It took place for the first time in 1952: the ARD International Music Competition, one of the most renowned and large-scale competitions of its kind. It was founded by the public broadcasting radio stations of the Federal Republic of Germany, managed by Bavarian Broadcasting in Munich and takes place every year in September.
For many of today’s world-famous artists, an award from the ARD International Music Competition in Munich represented a spring board to their major careers: Jessye Norman, Francisco Araiza, Natalia Gutman, Christoph Eschenbach, Mitsuko Uchida, Thomas Quasthoff, Yuri Bashmet, Christian Tetzlaff, Sharon Kam, Heinz Holliger, Peter Sadlo, Maurice André and the Quatuor Ebène, to name but a few.
Over the years, the ARD International Music Competition with its annually changing line-up of musicians has developed into an internationally singular and highly regarded institution. It offers not only singers and pianists but also all the other instrumentalists the podium of an international competition, both for solo and chamber music performance. Since 2001, the presence of contemporary music has been considerably reinforced through commissions to prominent composers.
In 2026, the ARD International Music Competition will celebrate its 75th anniversary with a spectacular combination of disciplines. The organ discipline will return after 15 years – one competition round will take place in St. Michael’s Church in the heart of Munich. Another new location will host the first two rounds of the string quartet discipline: the Amerikahaus on Karolinenplatz. Bassoon players and percussionists will give their best at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts. Accommodation for participants who have progressed to the second round will be provided by the competition.
The candidates will be judged by world-famous jury members, including Martin Grubinger, Gustavo Núñez, Sophie Derveaux, Thierry Escaich, Vineta Sareika, Pierre Colombet and Veronika Hagen.
All auditions are open to the public - admission is free for the first two performances, while tickets are required for all other events.
| Kategorie | Orgel, Fagott, Streichquartett, Percussion |
| Anmeldeschluss | 15 Feb - 27 Mär 2026 |
| Finalrunden | 09 - 13 Sep 2026 |
| Wo | München, Deutschland |
| Altersgruppen | The competition is open to musicians born between 1997 and 2009 in the categories bassoon, organ and percussion. String Quartet: total age maximum 120; single members not younger than 17 nor older than 35 |
Organ: First Prize € 15,000 | Second Prize € 10,000 | Third Prize € 5,000
Bassoon: First Prize € 15,000 | Second Prize € 10,000 | Third Prize € 5,000
String quartet: First Prize € 30,000 | Second Prize € 24,000 | Third Prize € 18,000
Percussion: First Prize € 15,000 | Second Prize € 10,000 | Third Prize € 5,000
The competition also offers special prizes, concert invitations and masterclasses for the prize winners.
