This page lists classical guitar festivals, competitions, and major academies. The list is focused on significant festivals with multiple artists and preference to international competitions. Smaller summer school programs may not be included (I can’t list every one). You can help by suggesting a festival. If you are a festival promoter or director, make sure to let me know if your link address (URL) changes. Also see my list of Classical Guitar Societies.
Email me more festivals or updates: bradford@thisisclassicalguitar.com
Classical Guitar Festivals and Competitions
Various International Locations:
International Guitar Competition Maurizio Biasini & Festival
European Guitar Festival Collaboration
Australia
Classical Guitar Festival Sydney
Melbourne Guitar Festival & Competition
Australia
Austria
Internationales Gitarrenfestival Rust
Belgium
Brussels International Guitar Festival and Competition
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo International Guitar Festival
Bulgaria
GuitArt Festival (Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo)
Canada
Académie musicale d’été (Montreal, QC)
Classical GuitarFest West (Calgary, AB)
Guitar Alla Grande Festival (Ottawa-Gatineau, ON/QC)
Guitare Montreal (Montreal, QC)
Kaslo Guitar Festival (Kaslo, BC)
Le Domaine Forget – International Music Academy (Saint-Irénée, QC)
Hamilton International Guitar Festival (Hamilton, ON)
Sauble Beach Guitar Festival (Sauble Beach, ON)
Toronto Guitar Weekend (Toronto, ON)
uOttawa Summer Guitar Academy (Ottawa, ON)
Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival (Vancouver, BC)
China
GuitarFestival Changsha China (GCC)
Croatia
Dani klasične gitare (Classical Guitar Days)
Czech Republic
England
Classical Minds Guitar Festival and Competition
Dillington House Classical Guitar Festival
West Dean College Classical Guitar Festival
Estonia
Alion Baltic International Music Festival
Finland
France
International Guitar Competition Robert Vidal of Barbezieux
Germany
Heinsberg Guitar Festival and Competition
International Competition for Young Guitarists Andres Segovia
Koblenz Guitar Festival and Competition
Greece
International Veria Guitar Festival
International Guitar Festival of Volos
Hungary
Budapest International Guitar Competition
India
Calcutta International Classical Guitar Festival
Italy
BorGuitar Festival International Award and Young Talents Competition
Concorso Internazionale “Nilo Peraldo Bert”
Concorso Internazionale di Chitarra “Rocco Peruggini”
Festival Internazionale di Chitarra Classica “Homenaje”
Festival Internazionale di chitarra Gemona del Friuli
Festival Internazionale della Chitarra – Mottola
Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition
Solarino International Guitar Festival
Kosovo
Peja International Guitar Festival
Lithuania
Mexico
Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival
Festival Internacional de Guitarra de Morelia
Festival International de Guitarra Monterrey
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School
Poland
Baltic Guitar Days International Festival & Competition
Guitar Masters (Wroclaw Guitar Festival)
Portugal
Guimarães International Guitar Festival (Portugal)
Viseu International Guitar and Piano Competition
Romania
Harmonia Cordis International Guitar Festival
Novum Generatio International Guitar Days
Serbia
Scotland
Singapore
Singapore International Guitar Festival
Slovakia
International Guitar Festival of J. K. Mertz
Slovenia
International Guitar Festival Postojna
Spain
Arroyo de la Luz International Guitar Competition
Norba Caesarina Guitar Festival
Ronda International Guitar Festival
International Guitar Festival José Tomás Villa De Petrer
Sweden
Uppsala International Guitar Festival
Switzerland
Turkey
Istanbul Classical Guitar Festival
United States of America
GFA Convention – Guitar Foundation of America (varied locations)
Appalachian GuitarFest and Competition (Boone, NC)
Boston Guitar Festival (Boston, MA)
Adult Guitar Workshop at Brevard (Brevard, NC)
Charlottesville Classical Guitar Festival & Competition (Charlottesville, VA)
Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival (Cleveland, Ohio )
The Florida Guitar Festival and Competition (Tallahassee, Florida)
Gohar and Ovanes Andriassian Classical Guitar Competition (Los Angeles, CA)
Great Lakes Guitar Festival and Competition (Buffalo State College, NY)
Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition (Houston, TX)
Indiana Classical Guitar Competition (Bloomington, IN)
Joann Falletta Guitar Concerto Competition (Buffalo, NY)
La Guitarra California Festival (San Luis Obispo, CA)
Latino Arts Guitar Festival and Youth Competition (Milwaukee, WI)
Long Island Guitar Festival (Brookville, NY)
Miami International GuitART Festival & Competition (Miami, FL)
New Mexico Classical Guitar Festival (Albuquerque, N.Mex)
Northwest Guitar Festival (varied locations in NW North America)
Parkening International Guitar Competition (Malibu, CA)
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition (Philadelphia, PA)
Shepherd International Guitar Festival (Shepherdstown, WV)
Shearer Summer Institute (Zion National Park, Utah)
Southern Guitar Festival and Competition (Columbia, SC)
Schadt String Competition – Classical Guitar (Allentown, PA)
Texas Guitar Competition and Festival (Richardson, TX)
Twisted Spruce Music Foundation Symposium (Colorado Springs, CO)
University of Louisville Festival and Competition (Louisville, KY)
West Texas Guitar Festival (Odessa, Texas)
Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival (Brookfield, WI)