The Northwest Association for Performing Arts (NWAPA) is a governing body and competitive circuit of high school marching bands, color guards, and percussion ensembles based in Portland, Oregon.

A majority of the current member high schools are based in Oregon, with others from Washington, Idaho, and California.

On July 3, 2020, NWAPA announced it would not sanction any marching band events due to the coronavirus pandemic.

[3] NWAPA is not affiliated with the similarly named North-West Pageantry Association (NWPA) based in the Puget Sound region.

[4] Prior to the circuit's formation, marching band competitions in the Pacific Northwest utilized differing, and often conflicting, adjudication systems.

The new circuit's paramount requirement was all members agreed to utilize the same adjudication system at any competitions they hosted.

In 1997, the circuit adopted a modified version of the adjudication manual published by the Western States Marching Band Conference (WSMBC), which has been continually updated.

[5] At its peak in 2006, the circuit grew to fifty-five member high schools and independent groups.

[7] NWAPA operates as a public benefit nonprofit corporation registered in the State of Oregon.

Schools or groups who participate in two or more events in an academic year are required to pay a membership fee.

Founding documents, early event films and videos, competition recaps and scores, judges commentary, and other materials have been lost.

A very small sample of competition scores and recaps have been preserved via the Internet Archive, or by fansites such as Marching.com and World of Pageantry.

The most popular events are those whose history predate the founding of the circuit, including: Pacific Coast Invitational sponsored by Sprague High School, Sunset Classic sponsored by Sunset High School, and the University of Oregon Festival of Bands.

Considerations for awarding an event include available volunteer personnel and experience, past show sponsor history, and available facilities.

[13] As a result of this change, adjudicator travel, lodging, and other administrative functions are coordinated by NWAPA and not the show sponsor.

This alleviated a number of on-going issues for sponsors, such as travel and lodging arrangements for visiting adjudicators.

NWAPA's other responsibilities at events include: managing the flow of bands through the competitive space, assisting the show sponsor with any administrative needs on-site, and providing adjudication and tabulation.

The size of each neighborhood is based on the number of competing bands who are advancing to the final round.

Oregon Crusaders and Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps have entered units into competition in both color guard and percussion classes.

Former WGI Independent World Class finalists Northern Lights and Rhapsody Winter Guard were NWAPA members.