When planning your choir’s next international adventure, you’ll often see two options: choir competitions and choir festivals. At INTERKULTUR, both formats often take place alongside each other, and choirs can decide at each event whether they wish to compete or participate in the festival only.

While both formats are enriching, joyful experiences that bring singers together from across the world, they serve different goals and offer unique atmospheres. 

Understanding the most important differences between choir competition and choir festival can help you choose the best fit for your ensemble.

Purpose and Atmosphere

Choir Competitions are built around performance excellence and evaluation. Choirs enter specific categories, perform in front of an international jury, and in INTERKULTUR competitions are awarded points and medals based on the MUSICA MUNDI or World Choir Games Evaluation Systems. The atmosphere can be intense, but also incredibly rewarding.

Choir Festivals, on the other hand, emphasize community, cultural exchange, and shared joy in singing. There are no scores or rankings, just the chance to perform, learn, and connect. Choir Festival participants still sing in high-quality concerts, but without the pressure of a choir competition.

Performance Setting

In choir competitions, the groups perform in timed, adjudicated sessions. They often have to prepare multiple pieces across styles and follow defined program guidelines. The goal is to impress a panel of international jurors, meet high artistic standards, and compete for top honors like medals, diplomas, and placement in the INTERKULTUR World Rankings.

A choir festival offers instead a more relaxed environment, where the groups may perform in Friendship Concerts, open-air venues or local community spaces without competitive pressure. The setting is more tranquil, and interaction with local and international audiences is encouraged. Often, choirs get to watch and support each other more closely.

Feedback and Growth

Artistic development is a central part of both choir competitions and festivals. INTERKULTUR offers Evaluation Performances and Individual Coachings that are open to all participating choirs, regardless of whether they are competing or not. These sessions provide valuable feedback from international jury members and allow conductors and singers to reflect on their performance in a constructive, non-competitive environment.

For choirs participating in competitions, Evaluation Performances bring the focus to the official competitive structure. These provide an additional opportunity for choirs to be heard by the jury in a more focused setting, often before their official competition performance. It’s a unique chance to receive early artistic input and fine-tune the presentation.

In both festival and competition contexts, growth is also often collaborative. Choirs can take part in Workshops, Friendship Concerts, rehearsals for specific projects such as a Festival Stage Choir, or similar opportunities where learning also happens through shared musical experiences. While in these instances the emphasis is less on rankings and more on inspiration, the artistic benefits are equally meaningful ­– rooted in interaction, exchange, and community.

Suitable for Whom?

Choir Competitions are ideal for choirs that are performance-ready, and interested in international recognition or benchmarking. School choirs, university ensembles, and elite community choirs often thrive in this setting.

Choir Festivals are perfect for choirs who are new to international events, or groups focused on cultural exchange and fun. They're also a great first step before moving into competition territory.

At INTERKULTUR, You Can Have Both

Many INTERKULTUR events offer a festival participation option alongside the competition, allowing choirs to enjoy the global spirit of the event without competing. At the same time, festival choirs have the opportunity to watch competitions and get a glimpse at the international competition stage. And often, choirs who attend once as festival participants return the next time ready to compete.

Which Experience Will You Choose?

Whether your choir is striving for gold or seeking community, both choir competitions and choir festivals can open doors to unforgettable memories and musical growth.

Explore INTERKULTUR’s full list of international choir events for 2026 and 2027 here. 

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