CURRENT INFORMATION & SERVICE

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.

The application period runs until March 2026, followed by the video pre-selection.

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.

TIMETABLE 2026

BASSOON

Wednesday, 2 September: Start of 1st round
Saturday, 5 September: Start of 2nd round
Tuesday, 8 September: Semi-finals
Friday, 11 September: Finals

ORGAN

Sunday, 30 August: Start of 1st round
Friday, 4 and Saturday, 5 September: Semi-finals
Wednesday, 9 September: Finals

PERCUSSION

Friday, 4 September: Start of 1st round
Monday, 7 September: Start of 2nd round
Thursday, 10 September: Semi-finals
Sunday, 13 September: Finals

STRING QUARTET

Friday, 4 September: Start of 1st round

Monday, 7 September: Start of 2nd round
Thursday, 10 September: Semi-finals
Saturday, 12 September: Finals

Concert of price winners

CHAMBER CONCERT
Wednesday, 16 September, 8 p.m.

CONCERT WITH THE MUNICH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Thursday, 17 September, 8 p.m.

CONCERT WITH THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
OF BAVARIAN RADIO
Friday, 18 September, 8 p.m.

Jury

JURY BASSOON

Gustavo Núñez, Uruguay, Vorsitz
Sophie Dervaux, Frankreich
Krisztina Faludy, Österreich
Andrea Merenzon, Argentinien
Maria José Rielo Blanco, Spanien
Johannes Schwarz, Deutschland
Eyal Streett, Israel

JURY ORGAN

Andres Uibo, Estland, Vorsitz
Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, Frankreich
Thierry Escaich, Frankreich
Zuzana Ferjencikova, Slowakei
Peter Kofler Deutschland/Italien
Gianluca Libertucci, Italien
Kimberly Marshall, USA

JURY PERCUSSION

Martin Grubinger, Österreich, Vorsitz
Camille Baslé, Frankreich
Johannes Fischer, Deutschland
Sanja Fister, Kroatien
Timothy Genis, USA
Marta Klimasara, Deutschland/Polen
Vassilena Serafimova, Bulgarien

JURY STRING QUARTET

Vineta Sareika, Deutschland/Lettland, Vorsitz
Pierre Colombet, Frankreich
Veronika Hagen, Österreich
François Kieffer, Frankreich
Asbjørn Nørgaard, Dänemark
Arnau Tomàs Realp, Spanien
Pawel Zalejski, Polen