.

participant registration form DOWNLOAD THE CONTEST RULES

FREE WORKSHOPS

10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Bluegrass Fiddle: Breaks, Fills & Harmony
with Natalie Rae Padilla
Other instruments are welcome, too!

Old-Time Clawhammer Banjo
Mace Bell’s Civil War March in Sawmill Tuning
with Tim Rowell

Demystifying Yodeling
with Alan Kaufman

11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Old-Time Fiddle
Move from a basic tune melody to the rhythmic groove of the Southern Old-Time sound.
with Cathy Mason

Bluegrass Banjo: Back-Up & Fills
Learn how to get the most out of your back-up playing and fills.
with Gretchen Bowder

ORGANIZED JAMS

10:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

All jams are FREE and open to anyone — no pressure, just good music and great company. Bring your instrument, your friends, and your love of music — and be part of the day.

Bluegrass Jam led by Tim Parke and Kelley Harwood

Old Time Jam led by Julianna Bernardi

Ethnic Jam Session led by Edmund Robinson

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Around Boarding House Park, informal jams will be happening throughout the day, so there are plenty of chances to play tunes and listen.All jams are FREE and open to anyone — no pressure, just good music and great company. Bring your instrument, your friends, and your love of music — and be part of the day.

FAMILY FUN

Beginning at Noon

Banjo Petting Zoo
See, learn about, and try interesting and historic banjos from across New England. Have a cool banjo of your own? Bring it along and share it!

Kids Art Tent
Color, create a Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest button, or decorate a wooden banjo or fiddle to take home, while supplies last.

Questions? info@lowellbanjoandfiddlecontest.org

For the latest contest news and updates, visit our Facebook group.

Something new for your listening enjoyment...Brought to you in part by the Boston Bluegrass Union, the Lowell Banjo & Fiddle Contest is pleased to announce that intermission entertainment at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. will be provided by The Dead Sea Squirrels!

The Dead Sea Squirrels is an engaging and versatile band that plays the string band music of the American South, both instrumental and vocal. Songs include archaic British ballads, African-rooted rhythms and blues, Cajun waltzes and two-steps, Celtic-influenced tunes, and Old-time fiddling. This rich stew of music is driving and stately, bouncy and quirky, and often eerily beautiful!

Learn more about The Dead Sea Squirrels HERE