AIA South Championships Bring 100+ Ensembles to Fayetteville for 'The Sport of the Arts'

Winter Guard, percussion, and winds teams from across the Southeast showcased performance, precision, and community at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville (NC)

Apr. 1, 2026 at 2:08am

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This past weekend, the Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA) turned Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina, into a gathering place for the marching arts community across the Southeast. Teams traveled from North Carolina, South Carolina, and southern Virginia, bringing with them months of preparation, creative design, and disciplined rehearsal. What unfolded across two days was more than a competition - it was a full-scale showcase of an activity that blends performance, precision, and personal growth.

Why it matters

At its core, the activity exists at the intersection of art and sport. Performers combine dance, musical interpretation, and equipment work into productions that are judged on both execution and overall effect. Behind every performance are early mornings, late nights, and countless repetitions, as small details such as timing, spacing, and body control are refined over weeks and months.

The details

On Saturday, 72 Winter Guard units took the floor, followed by 36 percussion and winds ensembles on Sunday. The range of performers reflected the depth of the activity, from elementary students just beginning their journey to adults who have spent decades participating, teaching, and giving back.

  • The AIA South Championships took place on March 28-29, 2026.
  • The Winter Guard competition was held on Saturday, March 28th.
  • The percussion and winds competition was held on Sunday, March 29th.

The players

Mike McCain

AIA South Second Vice President and longtime participant in the activity.

Chris Foster

Director of Bands at Felton Grove High School in Apex, North Carolina.

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What they’re saying

“It's for the kids.”

— Mike McCain, AIA South Second Vice President

“You see the growth over a season, but you really feel it at an event like this. The confidence, the connection, the pride, they carry that with them long after the performance is over.”

— Chris Foster, Director of Bands at Felton Grove High School

What’s next

The top-placing teams from the AIA South Championships will advance to the AIA National Championships, which will take place in Indianapolis in May 2026.

The takeaway

The AIA South Championships offered a reminder of why the marching arts continue to resonate across generations. It offers structure and expression, competition and community, discipline and creativity, all within the same space. While the scores matter, the moments between performances, the conversations in the stands, and the inspiration sparked by other groups' routines are what participants remember most.