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
Classical GuitarFest West (Calgary, AB)
Guitar Alla Grande Festival (Ottawa-Gatineau, ON/QC)
Le Domaine Forget – International Music Academy (Saint-Irénée, QC)
SGM Next Generation Competition [Youth Competition] (Montreal)
Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival (Vancouver, BC)
VCM Summer Intensive Downtown (Victoria, BC)
China
GuitarFestival Changsha China (GCC)
Croatia
Dani klasične gitare (Classical Guitar Days)
Czech Republic
England
West Dean College Classical Guitar Festival
Estonia
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
Hungary
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
Lithuania
Mexico
Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School
Poland
Baltic Guitar Days International Festival & Competition
Romania
Eduard Pamfil International Guitar Competition
Harmonia Cordis International Guitar Festival
Serbia
Scotland
Slovakia
International Guitar Festival of J. K. Mertz
Slovenia
International Guitar Festival Postojna
Spain
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
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)
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)
Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition (Houston, TX)
Indiana Classical Guitar Competition (Bloomington, IN)
Joann Falletta Guitar Concerto Competition (Buffalo, NY)
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)
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition (Philadelphia, PA)
Queens University of Charlotte Guitar Symposium (Charlotte, NC)
Rocky Ridge Music’s Guitar Seminar (Colorado)
Schadt String Competition – Classical Guitar (Allentown, PA)
Shenandoah Guitar Festival (Winchester, VA)
Shearer Summer Institute (Zion National Park, Utah)
Solstice Symposium (Higganum, Connecticut)
Southern Guitar Festival and Competition (Winston-Salem, NC)
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)