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
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)
Sauble Beach Guitar Festival (Sauble Beach, ON)
SGM Next Generation Competition [Youth Competition] (Montreal)
Toronto Guitar Weekend (Toronto, ON)
uOttawa Summer Guitar Academy (Ottawa, ON)
Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival (Vancouver, BC)
VCM Summer Academy (Victoria, BC)
China
GuitarFestival Changsha China (GCC)
Croatia
Dani klasične gitare (Classical Guitar Days)
Czech Republic
England
Bath Guitar Festival and Summer School
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
Ville d’Anthony International Guitar Competition
Germany
Heinsberg Guitar Festival and Competition
International Guitar Festival in Hersbruck
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
Altamira Gorizia Guitar Competition
Festival Internazionale di Chitarra Classica “Homenaje”
Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition
Nilo Peraldo Bert International Competition
Paganini Guitar Festival International Competition
Kosovo
Peja International Guitar Festival
Lithuania
Mexico
Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School
Poland
Baltic Guitar Days International Festival & Competition
Guitar Masters (Wroclaw 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
Gandia International Guitar Festival and Competition
Norba Caesarina Guitar Festival
Ronda International Guitar Festival
International Guitar Festival José Tomás Villa De Petrer
Sweden
Uppsala International Guitar Festival
Switzerland
United States of America
Appalachian GuitarFest and Competition (Boone, NC)
Boston Guitar Festival (Boston, MA)
Brevard Classical Guitar institute (Brevard, NC)
Adult Guitar Workshop at Brevard (Brevard, NC)
Charlottesville Classical Guitar Festival & Competition (Charlottesville, VA)
Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival (Cleveland, Ohio )
East Carolina University (ECU) Guitar Festival and Workshop (Greenville, NC)
The Florida Guitar Festival and Competition (Tallahassee, Florida)
GFA Convention – Guitar Foundation of America (varied locations)
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)
Latin Amercian Music Festival (Boston, MA)
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)
New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes (New York, NY)
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 (Winston-Salem, NC)
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)
University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival (Kingston, RI)
West Texas Guitar Festival (Odessa, Texas)
Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival (Brookfield, WI)