73rd National Town Criers’ Championship 2026
Titles being awarded
The titles that are being competed for are:
National Town Crier Champion
1st, 2nd & 3rd positions based on the criteria:
Volume
Clarity (how clearly / distinctly the cry came across overall)
Diction (how well the crier enunciates his/her words)
Inflection (how much expression/feeling the crier puts into the cry, rather than a monotone)
Each Cry should be no more than 120 words long, including 3 x "Oyez!" and "God Save The King!", and must contain no swear words or offensive terms, and must not be political.
Best Dressed Crier
Best Dressed Consort
Spouse accompanying Crier, in costume.
The Judges' Choice Trophy
This is for a performance which may not have won on technical points, but was the most entertaining or impressive.
The order of the day
10:15 - Registration at Rye Town Hall
10.50: Assemble
All will assemble at Rye Town Hall:
Market St, Rye TN31 7LA
11.00: Procession
From the Town Hall to Gun Gardens
11.10: Introduction
Rye Town Crier Paul Goring will introduce the event. He will then give a "benchmark cry", which is a Cry against which those competing will be judged against. (As the host crier, he is not allowed to compete.)