(You can download the entire brochure under this link.)
1. The Leipzig Bach Competition 2026 will be held in the category violin / Baroque violin. The competition is open to the public and will take place in Leipzig from 13 to 21 March 2026.
2. The Bach Competition expects participants to meet very high standards. They should have a confident stage manner and be experienced at performing in the historical style required by the Competition programme. It is expected that candidates use urtext editions or historical sources. A great number of manuscripts of Bach’s works can be found at www.bachdigital.de.
3. The Competition is open to violinists of any nationality who are at least 16 years old. The participants must have been born after 21 March 1993.
4. By applying for the competition, you agree to the competition rules. Applications for the competition may be submitted between 1 August 2025 and 30 September 2025 (12:00 noon CEST) via Muvac at www.muvac.com.
a) The application consists of the following:
- A video containing the required pre-selection programme
- A scan of a birth certificate, passport or ID card
- Programme form
- A portrait (300 dpi, portrait, at least 1080 x 1560 pixels)
- Artistic curriculum vitae
b) Guidelines for the video recording:
- The video must contain the preselection programme; the order can be chosen by the candidate.
- The video must be recorded from a fixed camera position. The hands must be visible.
The video recording must show the candidate without interruption. There may be splices between indicidual works, but not between the individual movements of a work.
- It is not permitted to submit older/existing recordings.
- Please observe the online instructions (on www.bachwettbewerbleipzig.de) to the letter. You must comply with these guidelines. No exceptions can be made!
- The recording should be made in appropriate venues. High sound quality is expected.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Once applications have been verified, they shall be passed on to the pre-selection jury.
5. The application fee is 100 euros. The application fee is to be remitted as part of the application on Muvac. If your application is rejected, the costs will not be refunded; if you are admitted to the competition, no further costs will be incurred. Please note that the application fee will not be refunded in the event that a participant withdraws from the Competition.
6. The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 27. The selection jury shall choose entrants to participate in the Competition on the basis of the submitted videos. Successful entrants shall be notified in writing (e-mail) by the Competition office by 20 November 2025. Applicants shall be entitled to participate in the Competition once they have received this
notice.
7. Participants must organize and pay for all travel to and from the Competition as well as board and accommodation in Leipzig themselves.
8. Participants are encouraged to bring their own accompanists (harpsichord only) with them at their own expense. The name of the accompanist must be included on the programme form. Chamber ensembles are not allowed. If neccessary the Competition office can provide one or more accompanists for a flat fee of 25 euros per round. This fee must be paid in cash before each round. The Competition shall provide participants withpractice rooms at no charge.
9. The organiser is entitled to make audio and video recordings of all performances and other events during the competition and to use these in connection with the competition, e. g. live streams of the competition auditions, photos of participants etc. The Bach Archive and the Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR) will record the performances in whole or in part and broadcast them live and/or at a later date (on radio and internet) and/or pass these recordings on to other broadcasters. Competition participants are not entitled to any remuneration for these recordings. Participants and their representatives are not allowed to record Competition rounds.
10. On arrival, Competition participants must report in person for registration on 12 March 2026. The Competition office will be in the Bach Archive (Thomaskirchhof 15/16, 04109 Leipzig).
The Competition consists of the first round, the second round and the final. The participants will appear in random order. This will be decided by drawing lots.
Every prizewinner and finalist must be present at the awards ceremony after the Final on Friday, 21 March 2026, in order to receive his or her award personally.
- The prizewinners are entitled to use the title »Bachpreisträger« (Bach Prizewinner).
- The prizewinners undertake to perform in the prizewinners’ concerts during Bachfest Leipzig 2026.
- The winner of the 1st prize will perform a concert in the Mendelssohn Hall of the Gewandhaus on 14 June 2026 as part of the 2026 Bachfest Leipzig.
- The Bach Marschall Foundation will loan out two instrumentsto participants, one a modern violin and one a violin built following a historical model.
- The jury shall decide on the award of grants, special prizes and concert engagements for participants. The decisions will be announced during the presentation of prizes. An audience award will be decided by public vote. All participants will receive a diploma documenting their achievement.
12. The Competition result shall be decided by the jury. The jury’s decision is always final. Legal recourse is excluded. The jury shall assess participants on the basis of the jury regulations which are published on www.bachwettbewerbleipzig.de. Jurors may not take part in the assessment of their own students. Assessment shall be carried out confidentially.
After each round, jurors shall be available to talk to competitors who are not continuing to the next round as well as after the prizes have been announced. Competitors are forbidden from talking with jury members until after elimination or after the finals.
13. Regarding data privacy information, see: www.bach-leipzig.de/en/neutral/privacy-policy
After the end of the Competition, the application data will be deleted. The organiser is entitled to publish the email addresses of the finalists on www.bachwettbewerbleipzig.de and share them with media representatives.
14. The German text is legally binding.
Bach Competition Leipzig 2026
Member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, Genève
Under the patronage of the Prime Minister of the Free State of Saxony // Michael Kretzschmer Artistic Director // Prof. Dr. Michael Maul Head of the Jury // Prof. Reinhard Goebel Organizer // Leipzig Bach Archive Foundation Director // Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Peter Wollny CEO // n. n.
in cooperation with
Hochschule für Musik und Theater »Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy« Leipzig
Gewandhaus zu Leipzig
The Bach Competition is sponsored by the City of Leipzig, the Free State of Saxony and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media and co-financed by public funds on the basis of the approved budgets.
Ww would like to thank all supporters and sponsors
Sparkasse Leipzig
Vereinigung der Freunde des Bach-Archivs Leipzig e. V.
Seaside Park Hotel Leipzig
