ESPN REPORT: “World Shocked! Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band Crowned #1 — How This Small-Town Powerhouse Rose to Global Glory and Made History!

ESPN REPORT: “World Shocked! Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band Crowned #1 — How This Small-Town Powerhouse Rose to Global Glory and Made History!”

— In a stunning and unprecedented turn of events, the Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band has been officially crowned the **#1 marching band in the world**, according to the International Band Federation’s 2025 rankings released Thursday. Overtaking long-reigning champions from Tokyo, London, and even the iconic Ohio State Marching Band, Wisconsin’s rise has not just shocked the band world — it’s rewritten history.

 

**“From Camp Randall to Carnegie Hall”**

Long regarded as the heart and soul of University of Wisconsin–Madison’s game day spirit, the Badgers Band has now claimed a throne once thought out of reach for a small-town college unit. Their performance at the Global Marching Arts Festival in Vienna, Austria, in April — blending classical mastery with modern showmanship — is being hailed as the turning point.

 

**The secret? Precision, pride, and a new playbook.**

Under the leadership of Director Corey Pompey, the band has evolved from a beloved college tradition to an international sensation. Pompey’s innovative style infused traditional Big Ten energy with symphonic precision and cinematic storytelling. The show that clinched the title? A 12-minute visual-musical epic titled *”Echoes of America”* — complete with drone light effects, choreography, and a full brass arrangement of Springsteen’s “Born to Run.”

**“We never saw ourselves as underdogs,”** said Drum Major Sarah Lin. “We just believed in Wisconsin grit, and we let our music speak.”

A global spotlight

Following the announcement, tributes poured in from across the world. Even famed composer Hans Zimmer tweeted his admiration, calling their Vienna performance “goosebump-inducing.” The band has since received invitations to perform at the 2026 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Tokyo and New Year’s Day Parade in London.

From the snowy fields of Madison to the grand stages of the world, the Wisconsin Badgers Marching Band has proven that greatness isn’t about where you start — it’s about how you march forward.

A behind-the-scenes look at the band’s training regime

Exclusive interviews with band alumni now working in film and music

ESPN’s full ranking of the Top 10 Marching Bands in the World

 

Stay tuned. The Badgers are just getting started.