ATLANTA — The Georgia State University Panther Band has been selected as a featured marching band in the Southern Division of the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) for 2026, marking the fourth time in program history the ensemble has received this regional distinction.
The honor follows a peer review process in which college band directors across the Southern Division evaluated submitted performances. The Panther Band’s performance at the Milton High School Exhibition in November 2025 was selected as one of the top submissions among institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
“I’m so proud of the work of the Panther Band this year,” said Devin Reid, interim director of athletic bands. “These students are some of the best there are and this accomplishment showcases exactly that.”
In addition to its 2026 selection, the Panther Band has received multiple honors from CBDNA over the past decade, including top marching band recognition in 2020, top-five honors in 2012 and 2016, and a national top-10 honor in 2013. Collectively, these awards place Georgia State among a small group of collegiate marching band programs with sustained regional and national recognition.
The Panther Band’s history of excellence extends well beyond adjudicated performances. The ensemble represented the state of Georgia in the Presidential Inaugural Parade in 2013, appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2014, performed in the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show in 2019 and made its debut in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 2022. With these appearances, the Panther Band became the only marching band in Georgia to have performed in all three nationally televised parades.
Additional highlights include performances at multiple collegiate bowl games between 2017 and 2024, appearances in film and television and a featured drumline performance at the opening of the College Football Hall of Fame.