The 30th Béla Bartók International Choir Competition will be held in Debrecen from July 2 to 5, 2026. Applications for this prestigious competition are being accepted until January 31 on the competition’s official website.
Founded in 1961 and revamped in 2024, the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition (BBCC) is one of the world’s most prestigious music competitions, aiming to showcase high-quality contemporary a cappella choral works.
Zoltán Kocsis-Holper, chairman of the artistic committee of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition, emphasized the following in connection with last year’s renewal of the competition:
“Above all, we want to create an occasion where singers from around the world can feel at home as part of a large community that loves choral singing and practices it at a high level, while also being able to showcase their skills and measure themselves against each other in a competitive setting.”
In the 30th anniversary competition in 2026, choirs will be able to compete in two sections and three subcategories. All rounds are open to the public, and the event will be hosted at several venues in Debrecen, with accompanying programs throughout the city adding color to the event. Further information on the application process is available here.
According to Dániel Somogyi-Tóth, chief music director of the city of Debrecen and director of the Kodály Philharmonic, the main organizer, it is important and significant that
“following the success of the newly launched Zoltán Kodály International Music Competition in 2022, the more than 60-year-old Béla Bartók International Choir Competition was able to be renewed just before its anniversary series of events, expressing the city’s commitment to quality, cultural innovation and the continuous support of young musical talent.”
The competition’s Grand Prize-winning choir has once again been invited to compete in the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, which is organized by Arezzo, Debrecen, Jurmala, Maribor, Tolosa, Tours, and Varna, with the location changing each year.
Next year’s Béla Bartók International Choir Competition will be organized by the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra Debrecen, Jeunesses Musicales Hungary, and Papageno.