List of Classical Guitar Competitions

Most serious classical guitarists want to compete at one point or another to showcase their skills. However, trying to find competitions on the internet can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

So, to help you, I made a list of all the major classical guitar competitions, organized by country. If you would like to add a competition to this list, or you find that something in this list that is outdated, please send me message.

There are many small, local guitar competitions that are not included on this list. To find out about local guitar competition, contact your local guitar society.

United States Competitions:

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Guitar Foundation of America - ICAC

• Website: click here
• Location: Changes every year
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: June - July
• Age Limit: 18+
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: $7500, Naxos Recording, GHA Recording, Mel Bay DVD, GFA sponsored concert tour, Carnegie Hall Debut, Free strings and other prizes

Parkening International Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Malibu, CA (Pepperdine University)
• Frequency: Every 3 Years
• Time of Year: May - June
• Age Limit: 18 - 30
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: $30,000

Joann Falletta Guitar Concerto Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Buffalo, NY
• Frequency: Every 2 Years
• Time of Year: June
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Choose from list of guitar concertos
• First Prize: $10,000, concerto performance, and other prizes

Appalachian Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Boone, NC (Appalachian State University)
• Frequency: Yearly
• Time of Year: April
• Age Limit: 18+ (for division one)
• Required Pieces: No
• First Prize: $1,000

Boston GuitarFest Performance Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Boston, MA (New England Conservatory)
• Frequency: Yearly
• Time of Year: June
• Age Limit: 18+
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: $5,000 and concert at next year's guitarfest

Annual Texas Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Dallas, TX (UT Dallas)
• Frequency: Yearly
• Time of Year: March
• Age Limit: 18+
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: $8,000 (total prizes)

Indiana Classical Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Indiana (Indiana University)
• Frequency: Yearly
• Time of Year: October
• Age Limit: 18+
• Required Pieces: No
• First Prize: $1,500

Sierra Nevada Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Olympic Valley, CA
• Frequency: Yearly
• Time of Year: July
• Age Limit: 18+
• Required Pieces: No
• First Prize: $1,000

Spain Competitions:

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Tarrega International Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Benicassism, Spain
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: September
• Age Limit: under 33
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €12,000, CD recording, and various concerts

Miguel Llobet Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Barcelona, Spain
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: November
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €5,000

Italy Competitions:

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Augustin Barrios Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Nuoro, Italy
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: November
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €6,000, recording, guitar, and concerts in Italy

Michele Pittaluga Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Alesandria, Italy
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: September
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €13,000, concerts in Italy, and other prizes

Mottola Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Mottola, Italy
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: July
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €3,000

Gargnano Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Brescia, Italy
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: September
  
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €4,200

Germany Competitions:

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Iserlohn International Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Iserlohn, Germany
• Frequency: every two years
• Time of Year: August
• Age Limit: all ages
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: €3000, concert in Carnegie Hall, and other prizes

Japan Competitions:

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Tokyo Guitar Competition

• Website: click here
• Location: Tokyo, Japan
• Frequency: yearly
• Time of Year: December
• Age Limit: none
• Required Pieces: Yes
• First Prize: 900,000 Yens, and other prizes

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