CGWC 2026 RULES

CGWC 2026: RULES & REGULATIONS 1) IMPORTANT DATES (ALL TIMES SHOWN ARE UK LOCAL TIME) 01 Nov 2025, 00:00: CGWC 2026 Rnd 1 registration opens 31 Mar 2026, 23:59: Deadlines for competition registration, Rnd 1 video entries and payment in full 30 Apr 2026, 23:59: Rnd 2 qualifiers announced 01 May 2026, 00:00: Video entries for Rnd 2 begin 30 Jun 2026, 23:59: Deadline for Rnd 2 video entries 31 Jul 2026, 23:59: Grand Finalists announced 01 Aug 2026, 00:00: Video entries for the Grand Final begin 31 Aug 2026, 23:59: Deadline for Grand Final video entries 30 Sep 2026, 23:59: Counting commences for the winner of the Popular Vote Award. 01 Oct 2026, 00:00: CGWC 2026 prize-winners announced 28 Nov 2026, 19:30: Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony​ 2) HOW TO ENTER THE CGWC 2026 The competition is open to solo classical guitar players (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. You may NOT enter the competition if you: are under the age of 18 on 28 Nov 2026 and do not have the written consent of your parent or guardian to enter CGWC 2026 come from a country on KCA's proscribed list are unable to enter the United Kingdom for whatever reason. Under 18s are the responsibility of their parent or guardian at all times. A competitor who is under 18 on 28 Nov 2026 must have the permission of their parent or guardian in order to take part. Any prize-winning competitor who is under 18 on 28 Nov 2026 and who travels to the United Kingdom must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. ​​3) RECORDING & MUSICAL REQUIREMENTS Submit your videos to us at CGWC2026@gmail.com using WeTransfer (or just follow the instructions on the website). All videos must be recorded in a single, uncut and unedited take. More than one piece may be performed on videos. 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 account 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 be no shorter than 5 minutes but 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 plucked note to the sound of the last plucked note. Competitors cannot repeat a piece recorded as an entry for one round in a subsequent round. The programme is free, that is to say 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. There is no limit on the style of repertoire - you may play anything from Dowland to Bach to Metallica. The videos of the top 100 competitors (those who qualify for Rnd 2) will be used both on our Facebook page and will feature on our 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) THE JURY The panel of international judges is known as the Jury. In the opening round, KC Artists decide which 100 competitors will progress to the next stage, at which point the Jury chooses the ten Grand Finalists and the Classical Guitar World Cup winners of 2026.​The names of members of the Jury are as follows: Taiwo Adegoke (NGA); Yvonne Bloor (GBR); Brad Conroy (USA); Gustavo Dotas (ARG); Graham Emes (GBR); Fabrizio Ferraro (ITA); Jeffrey Goodman (USA); KC Artists, represented by Ben Salfield (GBR) & Aleksandra Sapok (POL); Sándor Papp (HUN); Bobby Rootveld (NLD); Matteo Staffini (ITA);Tali Roth (ISR); Luca Schieppati-Tognazzi (ITA); Franciszek Wieczorek (POL). Jury members may not judge their own students, family members or friends.​​ Doing so will result in the competitor being disqualified. If you have any doubts, please contact us. 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 as a league table on the website and used to determine who progresses to the Grand Final. For 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 multi-thousand pound, handmade concert guitar by Graham Emes Guitars; a silver trophy; a performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony (35 minutes) 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; CGWC 2026 Champion Certificate. SILVER: Silver trophy; a performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony (20 minutes) with an inclusive fee of 250 GBP; two nights hotel accommodation and a chauffeur; Management Consultancy with KCA for 2027; CGWC 2026 Silver Award Certificate. BRONZE: A performance at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony (20 minutes) with an inclusive fee of 250 GBP; two nights hotel accommodation and a chauffeur; Management Consultancy with KCA for 2027; CGWC 2026 Bronze Award Certificate. POPULAR VOTE: The competitor whose individual video receives the most likes on the CGWC 2026 YouTube channel by 30 Sep 2026 at 23:59 will receive 100 GBP by transfer and a CGWC 2026 Public Vote Certificate. Competitors placed 4-10 will receive a CGWC 2026 Finalist Certificate by email and free entry to the next edition of the Classical Guitar World Cup.​ All competitors will receive a CGWC 2026 Competitor's Certificate by email. Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes will be awarded only at the Gala Concert & Awards Ceremony. By entering the CGWC 2026, 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). 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 extra tickets 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 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 CGWC 2026 – in which case cash prizes may be reduced in order to cover our costs. 7) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CGWC 2026 CHAMPION The Champion agrees to present the prize guitar on their social media with photographs and videos using the hashtag #CGWC2026, and to appear in our publicity as requested following the event, and ahead of the following edition of the CGWC. ​8) PROSCRIBED COUNTRIES The CGWC 2026 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.​ This list is subject to change, according to advice/direction from the UK government. 9) ADDENDA KC Artists is not responsible for any costs incurred by competitors, including travel, insurances etc. Entry fees are non-refundable. The rules and regulations in this document, including dates and times, are subject to change. All decisions of the organisers are final.