COMPETITION RULES 2026 PICC
1st Edition of the Pehlivanian International Conducting Competition (PICC 2026)
Official Rules
The registration to the 1st Edition of PICC 2026 is based on the acceptance of the following official rules.
By submitting an application, each candidate confirms full understanding and agreement to all terms, procedures, and deadlines outlined herein.
Participation in the competition implies acceptance of all decisions made by the Jury and Organizing Committee as final and binding.
Eligibility
The competition is open to all candidates of all nationalities who are 18 years of age or older.
There is no upper age limit.
Inclusivity
PICC 2026 welcomes artists from all backrounds – aspiring, emerging, or professional conductors – regardless of their formal training, education, or previous experience.
An orchestral conducting diploma is not required.
All applications will be considered without discrimination based on sex, race, religion, political belief, sexual orientation, or disability.
PICC is proud to be an equal oppportunity promoter.
Prizes and Guest Engagements
A total of $75,000 in prize money will be awarded to selected winners and finalists.
In addition, numerous guest performance opportunities will be offered through our Partner Orchestras.
As well as potential Assistant Conductor or Guest Observant Artist invitations from leading Opera Houses and Theatres around the world.
These collaborations aim to recognize candidates who demonstrate exceptional talent, artistic potential, and professional promise.
Goal of PICC 2026
The goal of PICC 2026 is to provide conductors from all backgrounds with a truly international platform to be seen, heard, and evaluated by leading industry professionals, enabling them to showcase their artistry and launch or advance an international conducting career.
Step 1: Application
- All candidates wishing to enter the Pehlivanian International Conducting Competition must complete the online Application Form for Step 1.
- Applications open on December 15, 2025 and must be submitted by February 15, 2026.
- Designated jury members of PICC will review all applications and select candidates to participate in the Global Pre-Selection (GPS) round. Live auditions, in 15 major capitals of the World.
- Exceptional permissions may be granted for participation via Global Video Submissions (GVS) when travel is not possible.
- Up to 144 conductors will be invited to compete in the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB).
Step 2: Global PreSelection (GPS) Round
- Once an application is submitted and the application fee of 130€ is received, each applicant will be informed by email of their acceptance to proceed to Step 2.
- Candidates invited to the Global Pre-Selection Round must complete the Step 2 form, (which will be sent by email), submit the registration fee of 275€, and select their preferred GPS audition city.
- Deadline: February 21, 2026.
Repertoire Global Pre-Selection (GPS)
- Each audition will feature two pianists performing on two pianos, provided by PICC.
- A panel of two to three judges appointed by PICC will evaluate each city’s auditions.
- The list of GPS judges will be announced at a later stage.
The obligatory repertoire of Step 2: (GPS) will be:
Brahms, Symphony No. 1 – 1st and 2nd movements only.
Live Global PreSelection Round / 15 (GPS) Audition Cities
Global video submission (GVS)
Candidates who cannot travel to one of the 15 GPS cities may apply for exceptional permission to compete via Global Video Submission (GVS).
Valid Reasons to be allowed to use the exceptional permission, Global Video Submission (GVS) audition process:
- Resident of South America, Africa, Middle East, Turkey, Australia & New Zealand, Balkan Region (except Slovenia) and Former Republics of the Soviet Union and Russian Federation.
- Permission may also be granted to candidates who cannot travel due to valid reasons such as visa denial, physical disability, serious injury, illness (including COVID-19).
- All medical reasons must be verified by an official medical certificate.
Requirements:
- Submit the Step 2 online form
- Pay the 275€ registration fee
- Provide a video recording (free choice, any repertoire), not older than one year
- Deadline: February 21, 2026
Recordings will be used exclusively for competition purposes.
Step 3: Preliminary Round Bled (PRB)
- Candidates who successfuly complete Step 1 and Step 2 will be notified by email if selected to compete in Step 3: the Preliminary Round in Bled (PRB).
- This round will take place on November 7 – 9, 2026, at the Festival Hall of Bled, Slovenia.
- Up to 144 conductors will be selected from all GPS and GVS participants.
- A final administrative fee of 65€ will be required to confirm participation.
- All PRB candidates will conduct with two pianos and two official PICC pianists.
The Special Jury designated for the (PRB) Round, will be
comprised of 5 international conductors:
The International Jury Members of PICC 2026 are:
During the Preliminary Round Bled (November 7-9, 2026), all candidates will have access to the Career Development Conference, held simultaneously at Festival Hall Bled.
Attendance is free of charge for all Applicants (Steps 1 – 3).
The conference will feature industry experts, workshops, and networking opportunities designed to support career sustainability in classical music.
PICC 2026 Provisional Program
The event consists of two main parts:
- The international Conducting Competition, and
- The three-day Career Development Conference (November 7-9, 2026).
Candidate Preparation:
- All accepted candidates are expected to prepare the entire competition repertoire in advance,
- Bring their own scores, and
- Wear appropriate concert attire for all rounds
All accepted and registered candidates are automatically enrolled to attend the three-day Career Development Conference, which takes place simultaneously with the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB). The Conference will be held in the Auditorium of the Festival Hall, Bled, from November 7 to 9, 2026.
Welcome Meeting:
- A Welcome Meeting and Ballot Drawing for all candidates of the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) will take place on November 6, 2026, at 19:00 in the Festival Hall, Bled, Slovenia.
- Attendance is mandatory for all participants candidates.
Selection of Finalists:
- After completion of the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) on November 9 (evening), the Special Jury will announce 18 Finalists selected to advance to the orchestral rounds.
- The Final Rounds will begin on November 10 (morning) with the 16th-finals, performed with orchestra.
- The Drawing of Lots for the performance order will take place immediately following the announcement of the finalists.
All 18 chosen Finalists will be provided by PICC 2026 with:
- Hotel accommodation and breakfast from November 10 to November 15, 2026 in Bled.
These 18 finalists are eligible for:
- The Special Jury Prize,
- the Pehlivanian Prize, and
- one or more Assistant Conductor or Invited Guest Collaborations with Partner Opera Houses.
Competition Timeline Overview
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov 6, 2026 | Welcome Meeting & Draw of Lots |
| Nov 7–9, 2026 | Preliminary Round (PRB) + Career Development Conference |
| Nov 10–14, 2026 | Orchestral Rounds & Awards Ceremony |
| Nov 14, 2026 (Eve) | Final Concert & Awards Ceremony |
Repertoire and round structure
The Pehlivanian International Conducting Competition 2026 (PICC 2026) consists of three main Steps and multiple competitive rounds, culminating in the Final Concert with orchestra.
November 7-9, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
Up to 144 conductors will be chosen by the Global Pre-Selection (GPS) Judges to compete in the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB).
This round will be conducted with 2 pianos (two pianists).
A Jury panel of five internationally renowned conductors will adjudicate the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) from November 7-9, 2026.
All registered candidates will conduct the following repertoire, performed on two pianos:
- Béa Bartók – Concerto for Orchestra – 4th Movement “Intermezzo interrotto”(Allegretto). (Edition: Boosey & Hawkes, two-piano reduction)
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Symphony 6 “Pathétique”, 1st Movement (Adagio, Allegro non troppo). (Two piano reduction)
November 10, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
18 conductors will be selected by the Jury of the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) to advance to the 16th-Final Round, also known as the “Stravinsky Round.”
Repertoire:
- Igor Stravinsky – Danses Concertantes (1940–1942)
Candidates are expected to prepare all five movements of the work in advance. The Jury will determine which movements each conductor will perform during their appearance.
Movements:
- Marche
- Pas d’action
- Thème varié
- Pas de deux
- Marche (reprise)
Orchestra:
- Performed with the POA Festival Orchestra
Format:
- 20 minutes per candidate
- All rounds with orchestra are open to the public, except for the rehearsal in the Final Round.
- All repertoire is mandatory.
November 11, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
12 conductors will be selected by the International Jury to advance to the 8th-Final Round, also known as the “Mozart Round.”
Repertoire:
Candidates will prepare one of the following symphonies in full and may select two movements of their choice to conduct:
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (“Haffner”)
(Edition: Breitkopf & Härtel)
or
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550
(Edition: Bärenreiter)
Orchestra:
Performed with the POA Festival Orchestra
Format:
- 30 minutes per candidate
- All rounds with orchestra are open to the public, except for the rehearsal in the Final Round
- All repertoire is mandatory
November 12, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
8 conductors will be selected by the International Jury to advance to the Quarter-Final Round, also known as the “Opera Round.”
Repertoire:
- Giuseppe Verdi — La Traviata
The exact opera excerpts to be prepared will be announced after the results of all accepted candidates from the Global PreSelection (GPS) and Global Video Submission (GVS) Rounds are published.
The selected scenes will include music for Violetta, Alfredo, Giorgio Germont, and the orchestral interludes of the opera.
Orchestra:
Performed with the POA Festival Orchestra
Format:
- 45 minutes per candidate
- All rounds with orchestra are open to the public, except for the rehearsal in the Final Round
- All repertoire is mandatory
November 13, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
6 conductors will be selected by the International Jury to advance to the Semi-Final Round, also known as the “Concerto Round.”
Prize winners from the following International Competitions will perform as soloists in this round.
Soloists:
- Busoni International Piano Competition (2025)
- Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition (2026)
Orchestra:
Performed with the Slovenian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra (RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra)
Format:
- 60 minutes per candidate, including rehearsal and performance with the soloist
- Each candidate will rehearse with the soloist and then conduct the complete concerto in performance conditions
- All rounds with orchestra are open to the public, except for the rehearsal in the Final Round
- All repertoire is mandatory
Repertoire:
Semi-finalists will conduct one of the above soloists in a work from the standard piano concerto repertoire.
The official repertoire list for this round will be announced after the publication of results for all accepted candidates from the Global PreSelection (GPS) and Global Video Submission (GVS) Rounds, by the Artistic Director of PICC 2026.
November 14, 2026 — Festival Hall, Bled
3 conductors will be selected by the International Jury to advance to the Final Round, also known as the “Symphony Round.”
Repertoire:
Finalists will conduct one of the following symphonies, to be determined by drawing of lots for both the performance order and the assigned work:
- Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64 (complete)
(Edition: Breitkopf & Härtel) - Antonín Dvořák — Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, “From the New World” (complete)
(Edition: Breitkopf & Härtel) - Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 “Eroica” (complete)
(Edition: Peters)
Orchestra:
Performed with the Slovenian Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra (RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra)
Format:
- 75 minutes per candidate to rehearse the assigned symphony with orchestra
- The rehearsal will be held behind closed doors, attended only by members of the International Jury
- In the evening, each finalist will perform their assigned symphony in its entirety, in front of a full audience at Festival Hall, Bled
- All repertoire is mandatory and must be fully prepared in advance
Deliberations and Awards
Immediately after the third finalist has completed their performance, the International Jury will hold its final deliberations.
The Awards Ceremony will take place immediately following the Final Round, during which all prizes will be presented and the Winners of the Pehlivanian International Conducting Competition 2026 (PICC 2026) will be announced in front of the public at the Festival Hall, Bled, Slovenia.
Awards
GRAND PRIZE
$50.000
2nd Place
$10.000
3rd Place - $5.000
Ustanova Klasika Prize
4th Place
$3.000
5th Place
$2.000
6th Place
$1.000
ORCHESTRA PRIZE
$1.000
+ RECORDING with RTV SLOVENIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE
$1.000
PUBLIC PRIZE
$1.000
PEHLIVANIAN PRIZE
$1.000
In loving memory of
Dame Arpiné Pehlivanian
All Prizes may be shared. The Jury reserves the right not to award the Grand Prize or other prizes.
International Jury members who serve as Artistic Directors / General Directors of their respective orchestral institutions reserve the right, at their sole professional discretion, to potentially offer guest engagement opportunities to certain finalists of the Competition.
Similarly, Jury members who serve as directors of their own artistic management firms reserve the right to offer personal management representation to finalists. Such decisions are made autonomously by the respective Jury members and do not constitute an obligation of the Competition.
Partner Orchestras:
Winners and/or Finalists will receive guest performance opportunities during the 2027 and/or 2028 seasons with our partner orchestras, including:
Partner Opera Houses:
All 18 Finalists selected from the Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) are eligible to be awarded, Assistant Conductor or official Guest Observer invitations with the following Opera Houses around the world:
