Back to bang the drum for Britain’s nextgen beat makers, the Zildjian Young Drummer of the Year 2026 at Lighthouse on Sunday 15 February pits the UK’s top ten young drummers against each other in a day like no other.
The contest, held at Lighthouse since 2023, is now in its 24th year and has been the launching pad for many professional drummers, not least Sugababes MD and Stormzy drummer Matty Brown, Ed Sheeran’s drummer Dexter Hurcules, Paulie Stanly McKenzie (PSM) – MD/percussion for Harry Styles – and Triston Evans from The Vamps. All have been back to judge over the past two years.
“It’s an amazing competition,” says Danny Pearson, a drum teacher with 30 years’ experience from Christchurch, whose student Oscar Robinson is in this year’s final.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity for the finalists. It’s filmed and shown around the world, and the way it’s put together is incredibly professional.”
Danny’s student Ben Clark won the competition in 2010, and, before Oscar’s appearance this year, he had another student appear in back-to-back finals.
“I’ve had one or two students in the top 40 every year, but what I tell all of them is that the dedication and the focus required to put a two-minute solo together, practice it to perfection, and then film it under pressure is a lot of work. It’s not easy and even if they don’t get in the final or the top 40, what they’ve done in that year of work will have really improved them as a player.
“That’s why the competition is so important – it gives these young players a focus. It really consumes them. I’ve seen it with Oscar. He’s practicing every day, hours on end. The work that goes into it is phenomenal because he wants to perform to his best.
“So whatever happens, whether he wins it or not, his level has gone up and up and up – just in the last few weeks since he found out he was in the final.”
The ten finalists, all 16 or under, each play one of three kits arranged onstage. They draw lots for the running order on the morning of the final and are then isolated from each other’s performances with no access to phones or social media. Each finalist faces three challenges – a two-minute drum solo, followed by their response to an original track recorded for the final, before joining a band on stage and playing another piece of music they will have heard for the first time that day.
“I’ve been learning the track and getting it my head, but the thing I’m most excited for in the competition is to meet the other drummers and make some new friends,” says Oscar. “To be honest though, I never expected to make it to the top 10 so I’m super happy to be in the final.”
Oscar has been playing drums since he was 11, but his interest became more serious when he started working with Danny at Priestlands School in Lymington in Year 9.
“I’d say I’m definitely a rock drummer, I think that comes from being a heavy hitter, which is not always a good thing. But most of what I’ve been working into my solo comes from drum&bass and jungle. I like to play across styles, I play some funk and some hip hop as well.”
The partnership with Zildjian, the world’s oldest manufacturer of musical instruments founded in Constantinople in 1623, has been instrumental in taking Young Drummer of the Year to the global stage. Last year saw the first US final with a new final for the DACH Region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) being stage this year and further expansion in the pipeline.
The judges are only revealed on the day but previous panels have included superstars such as Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Stewart Copeland (The Police), Ian Paice (Deep Purple), Matt Helders (Arctic Monkeys), Steve White (Style Council/Paul Weller), Cherisse Osei (Simple Minds), Sarah Jones (Harry Styles), Bill Bruford, Thomas Lang, comedian and drummer Al Murray, Eddy Thrower (Busted), and the late Aaron Spears (Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus).
:: Tickets to experience Zildjian Young Drummer of the Year 2025 are available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/zildjian-young-drummer-of-the-year-2026/ and on 01202 280000. Each ticket includes free entry to a prize draw to win a Zildjian cymbal on the day.
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Photo above shows last year’s finalists with winner Jack Manders (centre). Photo by Dave Hughes
