Application for the Gaudeamus Award 2026 is now open! The Gaudeamus Award is our yearly incentive prize for young composers. Composers/creators of any nationality or background who were born after 13 September 1990 may enter their works.
A maximum of four composers will be nominated for the Award. The nominees will be part of the Gaudeamus Festival 2026 (9-13 September). On the final night of the festival the winner of the Award will be chosen by an independent jury. The prize consists of a commission for a new composition to be premiered at a future edition of the Gaudeamus Festival.
As of this year we don’t work with fixed categories anymore. You may now send in any work as your main entry up to a maximum of 16 instruments. For 2026, the jury consists of Peni Candra Rini, Hardi Kurda and Ash Fure. Additionally, this year, the jury will be supported by three side readers. In this way, we ensure that all the submissions are reviewed by at least one jury member and that all the submissions are reviewed by two pairs of eyes. The side readers this year are Bekah Simms, Hugo Morales and Robin de Raaff.