International Handbell Symposium

Every two years the International Handbell Symposium takes place with participants from all over the world. The idea for the International Handbell Symposium was born in Japan in 1982. It is organized in turn by one of the members of the International Hand Bell Committee. The first International Hand Bell Symposium took place in August 1984 at the Humboldt State University in Arcata, California, USA, with participants from the USA, Japan and one participant from Canada.

From August 6 to 9, 2018 the first International Handchime Festival took place as part of the 18th International Handbell Symposium.

  • 1st International Handbell Symposium, Arcata, California, USA, 1984
    • August 13 - 17, 1984
  • 2nd International Handbell Symposium, Gotemba, Japan, 1986
  • 3rd International Handbell Symposium, Exeter, England, United Kingdom, 1988
  • 4th International Handbell Symposium, Seoul, South Korea, 1990
  • 5th International Handbell Symposium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, 1992
  • 6th International Handbell Symposium, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 1994
  • 7th International Handbell Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, 1996
  • 8th International Handbell Symposium, Chiba, Japan, 1998
  • 9th International Handbell Symposium, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, 2000
  • 10th International Handbell Symposium, Busan, South Korea, 2002
  • 11th International Handbell Symposium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2004
  • 12th International Handbell Symposium, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 2006
    • "Unity in Diversity"
  • 13th International Handbell Symposium, Orlando, Florida, USA, 2008
    • "Ringing in Unity"
  • 14th International Handbell Symposium, Osaka, Japan, 2010
    • "Echoes for Peace"
  • 15th International Handbell Symposium, Liverpool, England, United Kingdom, 2012
    • "The World in One City"
    • July 31 - August 4, 2012
  • 16th International Handbell Symposium, Jeju, South Korea, 2014
    • "Ring for Beautiful World"
    • August 5 - 9, 2014
  • 17th International Handbell Symposium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 2016
    • "Music of Our Lands and Our Lives"
    • July 26 - 30, 2016
  • 18th International Handbell Symposium, Cairns, Queensland, Australia, 2018
    • "Together in Harmony - The Reef and Rainforest Ring"
    • August 6 - 11, 2018
  • 19th International Handbell Symposium, Hong Kong, China, 2020
    • "Sound of the Pearl - Here the Pearl, Hear we Ring"
    • planned for August 4 - 8, 2020 but got cancelled
  • 20th International Handbell Symposium, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 2022
    • "Out of Many, One"
    • August 1 - 6, 2022
  • 21st International Handbell Symposium, Hamamatsu, Japan, 2024
    • August 12 - 17, 2024
  • 22nd International Handbell Symposium, NewcastleGateshead Quays, United Kingdom, 2026
    • August 4 - 8. 2026