From July 2 to 5, 2026, Debrecen once again takes centre stage as the global hub for choral music. Founded in 1961 and revitalized in 2024, the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition is reaching a historic milestone with a 30th-anniversary edition celebrating both tradition and innovation, welcoming the world’s elite ensembles to Hungary.

Following a successful reimagining after the pandemic, the 30th Béla Bartók International Choral Competition features eleven premier choirs from the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. This year’s anniversary highlights Debrecen’s unique role as a global hub for contemporary choral music, featuring world premieres, a prestigious international jury, and a direct ticket for the Grand Prize winner to the European Grand Prix.

The Opening Ceremony and category sessions are free of charge to attend. For the Gala Concert and Grand Prize Competition, registration tickets for HUF 500 can be purchased at the Klassz Pont ticket office, the Kölcsey Centre ticket office, the Tourinform Office and via kodalyfilharmonia.jegy.hu.

Schedule

2 July
6:15 p.m. Parade from Dezső Baltazár Square to the Reformed Great Church
7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony (Doors open at cca. 6.45 pm ) at the Reformed Great Church

3 July
10:30 a.m. Sacred Music Category / 1 at St. Anne’s Cathedral
2:00 p.m. Sacred Music Category / 2 at St. Anne’s Cathedral of Debrecen
7:00 p.m. ‘Vivat, crescat, floreat!’ – Gala concert of the Béla Bartók International Choir Competition at Kölcsey Centre

Programme:

• Katalin Szalai: Sotto il cielo (world premiere)
• Péter Zombola: Exultate justi (world premiere)
• Josu Elberdin: Cantate Domino
• Julio Dominguez: Estou amor aqui
• Michael Barrett: Ndikhokele bawo

Lautitia Children’s Choir
Conductors: József Nemes

• Péter Tóth: O salutaris hostia
• Márton Levente Horváth: Deus, Deus meus (world premiere)
• Máté Balogh: Papuan Lunch (world premiere)
• György Orbán: A cselédlány könnye
• György Orbán: O, Mistress Mine
• John Rutter: Birthday Madrigals – V. When daisies pied

Kodály Choir Debrecen
Olga Vojevogyina (piano)
Conductor: Zoltán Kocsis-Holper

– intermission –

• Miklós Csemiczky: Credo (world premiere)

Panka Nagy (soprano), Judit Varga-Szathmáry (alto), János Szerekován (tenor), Lőrinc Kósa (bass)
Kodály Choir Debrecen, Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor: Zoltán Kocsis-Holper

4 July
10:00 a.m. Children’s & Youth Choirs Category at Kölcsey Centre
1:00 p.m. Free Category / 1 at Kölcsey Centre
3:00 p.m. Free Category / 2 at Kölcsey Centre

5 July
3:00 p.m. Grand Prize Competition and Award Ceremony at Kölcsey Centre

Source: bartokcompetition.hu | Photo credit: Papp László (Facebook)