Competitions › Wagner Voices Singing Competition (International Competition for Wagner Voices)
Wagner Voices Singing Competition (International Competition for Wagner Voices)
Next edition
No future edition is announced on the official pages we could check.
Overview
New international competition for young singers at the start of their stage careers with potential for Wagner repertoire, first held in 2026 for the Bayreuth Festival's 150th anniversary. The final is accompanied by members of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra.
- Organiser
- Richard Wagner Verband Bayreuth e.V., in cooperation with the Bayreuth Festival
- Instruments
- Voice
- Category
- Opera & general voice
- Age limits
- Born after 1 January 1991 (2026)
Rules & repertoire
Registration & fee
Online application form with a video (at least one Wagner excerpt and one aria of choice, not older than one year) and documents in German or English; no application fee mentioned.
Rounds & time limits
- Application review (video): up to 40 invited
- Pre-selection: 16 chosen
- Semifinal (public concert): 6 chosen
- Final with members of the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra (conductor Axel Kober)
Repertoire
Five pieces: three from Wagner operas and two arias/scenes by other composers (or Wagner), original language and key; pre-selection: a Wagner aria or scene plus optionally a second piece, max. 10 minutes.
Jury & prizes
Jury
Not published on the official pages we could check.Prizes
- 1st prize: EUR 15,000
- 2nd prize (Wolfgang Wagner Prize of the Gesellschaft der Freunde von Bayreuth): EUR 10,000
- Audience prize: EUR 5,000
- Each finalist: EUR 2,500
Past editions
- 2026 — Bayreuth (pre-selection 5-6 Aug, semifinal 8 Aug, final 11 Aug 2026, Friedrichsforum) source
Summarised from official sources, last checked 10 Nov 2026. Main source