One month from now, the most competitive night in collegiate a cappella arrives. The 2026 ICCA International Finals are set for April 25 in New York City, capping off what has already been a record-breaking 30th anniversary season for the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. More than 7,500 performers from 445+ groups competed throughout the season in nine regions across the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Six groups are left standing.
For Gerard Saguto, a classical choral musician and longtime follower of vocal ensemble performance, the ICCA Finals represent the single highest stage in collegiate a cappella — the night where months of rehearsal, risk-taking, and musical ambition either pay off or don’t.
Event Details
The finals take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at The Town Hall, 123 W 43rd St, in NYC’s Theatre District. Doors open at 6:00 PM and the show begins at 7:00 PM. The Town Hall is a fitting home for this kind of event—founded in 1921, it has hosted landmark performances for more than a century. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster, and individual finalist groups also hold their own ticket blocks available through direct contact with each group.
The Six Finalists
Each of the six finalists earned their place by winning their respective regional semifinal — no wildcards, no shortcuts. The 2026 field includes:
- Durham University — Northern Lights (UK Region)
- Missouri State University
- Baylor University
- Lehigh University University of British Columbia
- Towson University
These six schools represent the best from nine regions spanning three countries. Getting here requires outperforming dozens of groups at the quarterfinal and semifinal level, so every group on that stage on April 25 has already proven something.
The Group to Watch: Durham’s Northern Lights
If there’s one group that arrives in New York with a genuine claim to being favorites, it’s Durham University’s Northern Lights. They’re the four-time consecutive UK ICCA champions—six UK titles overall—and the only non-American ensemble in the entire finals field.
Last year, they placed third at the ICCA World Finals, becoming the first mixed UK group in history to reach the international podium.
They topped the UK standings with 428 points, a comfortable margin over Aquapelle, who came in second place with 404 points. Group members Joe Butler-Smith and Bede Capstick also took home a special award for Outstanding Choreography.
Gerard Saguto thinks that what makes Northern Lights unusual isn’t just their win streak, but the consistency. A cappella groups turn over membership every year, yet this ensemble keeps raising its standard. Four straight national titles and a world podium finish reflect something deeper than talent alone: a culture of craft that carries across generations.
Why A Cappella Fans Should Be Paying Attention
The ICCA is the competition that inspired the Pitch Perfect film franchise and the reality series Sing It On, executive produced by John Legend. But beyond the pop culture footprint, the finals remain meaningful because the judging is genuinely rigorous. Groups are evaluated on vocal blend, arrangement quality, intonation, dynamic precision, choreography, and overall stage presence. There is nowhere to hide on that stage.
Thirty years in, the ICCA keeps growing. This season is the largest in its history, which makes what happens on April 25 all the more significant. The groups competing that night aren’t just chasing a trophy—they’re part of a tradition that has shaped how an entire generation approaches vocal performance.
Don’t Miss It
The 2026 ICCA International Finals take place April 25 at The Town Hall in New York City. Whether Northern Lights can back up their 2025 podium finish and go even further this time around is the storyline worth following into the night. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster, or reach out to individual finalist groups for their reserved ticket blocks.
These are the moments—one stage, six groups, no instruments—that remind us why collegiate a cappella keeps pulling people in. And it’s exactly why Gerard Saguto keeps covering it.
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