Name: cantateBach! — Internationaler Gesangswettbewerb für Kirchenmusik 2026
Start: 2026-05-29T00:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-05-31T00:00:00+00:00
Location: Dom St. Nikolai Greifswald und weitere Konzertorte

cantateBach!

About cantateBach!

Three days before the Greifswalder Bachwoche, sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses born between 1994 and 2008 meet for the international cantateBach! singing competition. Preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and a final on May 31, 2026, in the Dom St. Nikolai will put young Bach voices from all over the world to the test — prize money up to 4,000 Euros.

Dates 29 May — 31 May 2026

Venue Greifswald (13075)

Prices —

Status —

Edition 2026

cantateBach! — edition 2026

8th International cantateBach! Singing Competition from May 29–31, 2026, in Greifswald. Preliminary selection, main round, and final round with soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (born 1994–2008). Final on May 31 at 7 p.m. in the Dom St. Nikolai. Four main prizes up to 4,000 Euros.

The 8th edition of the International cantateBach! Singing Competition will take place from May 29–31, 2026, in Greifswald — immediately before the start of the 80th Greifswalder Bachwoche, with which the competition is closely linked organizationally and thematically.

Singers born between 1994 and 2008 in the soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voice types can participate. Registration is open until April 11, 2026, fee 40 Euros. The competition consists of a preliminary selection, main round, and final round; the final on May 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the Dom St. Nikolai is open to the public. Four main prizes: 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 / 1,000 Euros.

Highlights cantateBach! 2026

8th edition of the international competition
Kick-off for the 80th Greifswalder Bachwoche
Final in the acoustically outstanding Dom St. Nikolai
Four main prizes up to 4,000 Euros

Programme cantateBach! 2026

Schedule

May 29, 2026 — Preliminary selection at Greifswald venues
May 30, 2026 — Main round
May 31, 2026, 7 p.m. — Final in Dom St. Nikolai (public)

Conditions of Participation

Voice types: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Birth years: 1994–2008
Registration deadline: April 11, 2026
Registration fee: 40 Euros

Prizes

1st Prize: 4,000 Euros
2nd Prize: 3,000 Euros
3rd Prize: 2,000 Euros
4th Prize: 1,000 Euros

Prices cantateBach! 2026

Registration fee 40 Euros. Tickets for the final on May 31 in the cathedral available via MVTicket and at the box office. Prize money for four main prizes (4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 / 1,000 Euros).

Practical information

Practical information — cantateBach!

Getting There

Approx. 12 minutes walk from Greifswald main station to the cathedral. Parking available in the city center, car park at Mühlentor.

Admission to the Final

The final on May 31 in the Dom St. Nikolai is open to the public. Tickets available via MVTicket and at the box office.

Application

Registration deadline April 11, 2026, fee 40 Euros, call for entries and regulations at cantate-bach.de.

Eighth Edition 2026

The International Competition for Choral Music Singing »cantateBach!« will take place for the eighth time in Greifswald in 2026 — from May 29 to 31, immediately before the start of the 80th Greifswalder Bachwoche. Both events are closely linked in terms of timing and organization: the competition also serves as the kick-off for the Bachwoche festival.

Conditions of Participation

Singers of soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voice types, born between 1994 and 2008, are invited. The registration deadline is April 11, 2026, and the registration fee is 40 Euros. Program suggestions must be submitted with works from the repertoire of Bach cantatas, passions, and motets, as well as freely chosen Baroque literature.

Competition Structure

The competition consists of a preliminary selection, main rounds, and final rounds. The first rounds take place at various venues in Greifswald; the final on May 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. will be held in the Dom St. Nikolai — in front of an audience and in the acoustically outstanding hall of the cathedral.

Prizes

Four main prizes are awarded: 1st Prize 4,000 Euros, 2nd Prize 3,000 Euros, 3rd Prize 2,000 Euros, 4th Prize 1,000 Euros. In addition, there are concert invitations, mentoring, and media visibility through partners in Germany and internationally.

Local Context

Greifswald is part of the Vorpommern-Greifswald district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The Greifswalder Bachwoche (founded in 1946) is, according to its own statement, the most traditional music festival in the state; cantateBach! has complemented the festival for eight editions with an explicit focus on promoting young singers in Bach's repertoire.