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 has ended. Once the preselection jury has completed its work, the results will be published on this website.

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, Chairperson
Sophie Dervaux, France
Krisztina Faludy, Austria
Andrea Merenzon, Argentina
Maria José Rielo Blanco, Spain
Johannes Schwarz, Germany
Eyal Streett, Israel

JURY ORGAN

Andres Uibo, Estland, Chairperson
Sophie-Véronique Cauchefer-Choplin, France
Thierry Escaich, France
Zuzana Ferjencikova, Slovakia
Peter Kofler Germany/Italy
Gianluca Libertucci, Italy
Kimberly Marshall, USA

JURY PERCUSSION

Martin Grubinger, Austria, Chairperson
Camille Baslé, France
Johannes Fischer, Germany
Sanja Fister, Germany/Croatia
Timothy Genis, USA
Marta Klimasara, Germany/Poland
Vassilena Serafimova, Bulgaria/France

JURY STRING QUARTET

Vineta Sareika, Germany/Latvia, Chairperson
Pierre Colombet, France
Veronika Hagen, Austria
François Kieffer, France
Asbjørn Nørgaard, Denmark
Arnau Tomàs Realp, Spain
Pawel Zalejski, Poland