SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — February 16, 2026 — Ernie Ball, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium guitar strings and accessories, proudly announces the return of the 2026 Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle of the Bands powered by Guitar Center. Building on the overwhelming success of the 2025 relaunch, the program once again offers unsigned artists the opportunity to perform live on the main stage of the iconic Vans Warped Tour and compete for over $100,000 in gear and prizes.
For more than two decades, the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands stood as the longest-running unsigned artist program of its kind, helping thousands of emerging bands gain national exposure. With Warped Tour’s return, the platform reclaims its role as a powerful discovery engine, connecting developing artists with live audiences, industry decision-makers, and career-defining momentum.
Registration opens February 16, 2026 and runs through May 1, 2026 at www.battleofthebands.com.
How It Works
Unsigned bands can enter by creating a profile and uploading a video showcasing original music. Submissions may include music videos, lyric videos, rehearsal footage, or live performances.
Bands select the Vans Warped Tour date they wish to compete for and are encouraged to rally fans to create accounts and upvote their profile. While fan engagement increases visibility, final selections are determined by a panel of industry veterans who evaluate the top 100 artists in each market based on technique, authenticity, originality, and style.
Six Bands. Three Cities. One Grand Prize.
Two bands will be selected per U.S. festival weekend, with one band performing on each main stage date:
- Washington, DC — June 13–14
- Long Beach, CA — July 25–26
- Orlando, FL — November 14–15
Each performing band will receive an Ernie Ball prize pack along with additional prizing from participating sponsors valued at over $7,000.
From the six main stage performers, one Grand Prize Winner will be selected and awarded a premium gear package valued at $75,000+, including:
- Guitar and bass equipment from Ernie Ball, Ernie Ball Music Man, Sterling By Music Man, Marshall, VOX, Gallien-Krueger, Neural DSP, and BOSS
- Drum Equipment from SJC, Gibraltar, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Remo, and Humes & Berg
- Keyboard Equipment from Roland and Korg
- Live and Studio equipment from Universal Audio, 64 Audio, Mackie, Electro-Voice, and Sennheiser
- $5,000 Guitar Center gift card
- $5,000 Smartpunk Manufacturing gift card
- A $1,000 Vans gift card for each main stage performing band
- A feature in an episode of the Ernie Ball session series: Big Sound
By combining live performance opportunities, fan-driven discovery, and brand-backed credibility, the Ernie Ball Vans Warped Tour Battle of the Bands powered by Guitar Center continues to help shape the next generation of artists.
Unsigned bands are encouraged to register now at www.battleofthebands.com. Registration closes May 1, 2026.
More information on Ernie Ball is available at www.ernieball.com and www.music-man.com.
