The traditional gala concert of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, titled “Vivat, crescat, floreat!”, will take place on July 3 from 7:00 PM at the Kölcsey Center in Debrecen, featuring several world premieres.

The 30th, jubilee Béla Bartók International Choir Competition is set to begin on July 2 in Debrecen amid intense international interest, featuring eleven choirs from four continents entering the competition this year.

Following a successful post-pandemic restructuring, the 30th Béla Bartók International Choral Competition will take place from July 2–5, 2026, featuring eleven premier choirs from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This year’s jubilee highlights Debrecen’s unique role as a global hub for contemporary choral music, featuring world premieres, a prestigious international jury, and a direct ticket for the Grand Prize winner to the European Grand Prix.

Between July 2 and 5, Debrecen will once again become the global hub of international choral singing. Celebrating its milestone 30th edition this year, the Béla Bartók International Choral Competition (BBCC) welcomes the world’s finest choirs in the spirit of tradition and renewal.

In 2026, the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition celebrates its 30th edition, marking decades as one of the world’s most prestigious professional choral events. To mark this jubilee, we spoke with Zoltán Kocsis-Holper, Choirmaster of the Kodály Choir and Chief of the competition’s Artistic Committee, about tradition, modernization, and the state of contemporary choral music.

From July 2 to 5, 2026, Debrecen will once again take center stage as the global hub for choral music. Founded in 1961 and revitalized in 2024, the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition (BBCC) is reaching a historic milestone. This 30th-anniversary edition celebrates both tradition and innovation, welcoming the world’s elite ensembles to Hungary.

Only a few days remain for ensembles wishing to participate in one of the world’s most prestigious professional choral competitions. Applications for the 30th Bartók

On 4 August, the 29th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition concluded with a grand prize concert and the announcement of the results.

The 29th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition takes place from 1-4 August. This year’s Grand Prix competition, open to four choirs, will be organised on 4 August at 3 PM in the Great Hall of the Kölcsey Centre.

A Bartók Béla Nemzetközi Kórusverseny valamennyi fordulója nyilvános, az események pedig online is követhetőek.