60th Competition

The Besançon Competition is open to all artists, of any nationality, aged under 35 (born between 26 September 1992 and 21 September 2009) who wish to become professional conductors, whatever their training or their experience; no previous orchestra conducting diploma is required.

The Besançon Competition is the only one that does not make a selection based on files (biography or video), but rather on international auditions organized with two pianists and two jury members.

Registration for the 60^th Competition will be open:

Thursday January 14 2027, at 1.00 pm (Paris time)

Please note that registrations for 2025 were filled in a few hours.
Registration subject to availability in each city.

Each registered candidate is called upon to conduct symphonic works played by two pianists at two pianos, in front of two members of the jury.

At the end of the preliminaries, 20 candidates will be selected for the final rounds with orchestra.
The results will be published between 3 and 5 May 2027.

The final rounds will take place from September 20 to 25, 2027 in Besançon, during the 80th Besançon International Music Festival.

• All rounds with orchestra are public (except the dress rehearsal for the Final).
• ll works are compulsory.
• Candidates are called upon either to conduct all or part of the musical pieces, or to have the artists work under their musical direction, depending on their desire for interpretation or the jury’s request.
• All candidates participate in the first two rounds.