The 2026 International Competition for the Interpretation of Contemporary Music will be held in Rome Italy organised by the the Flavio Vespasiano Foundation after the great success of the previous editions. The foundation is continuing its intention to contribute to the deepening of the study of the interpretation of modern and contemporary music, by establishing this event which is dedicated to individual performers and vocal and instrumental chamber ensembles.

The 2026 edition will boast the prestigious patronage of the recently established Ennio Morricone Foundation with the aim of enhancing the repertoire of absolute music of the great composer. Precisely with this in mind, in addition to the categories already present in previous years, the new Ennio Morricone Special Prize is established, intended for the best interpretation of a piece by the great composer.

Individual performers or vocal and instrumental formations (up to a maximum of five performers) under 36 can participate in the competition. For chamber groups, the average age of the participants must not be more than thirty-five years. The selection of candidates will be made on the basis of the submission of a video recording lasting a minimum of 10 minutes up to a maximum of 20 minutes.

The winners, in addition to receiving a scholarship, will be invited to perform within the programming of the eighteenth edition of the Reate Festival, which will take place in Rome and Rieti in October, November and December 2026. The winner of the Accordion category will also perform a concert at the GAMO Association (Gruppo Aperto Musica Oggi) on the occasion of their upcoming concert season.

The winners’ concerts will take place in November 2026 at the Auditorium Parco della Musica “Ennio Morricone” in Rome.

The categories are accordion, singing, piano, percussion, Chamber Music for strings, and Chamber Music for winds.

The participants will be judged by Lucio Gregoretti, for the Ennio Morricone Special Prize, Monica Bacelli, for the Singing category, Andrea Lucchesini, for the Piano category, Francesco Gesualdi, for the Accordion category, Antonio Caggiano, for the Percussion category, Giovanni Sollima, for the Chamber Music with Strings category, Alessandro Carbonare, for the Chamber Music with Winds category.

The deadline for sending registrations is set for 30th September, 2026. Results on which the participation of the winners in the Reate Festival 2026 will be scheduled and announced on 30th October, 2026.

Download competition rules and entry form in English here: 2026FlavioVespasiano_English.pdf
Download competition rules and entry form in Italian here: 2026FlavioVespasiano_Italian.pdf