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World Art Song Competition

Basel International Lieder / Art Song Vocal Competition 2026

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Purpose

Celebrating the art song tradition worldwide — for today and for generations to come.

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Eligibility

•No restrictions on nationality or educational background

•Open to both professionals and amateurs

•Age: 18 and above (no upper age limit)

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Competition Schedule & Requirements

Preliminary Round (Online Video Screening via YouTube unlisted)

•Repertoire: Free choice, within 6 minutes

•Application period: December 10, 2025 (Wed) – January 10, 2026 (Sat)

•Results announced: January 24, 2026 (Sat)

Second Round (Online Video Screening via YouTube unlisted)

•Repertoire: Free choice, within 8 minutes

•Application period: January 24, 2026 (Sat) – February 6, 2026 (Fri)

•Results announced: February 20, 2026 (Fri)

•Written feedback will be provided (via email).

Final Round (Live Performance)

•Repertoire: Free choice, within 15 minutes (minimum 3 songs, in multiple languages; at least one German Lied is required)

•Date: April 18, 2026 (Sat)

•Venue: Ongaku-no-Tomo Hall, Tokyo, Japan

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Awards & Prizes

Awards

•1st to 6th Prize, Honorable Mentions

•Certificates & commemorative gifts awarded

Prize Money (Total: ¥1,200,000)

•Grand Prix: ¥700,000

•Professional Art Song Award: ¥300,000

•Future Art Song Award: ¥100,000

•Accompanist Award: ¥100,000

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Chair of the Executive Committee

Noriko Kawamura

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Jury Members (titles omitted)

•Prof. Susanne Kelling (Germany) – Mezzo-soprano, Professor at Hochschule für Musik Nürnberg

•Prof. Yijie Shi (China) – Tenor, Professor & Vice Dean at Hunan Normal University, Specially Appointed Professor at China Conservatory of Music, Adjunct Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), and Specially Appointed Professor at Toho College of Music

•Prof. Qilian Chen (China) – Soprano, Professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music

•Tatsuya Higuchi (Japan) – Tenor, Lecturer at Musashino Academia Musicae and Tokyo University of the Arts, Member of Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation

•Noriko Kawamura (Japan) – Mezzo-soprano, Representative of Swiss Vocal Technique Association, Chair of Supraleitung Methode Japan® Association

•Megumi Tanihara (Japan) – Lecturer at J. F. Oberlin University, Kunitachi College of Music, and Nihon University; Member of Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation

•Shoko Fukuda (Japan) – Soprano, Member of Tokyo and Kansai Nikikai, Chair of Nihonbashi Opera Society

•Miju Kim (Korea) – Soprano, Adjunct Professor at Kookmin University, CEO of World Art

•Joseph Kristanto Pantioso (Indonesia) – Baritone, Graduate of Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (Diploma in Music), Founder & Vocal Instructor at Musicasa (Jakarta)

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Application Guidelines

•Applications must be submitted online via formrun system only.

•Please ensure you can receive emails from formrun and baselvocalconcours@gmail.com.

•Applicants must provide a copy of a valid ID (student card, driver’s license, or passport) for age verification.

•Video recordings must be made after January 2025.

•For the Second Round, videos must be newly recorded specifically for this competition.

•Videos must clearly show the upper body or full body from the front.

•Participants are responsible for complying with copyright regulations in their respective countries.

•Repertoire must be art songs with piano accompaniment (original language recommended, transposition permitted).

•Multiple pieces may be submitted in the Preliminary and Second Rounds within the time limit.

•Final Round must include at least three songs in multiple languages, with at least one German Lied.

•Opera arias are not allowed. Only art songs are accepted in all rounds.

•Repetition of the same piece is not allowed in Preliminary & Second Rounds, but may be repeated in the Final Round.

•Memorization is required for all rounds.

•Recording quality will also be considered in evaluation.

•Slightly exceeding the time limit will not result in penalty; however, judging will stop at the designated maximum time.

•Videos cannot be replaced or deleted after submission.

•In case of technical issues, please contact the Competition Office.

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Entry Fees

•Preliminary Round: ¥15,000

•Second Round: ¥18,000

•Final Round: ¥23,000

※ Participants residing in Japan are requested to make payment via bank transfer to our official corporate account.

Bank Transfer (for residents of Japan)

•GMO Aozora Net Bank

Corporate Sales Department

Account No. 1211700

Name: シャ）スープラライトウング メトーデ ジャパン (Supraleitung Methode Japan Association)

•Overseas Japanese residents: PayPal accepted

•International participants: PayPal only

•Entry fees are non-refundable under any circumstances

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Travel Support (for Finalists only)

Foreign finalists (non-Japanese nationality, residing abroad):

•Asia: ¥50,000

•Outside Asia: ¥100,000

Japanese finalists residing abroad:

•Asia: ¥25,000

•Outside Asia: ¥50,000

※ Paid in Japanese yen after performance

※ Passport and proof of residence required

※ Not applicable to finalists or accompanists residing in Japan

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Official Accompanists (Final Round)

•For overseas participants requesting an official accompanist:

•Rehearsal (60 min) + Performance: ¥22,000

•Two rehearsals (each 60 min) + Performance: ¥33,000

•For Japanese participants unable to bring their own accompanist, official pianists will be introduced.

Official pianists (experienced international competition professionals):

•Junichi Tanaka

•Tomoko Watanabe

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Final Round Performance Time

•Requests for specific time slots cannot be accommodated.

•Participants must follow the timetable determined by the Executive Committee.

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Competition Regulations

Media Rights

•All media rights (web, press, magazines, social media, etc.) belong to the Basel International Art Song Competition.

Visa

•Finalists are responsible for obtaining visas if required.

•Contact the Competition Office if an invitation letter is necessary.

•The organizers assume no responsibility for profit-oriented performances during the stay.

Results

•Published on the official website.

Prize Money

•Awarded only to those who comply with all regulations.

•Absence from the award ceremony results in forfeiture of prize money.

•Prize winners are requested to submit a short video comment.

•Prize money will be transferred electronically on June 18, 2026.

YouTube Videos

•Prize-winning videos may be requested to change from “unlisted” to “public.”

Force Majeure

•In case of natural disasters or unavoidable circumstances, the Final Round may be held online.

Changes

•Rules may be subject to change due to juror availability or global conditions. Updates will be announced on the official website.

•If there are a large number of entries, the number of jury comments per category may vary.

Violations

•No objections to jury decisions will be accepted.

•Any falsification, defamation, or misconduct may result in disqualification, withdrawal of prizes, legal action, and repayment of prize money.

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Costs

•Communication, recording, accompaniment, travel, accommodation, visa, and related expenses are the responsibility of participants.

•Travel support, if applicable, will be provided as outlined above.

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Accommodation & Flights

•Finalists are expected to arrange their own travel and lodging.

•If arranged through the organizer, an additional service fee will apply.

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Practice Rooms

•Finalists may rehearse in studios arranged by the organizer.

•Scheduling must follow organizer’s instructions.

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Insurance

•The Executive Committee assumes no responsibility for illness, accidents, or injuries.

•Participants are encouraged to obtain their own insurance.

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Venue Access

Ongaku-no-Tomo Hall

6-30 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8716, Japan

•Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Kagurazaka Station (Exit 1a/1b): 1 min walk

•Toei Oedo Line, Ushigome-Kagurazaka Station (Exit A3): 7 min walk

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Organizer & Contact

Basel International Art Song Competition Executive Committee

Supraleitung Methode Japan® Association

https://www.klassikwettbewerbbasel.info

baselvocalconcours@gmail.com

Issued: August 20, 2025, Tokyo, Japan

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