In its fifth edition, in 2022, we saw the competition return to theatres after a completely online edition. The presence of an audience adds pressure to the already complex programme they have to play.

After two selection rounds where 20 competitors from 11 different countries participated, we reached the final, disputed at Teatro Viriato. The night belonged to three guitarists and it was a delight to watch their “duel” for the podium. At the end of the night, the great winner was Luis Alejandro García (Spain); in second place came another Spaniard, Álvaro Toscano, who also won the Audience Award, and Eric Meier, from Canada, closed the podium in third place. There was also an award for the Best Portuguese, a distinction given to Diogo João.
Among them, the winners take home 10,000 euros in addition to the opportunity to play at other festivals throughout Europe.

This competition will return in 2024. We would like to invite guitarists of all nationalities, born before April 1989, to come and participate in the sixth edition of this competition. Applications will open in due time!

2022’s prizes

1st Prize – 6.000€

+ Concert at International Guitar Festival of J. K. Mertz – Bratislava (2023)
+ Concert at Viseu Spring Music Festival – Portugal (2023)
+ Concert at Festival de la Guitarra de Sevilha – Spain (2022)
+ Concert at Festival Internacional de Guitarra do Fundão – Portugal (2023)

2nd Prize – 2.000 €
3rd Prize – 1.500 €
Prize for the Best Portuguese Contestant – 500€
Audience Award – 500€

Shortcuts

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Previous years: winners

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)

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)