Competition Rules

VIII INTERNATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITION OF MADRID
“Leona Cases”

from June 9 to 12, 2026

PLACE

Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando
C. Alcalá, 13 Centro 28014 Madrid
How to get there

YOUTH FINAL

Thursday, June 11
10:00 am

FREE ADMISSION UNTIL CAPACITY IS REACHED

PROFESSIONAL FINAL AND AWARD CEREMONY

Friday, June 12
10:00 am

RC Strings audience award – professional category
(attend as an audience member and vote for your favorite artist)

FREE ADMISSION UNTIL CAPACITY IS REACHED

READ RULES

RULES

Those who want to participate in the VIII International Guitar Competition of Madrid must enroll in theFestivalas an “active student” (Mode A or B, David Russell) or asOyente+Concurso (Attendance as guest student + Competition).

* Those competitors enrolled as guest student+Competition can enroll later as “active student” (if there are places). In that case, the price for participating in the competition will be deducted from the registration fee.

** More info about Masterclass, Registration and Fees can be found on the “Masterclass” section.
There will be two categories:

❖ Youth: from 12 to 20 years old

❖ Professional: from 21 years old (no limit age)

No limit in the number of inscriptions.
Rounds and Repertoire:Salón de Actos “Jesús Burguera” – C.P.M. Amaniel y Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (RABASF)

Youth Category

❖ Preliminar Online Round (until April 25, 23:59h):5 to 8 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice. The video must be sent before April 25 at 23:59h. You will find instructions and features on point 5 of these rules. 15 participants will advance to the Semifinal round.

❖ Semifinal Round (June 9 in person, 10:00h, CPM Amaniel):8 to 10 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice. 5 participants will advance to the Final round.

❖ Final Round (June 11, in person, 10:00h, RABASF):12 to 15 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice and of different styles or periods. Pieces performed during previous rounds cannot be repeated.

Professional Category

❖ Preliminar Online Round (until April 25, 23:59h):8 to 10 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice. The video must be sent before April 25 at 23:59h. You will find more instructions and features on point 5 of these rules. 15 participants will advance to the Semifinal round.

❖ Semifinal Round video (June 10, in person, 10:00h, CPM Amaniel):12 to 15 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice, including different styles or periods. 5 participants will advance to the Final round.

❖ Final round (June 12, in person, 10:00h, RABASF):20 to 25 minutes (of music)of a programme of your choice, including different styles or periods and at least one piece from a Spanish composer from XX or XXI centuries. Total duration must not exceed 25 minutes (of music). Pieces performed during previous rounds cannot be repeated.
The draw for the order of performance in the semi-final in both categories will be conducted online. Contestants will receive a link with information on the date and time of the draw at a later date. The draw for the final will be announced after the semi-final verdict has been announced.
Documents and videosIn order to participate in the International Guitar Competition of Madrid, participants must fill out the registration bulletin and send it to the e-mailformacion@festivalguitarramadrid.com,including a copy of ID card or Passport (scanned version) and the payment receipt of the registration fee before the deadline.

Once competitors have registered, they must send a link to the Preliminar Round video no later than April 25. The performer must specify the video is for the VIII International Guitar Competition of Madrid and must say his/her name, category and repertoire before playing.

– Links to YouTube, Vimeo or similar. The link may be public or private (competitor’s choice)

– The recording must show the performer clearly.

– Interruption of the recording is not allowed, as well as editing and playback.

– The video must be recorded for this competition. Old recordings will not be allowed.

Deadline: until April 25, 2026

* Protection of Personal Data: The data collected will be processed in accordance with applicable legislation, and in particular Regulation (EU) 2016/679.
The verdict for the Semifinal round in each category will be announced after the end of performances once the jury has deliberated.The verdict of the Preliminar Online round will be published on May 1, 2026.
The awards ceremony for both categories will be held on June 12, after the end of the Professional Final Round and once the jury has deliberated. The results of the Final Round for both categories will be announced in this moment.
Candidates who have won the first prize at the International Guitar Competition of Madrid in previous years cannot compete in the same category again.
Jury in both categories will be made up of prestigious professionals and important figures in Guitar and Music.
The decisions of the jury are final and subject to no right of appeal.
The jury may declare undecided prizes.
Prizes can increase. It will be noticed before the registration deadline.
By registering to participate in the competition, participants accept the terms and conditions.
Participation in the competition implies the transfer to International Guitar Festival of Madrid the rights of reproduction and distribution, of photographic and recording material, under the legislation on Intellectual Property, through the media considered, all non-profit. Semifinal and Final rounds may be live-streamed.
Organization is not responsible for anything that does not appear in these rules.

VIEW PRIZES YOUTH CATEGORY

First Prize

❖ Sulayr Lattice guitar
❖ Professional Sulayr guitar case
❖ Free course at the 2027 Madrid International Guitar Festival (one class)
❖ Free course at the José Tomás Villa de Petrer International Guitar Festival (two classes at intermediate level)
❖ D’Addario backpack with strings and accessories (valued at €220).
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories valued at €115
❖ 5 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Guitarras de Luthier store bundle valued at €50
❖ €200 Cuerdasguitarra.com pack
❖ Certificate of accreditation

Second Prize

❖ Free course at the 2027 Madrid International Guitar Festival (one class)
❖ D’Addario pack (valued at €120)
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories valued at €100
❖ 4 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Pack valued at €100 from Cuerdasguitarra.com
❖ Certificate of completion

Third Prize

❖ D’Addario pack (valued at €120)
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories
❖ 4 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Certificate of accreditation

VIEW PRIZES PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY

First Prize (+10.000 euros)

❖ Cash prize of €1,500
❖ Concert at the Madrid International Guitar Festival in 2027
❖ Concert as part of the Andrés Segovia Guitar Competition in La Herradura
❖ Concert at the Ciudad de Mula International Guitar Festival
❖ Sulayr Lattice Pro guitar.
❖ Leona Cases guitar case
❖ Free course at the 2027 Madrid International Guitar Festival (one class)
❖ Free course at the José Tomás Villa de Petrer International Guitar Festival (two classes at advanced level).
❖ D’Addario backpack with strings and accessories (valued at €250).
❖ 6 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories valued at €215
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Guitarras de Luthier store bundle valued at €150.
❖ Certificate of accreditation

*Each concert will be paid. The accommodation costs will also be paid.

Second Prize

❖ Cash prize of €700
❖ Free course at the 2027 Madrid International Guitar Festival (one class)
❖ D’Addario pack (valued at €120)
❖ 6 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories valued at €125
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Certificate of accreditation

Third Prize

❖ Cash prize of €300
❖ Discount on the 2027 Madrid International Guitar Festival course
❖ D’Addario pack (valued at €120)
❖ 6 sets of Knobloch Strings
❖ RC Strings pack of strings and accessories valued at €110.
❖ Savarez pack of strings
❖ Certificate of achievement

*All cash prizes subject to withholding tax conforming to the current legislation

Special Prize for the best performance of Spanish music (Professional Cat.)The finalist who best performs a piece by a Spanish composer from XX or XXI centuries will receive 6 Knobloch set strings.

Special Prize for the best female finalistThe best female in the Final round of the Professional Category, chosen by the jury, will receive 6 Knobloch set strings.

Audience Special Prize RC Strings (Professional Category)The audience who attend the final round of the Professional Category will have the opportunity of choosing their favourite finalist. The one who gets more votes will receive a special set by RC Strings.

All other finalists of each category will receive string packages provided by cuerdasdeguitarra.com and an Accrediting diploma.