A warm welcome to Eksjö International Tattoo 2026! It will be a fantastic performance featuring an impressive lineup of professional musicians from near and far! Below are the participating orchestras from around the world.
Home Guard Band of Eksjö and Home Guard Band of Ystad
Picture: Homeguard Band of Eksjö
Picture: Home Guard Band of Ystad
The Home Guard Band of Eksjö and the Home Guard Band of Ystad will perform a joint display. Sweden currently has 25 Home Guard bands. Their main task is to perform music at various military ceremonies, but also perform concerts to entertain. The Eksjö band is a regular feature at our tattoos and sometimes in collaboration with colleagues from other home guard bands, like 2026.
Swedish Army Band
Picture: Arméns Musikkår
The Swedish Army Band is the largest orchestra within the Swedish Armed Forces and the largest professional military band in the Nordic region. Its size and musical range allow the band to handle a large number of engagements. In total, over 200 performances are held each year and can be regularly seen in marching through Stockholm during the Changing of the Guard parades. Internationally, the Swedish Army Band has performed at tattoos and music festivals in Finland, Germany, Norway, Denmark, France, and Switzerland.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipes, Drums and Dancers
Picture: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipes, Drums and Dancers
The first Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) band was formed in 1998 as part of the police force’s 125th anniversary and to perform at the Nova Scotia International Tattoo. Musicians who
participated went on to form their own bands in their hometowns across the country. Now, similar bands exist in several places, with identical uniforms and similar repertoires, making it easy to
“borrow” musicians from each other. The RCMP has performed at most major tattoos worldwide and is a classic pipe band. The dance group was formed in 2008 as a complement to the band. It consists of well-trained and experienced dancers who, like the band, have toured and performed at many tattoos and festivals.
French Artillery Band
Picture: French Artillery Band
The French Artillery Band is one of six French Army bands and stationed in Lyon. It’s history goes back to the mid 1700s. It has had different names over the years depending on the army’s organisational structure and adopted its current name in 2016 when it was also integrated into the French military music structure. The band has around 50 professional musicians and performs at ceremonies, parades, concerts, and international music festivals around the world.
U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa Band
Picture: The US Navy’s Europe and Africa Band
The U.S. Naval Forces Europe & Africa band is stationed in Naples, Italy, where NATO has its headquarters for southern Europe. The music association’s area of responsibility extends over 150 countries. The band performs in various formations, ranging from a Wind Ensemble of 45 people, as well as smaller groups such as Brass Quintets and Woodwind Quintets. Various types of music are offered, everything from marching music, classical music, jazz to rock and pop. The band was very early in contacting Eksjö International Tattoo to become the first American band to come to Sweden after our entry into NATO.
A new feature for Eksjö International Tattoo is the tattoo concert on Sunday 26th of July. The concert will be held in Olsbergs Arena, a great indoor concert hall in the heart of Eksjö. U.S. Naval Forces Europe & Africa Band will be the first tattoo cast band ever to enter the stage on Olsbergs Arena.
The program will consist of a wide variety of American music to include “Trust, Deter, Defend” by their own musician Brian Sadler. This piece was written to celebrate the unity of the U.S. Navy and their allies in Europe and Africa.
Shape internationella orkester (Shape International Band NATO)
Picture: Shape International Band NATO
The SHAPE International Band is stationed at the NATO headquarters in Belgium. The band consists of musicians from several countries and led by those from the United States. They perform at various concerts and events in Belgium and across NATO countries and their allies. At the tattoo they will provide our stage band at the rear of the arena in front of the church. A new addition to our tattoo in 2026. Hopefully they will be joined by a group of Lindy Hop dancers who will take to the arena and charm the audience in fitting with the big band music.
Jordanian Armed Forces Band, the Royal Circassian Honour Guard and the Royal Jordanian Honor Guard Silent Drill Team
Picture: The Jordan Defense Forces Band
The Jordanian Armed Forces Band, along with the Royal Circassian Honour Guard and the Royal Jordanian Honour Guard Silent Drill Team is a large unit of more than 500 musicians capable of forming numerous different ensembles, marching bands and concert orchestras. They perform at state visits, national ceremonies, and at multiple international tattoos and music festivals. In Eksjö they will bring a 50 piece wind band, a 14 soldier drill team, and a parade contingent of about 10 soldiers from the Royal Circassian Honour Guard. This will undoubtedly be an exotic and extraordinary feature of the tattoo, our first visitors from the Middle East.
Honoured Academic Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Picture: The Central Music Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The history of the Honored Academic Orchestra of Ukraine Exemplary Orchestra of the Armed Forces of Ukraine dates back to December 1945. Over the decades of its existence, the ensemble has become one of the leading musical symbols of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the country as a whole.
The Orchestra took a direct part in the creation and the first performance of the National Anthem of Ukraine. It is a permanent participant in military parades, official ceremonies, meetings of international delegations, nationwide cultural, and sporting events, and has also represented Ukraine at international festivals and competitions of military orchestras in Europe and Japan.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine, the Orchestra has continued its active concert activity, performing for civilian audiences and military personnel, including near combat zones, having conducted more than 2,000 concert events. Today, the ensemble plays an important role in maintaining morale and promoting Ukraine’s cultural presence worldwide.
Compare
Picture: Compare Karin Li Körsbärsdal
The compare of 2026 is Karin Li Körsbärsdal, born and raised in Katrineholm. Growing up she played the cello, sang in choirs and took part in everything that was produced in the city! After studies at the School of Theatre in Malmö, Karin is now a professional actor. She has been seen in roles at the Swedish first theatre Dramaten and at the city theatres in Stockholm and Helsingborg.
During recent years, Karin has played in theatre productions including “Machbeth”, ”A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and ”The Process”.
Karin sends her best regards and tells us that she is looking forward to be a part of Eksjö International Tattoo. Karin is humble and greatful for the confidence to guide the audience through the four tattoo shows.
