At the end of the summer season,

Drum Corps International Drum Corps International (DCI) is a governing body for junior drum and bugle corps responsible for developing and enforcing rules of competition, and for providing standardized adjudication at sanctioned drum and bugle corps competitions througho ...

(DCI) World Class corps compete to earn the title of DCI World Class Champion (formerly ''DCI Division I World Champion''). The championships consist of 3 rounds—Preliminaries, Semifinals, and Finals—held on the first or second Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of August. Through 2010, all active World Class corps (22 corps as of 2016) competed in the Quarterfinals, with the top 17 advancing to the Semifinals. The top 12 corps from Semifinals then advanced to the Finals. Since the 2011 season, all active DCI corps (Open and World Class) have been permitted to compete for the championship. In this format, about 40 corps compete in Preliminaries, while the top 25 advances to Semifinals, with the top-scoring 12 advances to Finals. The champion is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. Due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

in 2020, the DCI World Championship and tour were cancelled. In 2021, to mark the return of drum corps, there were no scores given during the season, and the season concluded with a 3-day celebratory event at Lucas Oil Stadium consisting of exhibition performances. Only 10 corps have ever won the title (including 3 ties): * Blue Devils – 20 titles (2 ties) * The Cadets – 10 titles (1 tie) * The Cavaliers – 7 titles (1 tie) * Santa Clara Vanguard – 7 titles (1 tie) * Madison Scouts – 2 titles * Phantom Regiment – 2 titles (1 tie) *

Anaheim Kingsmen The Anaheim Kingsmen Drum and Bugle Corps, commonly referred to as the Anaheim Kingsmen, were a competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Anaheim, California, the corps was a charter member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI) and th ...

– 1 title * Star of Indiana – 1 title *

Carolina Crown Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Carolina Crown is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI). Carolina Crown won the 2013 Drum Corps Internatio ...

– 1 title *

Bluecoats The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, or simply The Bluecoats, is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps (modern), drum and bugle corps. Based in Canton, Ohio, the Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI). The Bluecoats ...

- 1 title The Anaheim Kingsmen and Star of Indiana are no longer active.

External links

Drum Corps Repertoire Database

Drum Corps International website
{{DCI Nav Drum and bugle corps