Projection. Order reflects Marching Index rankings as of October 16, 2026; UIL Area contests determine actual advancement.
Projected State slots: 4
Estimated Area field: 22 bands (projection). Basis: 20 bands qualified for this Area in 2025, adjusted to 22 for the 2026–28 UIL realignment; 8 2026 entries posted so far. UIL rule: in 5A, each Area certifies its top 2 bands to State; when 15 or more bands qualify for the Area, one band is certified for each five qualifiers. Bands meeting the UIL judges’ ranking rule also advance (not projected). UIL Marching Band Advancement and Ranking Procedures.
5A Area CConfirmed
Participating UIL regions: Region 3, Region 4, Region 20, Region 21.
| # | School | UIL region / status | Verified 2026 results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poteet (Mesquite) | Region 3 · Region pending | USBands Burleson Regional finals 87.4 |
| 2 | Lakeview Centennial (Garland) — Provisional | Region 3 · Region pending | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL State prelims, 27th place (2025) |
| 3 | North Mesquite (Mesquite) — Provisional | Region 3 · Region pending | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL State prelims, 31st place (2025) |
| 4 | Highland Park (Dallas) — Provisional | Region 20 · Region: Division 1 (10/14/2026) | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL Area C finals, 5th place (2025) |
| Projected State advancement line — top 4 (projection) | |||
| 5 | Garland (Garland) | Region 3 · Region pending | USBands North Texas Regional 83.9 |
| 6 | West Mesquite (Mesquite) — Provisional | Region 3 · Region pending | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL Area C finals, 6th place (2025) |
| 7 | Mt. Pleasant (Mount Pleasant) — Provisional | Region 4 · Region: Division 1 (10/14/2026) | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL Area C finals, 7th place (2025) |
| 8 | Naaman Forest (Garland) | Region 3 · Region pending | USBands Midlothian Regional finals 77.2 |
| 9 | South Garland (Garland) | Region 3 · Region pending | USBands North Texas Regional 75.1 |
| 10 | Terrell (Terrell) — Provisional | Region 3 · Region pending | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL Area C finals, 9th place (2025) |
| 11 | Texas (Texarkana) — Provisional | Region 4 · Region: Division 1 (10/14/2026) | Provisional — based on 2025 UIL results: UIL Area C finals, 10th place (2025) |
Sources
- UIL Official Area Marching Contest entries, 2026 and 2025. https://www.texasmusicforms.com/areamarchrptuilpublic.asp
- UIL Area Marching Band Contest Information. uiltexas.org/music/marching-band/area
- UIL advancement procedures. uiltexas.org