DCI adds Eclipse and Arsenal to Open Class for 2026

Eclipse and Arsenal just crossed the part of the Drum Corps International ladder most fans never see, moving into Open Class affiliate status and pushing the 2026 field to 18 active corps. For both organizations, the vote mattered because affiliate status is the bridge between SoundSport and full Open Class membership, where a local program starts looking and operating like a touring corps.

That bridge comes with a clear path and real expectations. DCI’s evaluation process, refined after the 2020 COVID shutdown, runs as a three-year progression: SoundSport candidate corps first, Open Class affiliate next, then full Open Class membership if the corps keeps meeting requirements. In practical terms, that means Eclipse and Arsenal gained more than a label. They also took on the responsibility to keep building the kind of rehearsal stability, staff support, and student experience that DCI wants to see before a corps makes the final jump.

Eclipse’s move felt especially earned. The Indianapolis corps has been part of DCI’s SoundSport International Music & Food Festival since 2023, and it picked up a gold rating in 2025. Director Jacquelyn Brice said drum corps played a huge role in her own development, and that she was grateful to offer similar opportunities to students. That is the real value of this kind of step-up. It creates another level of access for players who want a more serious summer experience without waiting for a full member slot to open up.

Arsenal’s climb has been just as deliberate. The El Paso corps was established in 2016 and became a staple in SoundSport before coming under the umbrella of Sun City Musical Arts in 2025. Last summer marked its first year as an Open Class candidate corps, and the organization expanded from four shows to five, adding stops in Albuquerque, Canyon, Mesa, and additional Texas-region events. Arsenal also finished 2025 with gold SoundSport ratings at every show for its production, Equilibrium.

Boise Gems had already been approved for Open Class just weeks earlier, and DCI said more corps were still moving through evaluation for possible 2027 advancement. That is why this vote matters beyond the two names on the page. It widens the lane for members, gives local supporters a clearer progression to follow, and keeps the drum corps pipeline growing from SoundSport into the national Open Class field.