Applications are now open for the 7th edition of the Viseu International Guitar Competition, to be held in April 2026 in Viseu, Portugal. The competition begins with an online pre-selection. The in-person rounds of the Open Category will take place from April 9 to April 11, 2026. Registration for this category is open until March 7, 2026. The 7th edition also includes a Junior Category for guitarists up to 18 years of age, with live rounds scheduled for April 6 and 7, 2026, and registrations open until March 15, 2026. The competition is open to participants of all nationalities.

OPEN CATEGORY: Prizes

1st Prize – 7,000€

+ Cleyton Fernandes Concert Guitar, Exclusive Series (value 7,000€)
+ Concert at the J. K. Mertz International Guitar Festival – Bratislava (2027)
+ Concert at the Viseu International Music of Spring Festival (2027)
+ Concert at the Seville Guitar Festival
+ Concert at the Fundão International Guitar Festival (2027)
+ Le Support® Pro
+ Knobloch Strings

2nd Prize – 3,000€

+ Le Support® Pro
+ Knobloch Strings

3rd Prize – 2,000€

+ Le Support® Pro
+ Knobloch Strings

Best Portuguese Competitor – 500€
Audience Prize – 500€

JUNIOR CATEGORY: Prizes

1st Prize – 1,500€
2nd Prize – 1,000€
3rd Prize – 500€

Shortcuts

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1st Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2014)

1st Prize – Xavier Jara (U.S.A)
2nd Prize – Bogdan Mihailescu (Romenia)
3rd Prize – Marko Topchii (Ukraine) e Jérémy Peret (France)
Audience Award – Marko Topchii (Ukraine)

2nd Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2016)

1st Prize – Davide Giovanni Tomasi (Italy)
2nd Prize – Marko Topchii (Ukraine)
3rd Prize – Raphael Feuillatre (France)
Audience Award – Davide Giovanni Tomasi (Italy)
Best Portuguese Guitarist – Ruben Bettencourt (Portugal)

3rd Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2018)

1st Prize – Marko Topchii (Ukraine)
2nd Prize – Gian Marco Ciampa (Italy)
3rd Prize – Nicola Montella (Italy)
Audience Award – Marko Topchii (Ukraine)
Honorable Mention – Taiki Matsumoto (Japan)
Best Portuguese Guitarist – João Robim Rocha (Portugal)

4th Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2020)

1st Prize – Carlo Curatolo (Italy)
2nd Prize – Vera Danilina (Russia)
3rd Prize – Luka Lovreković (Croatia)
Best Portuguese Guitarist – Francisco Lopes (Portugal)

5th Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2022)

1st Prize – Luis Alejandro García (Espanha)
2nd Prize – Álvaro Toscano (Espanha)
3rd Prize – Eric Meier (Canadá)
Audience Award – Álvaro Toscano (Espanha)
Best Portuguese Guitarist – Diogo João (Portugal)

6th Viseu Int. Guitar Competition Winners (2024)

1st Prize + Best Portuguese – Francisco Almeida Luís (Portugal)
2nd Prize – Manuel Toucinho (Portugal)
3rd Prize + Audience Award – Álvaro Toscano (Spain)
Honourable Mention – Tohi Harada (Japan)
Honourable Mention – Timothée Vinour-Motta (France)