Two Alabama marching bands invited to take part in London Parade

At least two Alabama marching bands are slated to appear in a major United Kingdom New Year’s Day parade.

Officials at Troy University recently announced that the Sound of the South Marching Band had been invited to appear in the London Parade taking place on Jan. 1, 2027. Following that news, St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile revealed Monday that dignitaries from London will visit the school on Wednesday to officially deliver an invitation for the school’s marching band to participate.

Once known as the London New Year’s Day Parade, the event tends to feature an eclectic array of international units , including marching bands from the United States. The edition coming up on Jan. 1, 2026, for example, will include high school bands from Mercer Island, Wash.; Barrow County, Ga.;