63rd International Choral Singing Competition SEGHIZZI - 9-13 July 2026 in Gorizia, Italy
About the 63rd Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition
Gorizia re-establishes itself as a global capital of choral music by hosting the 63rd edition of the prestigious "Seghizzi" International Choral Singing Competition. From 9 to 13 July 2026, vocal ensembles from around the world will converge in this historic cross-border city to compete across a diverse programme of artistic categories, celebrating over a century of choral excellence.
The Gorizia Choral Association "C. A. Seghizzi" officially presents this landmark cultural event, which returns in 2026 with updated regulations designed to foster high-level artistic excellence. Backed by the prestigious Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, awarded in 2025 for initiatives of particular cultural significance, the competition features an internationally acclaimed jury panel evaluating elite choirs across multiple repertoires, ranging from Renaissance polyphony to contemporary music, pop, and jazz.
Since its founding in 1962 (reaching international status in 1963), the Seghizzi Competition has hosted more than 1,400 choirs and individual singers from 72 nations, establishing itself as one of the most prestigious choral events worldwide. The competition is also a founding member of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, an elite network of the world's top choral competitions.
International choir performing at the Seghizzi Competition with GO! 2025 European Capital of Culture branding
Competition Categories
The 63rd Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition features six distinct categories, allowing choirs to showcase their versatility across a broad spectrum of choral repertoire. Each category is designed to highlight different aspects of choral artistry, from sacred Renaissance polyphony to cutting-edge contemporary compositions.
| Category | Description | Typical Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1a | Sacred Polyphony - Early works | Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo) |
| Category 1b | Sacred Polyphony - Later works | Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo) |
| Category 2b | Secular Polyphony | Teatro Verdi, Gorizia |
| Category 3 | Spirituals, Gospel, Pop & Jazz | Teatro Verdi, Gorizia |
| Category 4 | Folk and National Music | Teatro Verdi, Gorizia |
| Category 5 | Contemporary Music Programme | Teatro Verdi, Gorizia |
Event Programme
The 63rd Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition unfolds over five days of intense competition, concerts, and cultural exchange. The programme is designed to showcase both competitive excellence and the beauty of Gorizia's historic venues. Note: Due to logistical reasons, the organising committee reserves the right to change venues and timetables. New venues will still be within the city of Gorizia.
Thursday, 9 July 2026 - Opening Day
- 12:00 - Official Presentation of the Choirs to the Authorities and the Jury
- Venue: Gorizia Town Hall (Internal Courtyard)
The competition opens with a formal presentation ceremony at the historic Gorizia Town Hall, where participating choirs are introduced to the international jury panel and local dignitaries. This elegant courtyard setting provides a warm welcome to performers and guests alike, setting the tone for the cultural exchange that defines the Seghizzi experience.
Friday, 10 July 2026 - Competition Heats Up
- 10:30 - Category 2b (Secular Polyphony), Category 3 (Spirituals & Jazz), Category 5 (Contemporary Music)
- Venue: Teatro G. Verdi, Gorizia
- Evening - 22nd Seghizzinregione - Choral Concert Festival in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Slovenia
The first full day of competition features three diverse categories at the magnificent Teatro Verdi, Gorizia's premier performance venue. From secular polyphony to the vibrant rhythms of spirituals, gospel, and jazz, audiences will experience the full breadth of choral artistry. In the evening, the Seghizzinregione festival extends the celebration beyond Gorizia with concerts across the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Veneto, and neighbouring Slovenia.
Saturday, 11 July 2026 - Sacred and Folk Traditions
- 10:30 - Category 1a (Sacred Polyphony), Category 1b (Sacred Polyphony)
- Venue: Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo)
- 16:00 - Category 4 (Folk / National Music)
- Venue: Teatro G. Verdi, Gorizia
Saturday begins in the awe-inspiring Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo di Gorizia), where the sacred polyphony categories fill the Baroque interior with transcendent harmonies. The cathedral's extraordinary acoustics provide an ideal setting for sacred choral works spanning centuries. Later in the afternoon, the folk and national music category at Teatro Verdi showcases the rich cultural traditions represented by choirs from around the globe.
Sunday, 12 July 2026 - Grand Finale
- 11:00 - Seghizzinregione Festival Concert
- Venue: Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo)
- 15:00 - 36th SEGHIZZI GRAND PRIX
- Venue: Teatro G. Verdi, Gorizia
- 20:45 - Official Awards Ceremony
- Venue: Teatro G. Verdi, Gorizia
- 21:15 - WINNERS' GALA CONCERT
- Venue: Teatro G. Verdi, Gorizia
The festival reaches its spectacular climax on Sunday with a full day of events. The morning Seghizzinregione concert at the Cathedral offers a serene prelude to the afternoon's main event: the 36th Seghizzi Grand Prix, where the competition's top choirs vie for the ultimate honour. The evening brings the highly anticipated Official Awards Ceremony, followed by the magnificent Winners' Gala Concert at 21:15, showcasing the finest performances from the competition's champions. All events are free to attend, making this an accessible celebration of choral music for all.
Historic Venues
The Seghizzi Competition takes place in some of Gorizia's most beautiful and acoustically renowned historic landmarks. Each venue has been carefully selected to complement the repertoire performed within its walls.
Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi - The main competition venue in Gorizia
Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi
The main venue for the competition, Teatro Verdi is Gorizia's premier theatrical and concert hall. With its exceptional acoustics and elegant auditorium, it serves as the backdrop for the most important competitive categories, the Grand Prix, and the spectacular Winners' Gala Concert. Named after Italy's most celebrated opera composer, the theatre embodies the city's deep connection to musical excellence.
Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo di Gorizia)
Officially known as the Cathedral of Saints Ilario and Taziano, this magnificent Baroque cathedral provides a sacred and atmospheric setting for the sacred polyphony categories. Its ornate interior, featuring stunning stucco work and historic religious art, creates an inspiring environment for performances of liturgical choral music. The cathedral's acoustic properties have made it a favoured venue for sacred music for centuries.
Gorizia Town Hall
The competition officially opens in the elegant internal courtyard of Gorizia's Town Hall, where choirs are formally presented to the authorities and international jury. This historic civic building represents the city's commitment to cultural excellence and its role as host of one of the world's premier choral events.
A Century of Choral Excellence
The Associazione Corale Goriziana "C. A. Seghizzi" traces its origins to November 1920, when Maestro Augusto Cesare Seghizzi founded the Corale Alpina within the Italian Alpine Club's Gorizia section. After detaching from the CAI in 1923, the ensemble became the Corale Alpina Goriziana, and later the Corale del Dopolavoro in 1927. Following Maestro Seghizzi's death in 1933, the choir was renamed in his honour, becoming the Corale Seghizzi that we know today.
Young choir on stage during a Seghizzi Grand Prix ceremony
The first "Seghizzi" Choral Singing Competition was held in 1962 and rapidly achieved international status by 1963. Over the ensuing six decades, more than 1,400 choirs and individual singers from 72 nations have participated in Seghizzi events, cementing Gorizia's reputation as one of the world's great centres for choral music. The competition is one of the founding members of the prestigious European Grand Prix for Choral Singing, alongside competitions in Arezzo, Debrecen, Tours, Varna, and Tolosa.
Beyond the international choral competition, the Association proudly organises numerous other cultural initiatives, including the International Vocal Chamber Music Competition for Solo Voice and Piano (held 3-5 July 2026), the International Composition Contest (in its 24th edition), the Seghizzinregione Festival (now in its 22nd edition), educational workshops, masterclasses, art exhibitions, publishing activities, and a rich historical music archive of significant cultural interest, protected by the Friuli Venezia Giulia archival heritage authority.
In 2025, the international activities promoted by the Associazione Corale Goriziana C. A. Seghizzi were honoured with the Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, one of Italy's highest cultural distinctions, granted to initiatives of particular cultural significance. This recognition underscores the competition's enduring contribution to Italy's cultural landscape and its role in fostering international cultural exchange.
Seghizzinregione Festival
Running concurrently with the competition, the "Seghizzinregione" Festival extends the reach of Seghizzi events throughout the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Veneto, and neighbouring Slovenia. Now in its 22nd edition, this choral concert circuit transforms the competition into a regional celebration of vocal music, bringing world-class choral performances to audiences across the broader cross-border area. The festival exemplifies the spirit of cultural cooperation that defines the GO! 2025 European Capital of Culture programme, connecting communities through the universal language of choral music.
European Grand Prix for Choral Singing
The elegant auditorium of a historic Gorizia theatre, a fitting stage for world-class choral performances
The Seghizzi Competition holds the distinction of being one of the founding competitions of the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (EGP), established in 1988 through the initiative of the world's leading choral competitions. The EGP brings together winners from six European choral competitions of the highest artistic quality: Arezzo (Italy), Debrecen (Hungary), Gorizia (Italy - Seghizzi), Tours (France), Varna (Bulgaria), and Tolosa (Spain). Though its name suggests a European focus, the Grand Prix welcomes choirs from any country, and over the years, laureates from Asia, North America, and South America have claimed this most prestigious of choral honours.
Seghizzi Grand Prix winners who have gone on to compete at the European Grand Prix have represented countries including Latvia, Sweden, Lithuania, Slovenia, the United States, Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and many more, demonstrating the truly global reach of the competition.
Related Seghizzi Events in 2026
The Associazione Corale Goriziana "C. A. Seghizzi" organises several prestigious competitions throughout the year, making Gorizia a true destination for choral and vocal music enthusiasts:
The 23rd International Vocal Chamber Music Competition - another prestigious Seghizzi event held in Gorizia
| Event | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd International Vocal Chamber Music Competition | 3-5 July 2026 | For solo voice and piano, featuring young talents under 35 |
| 63rd International Choral Singing Competition | 9-13 July 2026 | The main choral competition with multiple categories |
| 24th International Composition Contest | 2026 | For original choral compositions, open to musicians worldwide |
| 22nd Seghizzinregione Festival | July 2026 | Regional choral concert circuit across FVG, Veneto and Slovenia |
Practical Information
All Seghizzi competition events are FREE to attend. This commitment to accessibility ensures that everyone can experience the beauty of world-class choral music in Gorizia's magnificent venues.
| Event | 63rd Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition |
| Dates | 9-13 July 2026 |
| Location | Gorizia, Italy |
| Main Venues | Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi, Gorizia Cathedral (Duomo), Gorizia Town Hall |
| Admission | Free |
| Organiser | Associazione Corale Goriziana "C. A. Seghizzi" |
| Address | Corso Verdi, 85, 34170 Gorizia, Italy |
| Telephone | +39 0481 530404 |
| info@seghizzi.it | |
| Website | www.seghizzi.it |
| Registration | Choirs wishing to participate in future editions should consult the official regulations at seghizzi.it. Registration materials are typically accepted through 31 March of the competition year. |
GO! 2025 European Capital of Culture
The 63rd Seghizzi International Choral Singing Competition takes place within the framework of GO! 2025, the European Capital of Culture shared between Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Gorizia (Italy). This unique cross-border cultural capital celebrates the unity and diversity of this border region, using culture as a bridge between communities. The Seghizzi Competition perfectly embodies the GO! 2025 spirit, bringing together voices from across the world to celebrate harmony, collaboration, and artistic excellence in a city that has always stood at the crossroads of cultures.
Gallery
International choir at Seghizzi
Teatro Verdi - Main competition venue
Historic performance venue in Gorizia
63rd Seghizzi Competition official banner