Classical Guitar World Cup

The Classical Guitar World Cup (CGWC 2026) is an exciting, inclusive online competition open to people across the world and of all ages.

With an international jury, fantastic prizes available and a low-cost entry fee, the CGWC 2026 is set to be the largest online classical guitar competition EVER... so why not sign up and show the world what you can do!

Download the Competition Rules, Regulations and Registration Form as a PDF file here - simply click the icon:

You can also read the Competition Rules & Regulations below:

1) IMPORTANT DATES

01 Nov 2025, 00:00 GMT: CGWC2026 Rnd 1 registration opens.

31 Mar 2026, 23:59 BST: Deadline for competition registration; deadline for payment in full; deadline for Rnd 1 video entries.

30 Apr 2026, 23:59 BST: Rnd 2 qualifiers announced.

01 May 2026, 00:00 BST: Video entries for Rnd 2 begin.

30 Jun 2026, 23:59 BST: Deadline for Rnd 2 video entries.

31 Jul 2026, 23:59 BST: Grand Finalists announced.

01 Aug 2026, 00:00 BST: Video entries for the Final begin.

31 Aug 2026, 23:59 BST: Deadline for Grand Final video entries.

30 Sep 2026, 23:59 BST: CTWC 2026 winners announced.

05 Dec 2026, 19:30 GMT: Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony

2) HOW TO ENTER THE CGWC2026

The competition is open to all and any solo classical guitarists (no age restrictions) who complete the online Registration Form and pay the entry fee of 30 GBP in full before the deadline for competition registration, unless they:

are under the age of majority on 05 Dec 2026 and do not have the written consent of their parent or guardian on the Registration Form

come from a country on KCA's proscribed list
are unable to enter the United Kingdom

Under 18s are the responsibility of their parent or guardian at all times. If a competitor is under 18 on 05 Dec 2026, their parent or guardian must sign the relevant section on the Application Form in order for the competitor to take part.

3) RECORDING & MUSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Use a file transfer programme such as www.wetransfer.com to send your videos to us at cgwc2026@gmail.com. All videos must be recorded in a single, uncut and unedited take. Cuts are permitted between separate pieces, including parts of, for example, a sonata. Both hands and the whole upper body of the competitor must be visible on the video at all times. Videos should be presented as though in a live concert, taking into consideration speech, mode of dress and overall presentation. At the start of their video, the competitor must state their name, nationality and the name of the competition. For example: “I am Brian Jones, I am from the USA and this is my Rnd 1 competition entry for the Classical Guitar World Cup 2026.”

In Rnd 1, the video entry must not exceed 10 minutes; in Rnd 2 the limit is 15 minutes, and in the Grand Final it is 20 minutes. The timing of the entry counts from the sound of the first note to the plucking of the last note. Competitors cannot repeat a piece recorded as an entry for one round, in a subsequent round.

The programme is free, without set pieces. All music must be performed acoustically, on an unamplified nylon-strung guitar. Repertoire should be considered carefully so that it showcases the competitor's best skills, musical inspirations and technical and artistic abilities.

The videos of the top 100 competitors (that is, those who qualify for Rnd 2) will be used both on our Facebook page and YouTube Channel. By submitting videos, competitors give permission for KC Artists to use them as we see fit, and they give away their intellectual copyright to their video and sound recordings, including those made by or on behalf of KCA at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony. All videos for a particular round will be released simultaneously on YouTube.

4) JURY

The panel of international judges is known as the Jury. In Rnd 1, KC Artists decide which hundred competitors will progress to Rnd 2, after which the Jury chooses the ten Grand Finalists and, finally, the Classical Guitar World Cup winners of 2026.

The names of members of the Jury will be published on the KC Artists website at www.kernowconcerts.co.uk before judging takes place.

Jury members may not judge their own students, family members or friends.

5) SCORING

When the top 100 competitors have been decided, they will be scored individually by each member of the Jury out of a maximum of 25 points. These scores will be tallied, and the average calculated. The average scores will be published on this website and used to determine who progresses to the Grand Final. In the Grand Final, the top 10 competitors' scores will be reset.

The Jury's decision is final and cannot be appealed or revoked.

6) PRIZES

GOLD: A handmade concert guitar by Graham Emes Guitars, worth approximately 7,500 GBP; silver trophy; a 40 minute performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony to be held in Cornwall, UK with an inclusive fee of 500 GBP; two nights hotel accommodation and a chauffeur; two full concert performances on the KCA International Guitar Series (or equivalent) in 2027; Management Consultancy with KCA for 2027; sponsors' gifts; CGWC2026 Champion Certificate.

SILVER: Silver trophy; a 20 minute performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony with an inclusive fee of 250 GBP; two nights hotel accommodation and a chauffeur; Management Consultancy with KCA for 2027; sponsors' gifts; CGWC2026 Silver Award Certificate.

BRONZE: A 20-minute performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony with an inclusive fee of 250 GBP; two nights hotel accommodation and a chauffeur; Management Consultancy with KCA for 2027; sponsors' gifts; CGWC2026 Bronze Award Certificate.

POPULAR VOTE: The competitor whose individual video receives the most likes on the CGWC2026 YouTube channel will receive 100 GBP by transfer and a certificate.

4th-10th places will receive a CGWC Finalist Certificate.

Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes will be awarded only at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony. By entering the CGWC2026, competitors agree to attend in person if they are placed in the top 3, and understand that not doing so will mean they lose their prizes. Competitors are responsible for ensuring that they meet the criteria necessary to enter the United Kingdom (e.g. ETA, visas).

All competitors will be allowed two complimentary tickets in addition to their own to attend the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony. They will also be able to purchase extras at a discounted rate before they go on sale to the general public.

All prizes will be awarded except where:

a Gold, Silver or Bronze prize winner does not claim their prize at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony, in which case the organisers (KC Artists) reserve the right to retain or redistribute all or some of the unclaimed prizes.
it emerges that a prize winner broke one or more of the competition rules.
a prize winner brings the competition into disrepute, in the opinion of the organisers.
100 or fewer competitors enter the CGWC2026 – in which case cash prizes may be reduced in order to cover our costs.

7) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CGWC2026 CHAMPION

The Champion agrees to present the prize guitar on their social media with photographs and videos using the hashtag #CGWC2026.

8) PROSCRIBED COUNTRIES

The CGWC2026 does not currently accept entries from people who currently reside in the following countries (listed alphabetically):

Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Central African Republic, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Russia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen or Zimbabwe.

9) ADDENDA

KC Artists is not responsible for any costs incurred by competitors, including travel, insurances etc.

The rules and regulations in this document are subject to change. All decisions of the organisers are final.