International Choir Competition Blackpool celebrates its winners
Five days of competition, concerts and international encounters come to a festive conclusion
Five days of choral music and international encounters came to a festive conclusion in Blackpool as the first International Choir Competition Blackpool celebrated its final moments with the Awards Ceremony.
From September 10–14, 2026, singers from different parts of the world came together in the famous British seaside town to compete, perform and share their music. Throughout the event, choirs took to the stage in competitions and concerts, creating opportunities for musical exchange and new connections across cultures.
At the heart of the event were the historic Winter Gardens, where the magnificent Empress Ballroom provided a memorable setting for the international choral community. From the Opening Event to the final competition performances, Blackpool’s long tradition of live entertainment met the energy and diversity of international choral music.
The Awards Ceremony brought the participating choirs together once more to celebrate their artistic achievements and mark the official conclusion of the first International Choir Competition Blackpool.
The international jury reported strong results, awarding 16 Golden Diplomas and 3 Silver Diplomas across the six competition categories.
Category Winners at the International Choir Competition Blackpool
The following choirs achieved the highest scores in their respective categories:
Category A1 – Mixed Choirs
Lain Huuto, Finland
conducted by Paavo Hyökki
Category A2 – Choirs of Equal Voices
Peterborough Male Voice Choir, Great Britain
conducted by William Prideaux
Category G1 – Children’s Choirs
DC Junior Choir, Zimbabwe
conducted by Byron Manake
Category G2 – Youth Choirs
Rapla Riinimanda Kooristuudio noortekoor, Estonia
conducted by Pärt Uusberg
Category P – Pop / Jazz / Gospel
Lain Huuto, Finland
conducted by Paavo Hyökki
Category F – Folklore
Rapla Riinimanda Kooristuudio noortekoor, Estonia
conducted by Urve Uusberg & Helen Allikvee
In addition to the competition results, the international jury awarded a Special Prize to Lain Huuto from Finland, conducted by Paavo Hyökki, for their outstanding performance of the a cappella song “Eleanor Rigby.” The Finnish choir also celebrated a particularly successful competition, winning both the Mixed Choirs and Pop / Jazz / Gospel categories.
The complete list of competition results can be found here:
Join the Next INTERKULTUR Events
With its first edition, the International Choir Competition Blackpool has brought international choral music to one of Great Britain’s most iconic entertainment destinations. Choirs are warmly invited to continue meeting, singing and competing at upcoming INTERKULTUR festivals and competitions around the world.
Discover upcoming events and registration opportunities here:
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