National Bagadoù Championship

Historically, the championship is closely linked to towns like Brest and Lorient, where the first editions were held, and where the 1st category still competes.

The various meetings have also been held in cities such as Quimper, Vannes, Pontivy, Concarneau, Plœmeur, Pont-l'Abbé, Carhaix, and Saint-Brieuc.

Kevrenn de Kemperle and C'hlazig, who shared the titles in 1951 and 1952, came from larger towns but were still groups of ringing couples from the surrounding countryside.

La Kevrenn de Rennes was the first to make its mark during this period, winning the 1955 and 1956 editions, and taking three more titles in 1963, 1967, and 1969.

[4] The group continued to make a lasting impression in the 1970s and 1980s, but was penalized by abandoning the percussion section, and subsequently failed to regain the title.

[27] In 2022, Sonerion revived the championship, which exceptionally crowned its champion over a single round, during the Festival Interceltique de Lorient.

Every year since 1999, Bodadeg ar Sonerion has published and sold CDs and DVDs of the 1st category competitions in Brest and Lorient.

[28][29] Since 2017, a summary of the Brest 1st category competition has been broadcast on France 3 Bretagne as part of the Bali Breizh program.

The championship is governed by a set of rules that are regularly updated by Sonerion; the following information is based on the latest revision, dated July 2010.

The top two finishers in the final are eligible to compete in the 4th category the following year, but the jury may allow more groups if it wishes.