2026 Competition Applications are now OPEN
Download 2026 Syllabus Here
Lawrlwythwch y Silabws 2026 Yma
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- Closing date for applications: Thursday 28 November 2024
- Successful applicants notified by: Wednesday 11 December 2024
- First day of competitions: Wednesday 9 July 2025
A1. MIXED CHOIRS (SATB) (Sunday 12 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £550, 2nd £350 and 3rd £200
- Mixed choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or over on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 10 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country, and at least one unaccompanied work (original or an arrangement).
- Choirs may combine the native country work and the unaccompanied work.
A2. Barbershop Choirs (Sunday 12 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £550, 2nd £350 and 3rd £200
- Choirs with a minimum of 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 16 to 25 on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 10 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country.
A3. FEMALE VOICE CHOIRS (SSAA) (Sunday 12 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £550, 2nd £350 and 3rd £200
- Choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or over on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 10 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country, and at least one unaccompanied work (original or an arrangement).
- Choirs may combine the native country work and the unaccompanied work.
A4. MALE VOICE CHOIRS (TTBB) (Sunday 12 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £550, 2nd £350 and 3rd £200
- Choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or over on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 10 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country, and at least one unaccompanied work (original or an arrangement).
- Choirs may combine the native country work and the unaccompanied work.
A5. OPEN CHOIRS (Saturday 11 or Sunday 12 July 2026 – date to be confirmed at selection)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £550, 2nd £350 and 3rd £200
- Male, female or mixed choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- No age limits apply in this category.
- Choirs are required to prepare a programme of up to 10 minutes of music.
- One genre only (e.g. a cappella, barbershop, chamber, classical, glee, gospel, jazz, pop, show, musical theatre) of up to 10 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one unaccompanied work. Choirs may include elements of choreography into their performance.
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CHOIR OF THE WORLD: PAVAROTTI TROPHY
The winners of competitions A1 to A5 will compete against each other on the final night of competitions, Sunday 12 July 2026, for the Pavarotti Trophy, the title of Choir of the World, and £3,000. It is, therefore, important that all choirs competing in A1 to A5 stay until Monday 13 July 2026. For the Choir of the World competition, choirs are encouraged to vary their winning programme from the previous round, but will again be required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 10 minutes of music, which must include at least one unaccompanied work.
The Jayne Davies Conductor’s Prize of £200 and an International Medal will be awarded to the most inspirational conductor of the Choir of the World finalists.
A6. JUNIOR CHILDREN’S CHOIRS (Wednesday 8 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £350, 2nd £200 and 3rd £100
- Choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 11 or under on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 6 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country.
A7. SENIOR CHILDREN’S CHOIRS (Wednesday 8 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £350, 2nd £200 and 3rd £100
- Choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged between 12 to 18 on the first day of the competitions.
- Choirs are required to prepare a contrasting programme of up to 6 minutes of music.
- Programme must include at least one work (original or an arrangement) written by a composer from the choir’s native country.
A8. CHILDREN’S OPEN CHOIRS (Wednesday 8 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £350, 2nd £200 and 3rd £100
- Male, female or mixed children’s choirs of no fewer than 16 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or under on the first day of the competitions.
- Programme must not exceed 6 minutes.
- Choirs are required to prepare a programme in one genre only
- (e.g. a cappella, barbershop, classical, glee, gospel, jazz, pop, show, musical theatre).
- Programme must include at least one unaccompanied work.
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YOUNG CHOIR OF THE WORLD
As a way of celebrating the fantastic achievements of the children and young people in the winning choirs, the Eisteddfod has introduced a special International Trophy and an additional £750 for the winner of the Young Choir of the World. The winners of competitions A6 to A8 will compete against each other in the opening of the Wednesday evening concert (9 July). It is, therefore, important that all winning choirs stay until the end of the of the first half of the concert. For the final, each choir is required to sing the same programme from their winning category.
A Conductor’s Prize of £200 for the most inspiring conductor and an International Medal will be awarded to the most inspirational conductor of the Young Choir of the World finalists.
A9. CHILDREN’S FOLK SONG CHOIRS (Thursday 9 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £250, 2nd £175 and 3rd £100
- Choirs of no fewer than 12 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or under on the first day of the competitions.
- Programme must not exceed 7 minutes.
- Choirs are required to prepare a programme of two contrasting choral arrangements of traditional folk songs of the choir’s own country.
A10. ADULT FOLK SONG CHOIRS (Friday 10 July 2026)
Prizes: 1st International Trophy and £250, 2nd £175 and 3rd £100
- Male, female or mixed choirs of no fewer than 12 voices.
- Singers must be aged 18 or over on the first day of the competitions.
- Programme must not exceed 7 minutes.
- Choirs are required to prepare a programme of two contrasting performances of traditional folk songs of the choir’s own country.