FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PICC 2026 will take place from 7–14 November 2026 at Festival Hall Bled, Slovenia.

The Preliminary Round Bled (PRB) runs from 7–9 November, followed by the orchestral rounds and Final Concert from 10–14 November 2026.

PICC consists of two integrated parts:

1. The international conducting competition (three steps and 5 Orchestral Rounds).
2. The three-day Career Development Conference (7–9 November), held during the PRB.

The competition is open to conductors of all nationalities aged 18 or older.

There is no upper age limit, and no requirement for formal conservatory training.

Yes. The competition welcomes aspiring, emerging, and professional conductors at all career stages.

PICC 2026 evaluates all applicants without discrimination based on sex, race, religion, political belief, sexual orientation, or disability.

We are committed to being an equal-opportunity promoter.

Applications open 15 December 2025 and close 15 February 2026.

1. Visit the Application section on our website.
2. Complete the Step 1 Application Form.
3. Pay the 130 € application fee.
4. You will receive a confirmation email once your full application is received.

After review by designated jury members, selected candidates will be invited to Step 2 – Global PreSelection (GPS).

GPS is the second step of the competition. Selected applicants audition live in one of 15 cities or, if eligible, through the Global Video Submission (GVS) option.

Invited candidates must:

• Complete the Step 2 form,
• Pay the 275 € Step 2 fee,
• Select their preferred GPS city.

Deadline: 25 February 2026.

GPS will be held in major international hubs such as Berlin, Vienna, Oslo, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Paris, Ljubljana, Milan, and London.

All candidates conduct:

Brahms — Symphony No. 1 (Mov. 1 and 2), performed on two pianos.

Candidates who cannot travel to a GPS city due to:

• Living in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Turkey, Australia/New Zealand, Balkan region (except Slovenia), former Soviet republics, or the Russian Federation,
• Visa denial,
•  Serious injury, illness, or disability (with documentation).

Up to 144 conductors will be invited to the PRB in Bled.

Yes. A 65 € administrative fee confirms participation in the PRB.

Performed on two pianos:

• Bartók — Concerto for Orchestra, 4th movement
• Tchaikovsky — Symphony No. 6 “Pathétique,” 1st movement

A PRB Jury of 5 international conductors select 18 Finalists to advance to the orchestral rounds beginning 10 November 2026.

The first 3 (16 th final, 8 th final and Quarter-final) rounds are performed by the POA Festival Orchestra, one of the two official partner orchestras of the competition.

Round 4 and 5, (Semi-Final and Final) rounds are performed by the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, one of the two official partner orchestras of the competition.

All orchestral rounds and the Final Concert are open to the public, except for the Final Round rehearsal.

A professional development program focusing on career sustainability, including talks, panels, mentoring, and practical sessions with leading experts.

Yes. All candidates (Step 1 to Step 3) may attend free of charge.

PICC 2026 awards a total of 75,000 USD in prizes, plus guest engagements, mentorship opportunities, and invitations to collaborate with partner orchestras, opera houses, and festivals.

Yes. All 18 finalists receive hotel accommodation and breakfast in Bled from 10–15 November 2026.

Travel to and from Slovenia is the responsibility of each candidate.

The working language is English.

Candidates must check their visa requirements for Slovenia/Schengen. Invitation letters can be provided after acceptance.

All jury members are listed on the Home page under the Jury button.

Where possible, eliminated candidates may request short feedback from designated jurors or mentors, in (PRB) Round.

Some rounds or events may be recorded or streamed. By participating, candidates accept that their image and performances may be used for official promotion.

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