BRUSSELS INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITIONS
« ILSE & NICOLAS ALFONSO » 2026
These annual competitions, unique to Brussels, were created in 2013 by the Brussels International Guitar Festival and pay tribute to Maestros Ilse ALFONSO (1929-2017) and Nicolas ALFONSO (1913-2001) who opened the first guitar classes in the Belgian Music Academies as well as the guitar class at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles - École Supérieure des Arts in 1965.
THE NATIONAL COMPETITION is open to all amateur guitarists, irrespective of nationality and of any age, who have been officially resident in Belgium since at least January 2025. It is available in solo and duo categories.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION is open to all classical guitarists, irrespective of nationality and of any age, who are not represented by an artists' agency (impresario).
With the support of the National Lottery
BRUSSELS NATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITION
« ILSE & NICOLAS ALFONSO » 2026
Terms of admission
The 2026 National Competition is open to all amateur guitarists, irrespective of nationality and of any age, who have been officially resident in Belgium since at least January 2025.
The candidate cannot be or have registered at a higher musical institution in Belgium or abroad.
Exception: All candidates domiciled in Belgium since at least 1st January, 2025 and admitted to the first year Bachelor’s degree course in September 2026 in higher education in music in Belgium for the 2026/2027 academic year, may also apply to enroll in the competition.
The First Prizes will be awarded to those demonstrating a distinctive artistic personality, showing charisma and having great stage presence.
Solo Category:
The instrument used must be a classical guitar (with six strings or more).
The programme must include compulsorily one work composed by Nicolas Alfonso to be selected from a given list (Schott Music Editions).
The remainder of the programme is free choice and will comprise pieces from the classical guitar solo repertoire or transcriptions and may include unpublished pieces.
Duo Category:
The duo may consist of two guitars or a guitar and another instrument.
The guitar used must be a classical guitar (with six strings or more).
The choice of programme is left to the duo.
To enter the Competition, the candidate has to email the duly completed application form, the PDF file and proof of the registration fee payment.
Non-refundable registration fee :
Solo category: 35 EUR
Duo category: 70 EUR ( = 35 EUR for each member of the duo)
The full Competition regulations and the application form can be obtained as of now via the electronic form below or by email : info(at)bigfest.be.
Organisation and programme
Wednesday 04 November 2026 at midnight (Belgian Time)
deadline for requests for the full competition regulations and application form via the electronic form below or by email : info(at)bigfest.be
Friday 06 November 2026 at midnight (Belgian Time)
deadline by which the completed application form, the PDF filewith the scores and proof of the registration fee payment must have been received by the Competition organizers
Saturday 28 November 2026
public final round - announcement of winners - awards ceremony
PUBLIC FINAL ROUND - free admission
Saturday 28 November 2026 at 09:00.
Venue : Hay Doun Cultural Centre - 83 Rue du Gaz, 1020 Brussels - Belgium (Festival venue).
Each finalist is responsible for all his/her travel costs.
The running order will be arranged by ballot.
All the finalists are required to be present for the announcement of the results and the prize giving ceremony on Saturday, 28 November 2026 between 11:30 and 13:00, or they will forfeit their prize.
PROGRAMME
Age requirement: registration is permitted only in the category corresponding to the age calculated as of the date of the Competition.
For the duo category, the age of each duo member on the date of the competition must correspond to the age requirement of the chosen category.
Duration: the duration of the performance (including tuning, etc.) is calculated from the moment the candidates are seated on stage. The Jury will stop any performance that exceeds the allotted time.
Solo Category « Pianissimo » / Under 12 years old
Maximum stage time: 07 minutes
- One piece composed by Nicolas Alfonso, to be selected from the list below
-
One piece of the candidate's choice
The entire programme must be performed from memory.
The candidate may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
All works composed by Nicolas Alfonso can be purchased as PDFs or ordered from the Schott Music website: https://www.schott-music.com.
| List of works by Nicolas Alfonso for the solo category Pianissimo / « Schott Music Editions » |
|---|
| Menuet |
| Rondoletto |
Solo Category « Crescendo » / Ages 12 to 14
Maximum stage time: 07 minutes
- One piece composed by Nicolas Alfonso, to be selected from the list below
-
One piece of the candidate's choice
The entire programme must be performed from memory.
The candidate may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
All works composed by Nicolas Alfonso can be purchased as PDFs or ordered from the Schott Music website: https://www.schott-music.com.
| List of works by Nicolas Alfonso for the solo category Crescendo / « Schott Music Editions » |
|---|
| Cantilène |
| Marelle |
| Petite boite à musique |
| Valse |
| Choral |
| Fandango |
| Paysada |
Solo Category « Sforzando » / Ages 15 to 17
Maximum stage time: 11 minutes
- One piece composed by Nicolas Alfonso, to be selected from the list below
-
One piece of the candidate's choice
The entire programme must be performed from memory.
The candidate may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
All works composed by Nicolas Alfonso can be purchased as PDFs or ordered from the Schott Music website: https://www.schott-music.com.
| List of works by Nicolas Alfonso for the solo category Sforzando / « Schott Music Editions » |
|---|
| Tango |
| Fum fum fum |
| Habanera |
| Baile |
| Jotilla |
| Danse |
| Romanza |
| Seguidillas |
| Vilancico andaluz |
| Bolero |
Solo Category « Fortissimo » / 18 years and older
Maximum stage time: 13 minutes
- One piece composed by Nicolas Alfonso, to be selected from the list below
-
One piece of the candidate's choice
The entire programme must be performed from memory.
The candidate may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
All works composed by Nicolas Alfonso can be purchased as PDFs or ordered from the Schott Music website:https://www.schott-music.com.
| List of works by Nicolas Alfonso for the solo category Fortissimo / « Schott Music Editions » |
|---|
| Montanesa |
| Pastorale |
| Foliada |
| Campanas |
| Ballade |
| Seguidillas |
| Cancion catalana |
| Rima |
Duo Category “Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso” - Junior / Under 18 years old
Maximum stage time: between 6 and 13 minutes
Duo featuring at least one guitar.
- programme : free choice of pieces
The entire program may be performed using sheet music.
Candidates may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
Duo Category "Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso” - Senior / 18 years and older
Maximum stage time: between 8 and 16 minutes
Duo featuring at least one guitar.
- programme : free choice of pieces
The entire program may be performed using sheet music.
The candidate may choose the order in which the pieces are performed.
AWARDS
The First Prize winners in each category will be eligible to perform at the Brussels International Guitar Festival & Competitions in 2027 (short performance).
Solo Category Pianissimo (under 12 years old)
One 1st Prize: Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
Solo Category Crescendo (ages 12 to 14)
One 1st Prize: Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
Solo Category Sforzando (ages 15 to 17)
One 1st Prize: An Esteve classical guitar – Esteve 4ST series – with a polystyrene case (total value: 690 EUR – six hundred and ninety euros) - Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
Solo Category Fortissimo (18 years and older)
One 1st Prize: An Esteve classical concert guitar – 65th Anniversary model – double-top – with hard case (total value: 4.450 EUR – four thousand four hundred and fifty euros) - Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
Duo Category Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso – Junior (under 18 years old)
One 1st Prize *: Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize *: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize *: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
* Awards for each member of the duo
Duo Category Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso – Senior (18 years and older)
One 1st Prize *: Diploma - 100 EUR (hundred euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 2nd Prize *: Diploma - 50 EUR (fifty euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
One 3rd Prize *: Diploma - 35 EUR (thirty-five euros) - gift offered by one of our partners
The 4th Prizes will be awarded to all other candidates:
Diploma - gift offered by one of our partners
* Awards for each member of the duo
Jury
The Jury of each round will mainly comprise personalities from the Belgian and international artistic world.
The Jury’s decisions are final.
The Jury reserves the right not to award certain prizes if it deems the level to be insufficient.