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Rules : introduction

Under the patronage of Madam Patrizia Ciofi, the International Lyrical Art Competition of Namur aims to promote the professional career of young lyrical singers of all nationalities.

The Competition provides:
- 5 prizes and special prizes;
- a performance in the semi-final with free choice of the staging;
- a performance in the final in the Namur Concert Hall, with the Opéra Royal de Wallonie orchestra conducted by Maestro Ayrton Desimpelaere;
- a jury composed of major opera house representatives, artists’ agents and internationally renowned lyric artists;
- masterclasses with one or more internationally renowned lyric artists - lectures with prominent figures from the world of opera;

- lectures with prominent figures from the world of opera.

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The third edition of the Competition will take place from Monday 26 January to Saturday 07 February 2026 in Namur, Belgium.

Program - General comments

The International Lyrical Art Competition of Namur is organized in 4 steps:

  • Selection of the candidates

The Selection Committee of the Competition selects the candidates who are allowed to participate in the qualifying round, on the basis of the CV and letter of recommendation provided by the candidate at the time of registration.

  • Qualifying round

The candidate will perform 2 opera arias of his own choosing:
- different from the aria performed in semi-final;
- from different composers and periods;
- in different languages;
- of maximum 12 minutes (the jury reserves the right to interrupt the performance if the time limit exceeds);
At the end of the qualifying round, the jury selects 15 semi-finalists among the candidates.

  • Semi-final

The semi-finalist will perform 1 opera aria of his own choosing:
- different from the ones performed in the qualifying round;
- freely staged by the candidate himself, with provision and personal use of the stage area - with free timing.

- black clothes are necessary and must fit the character you will perform
At the end of the semi-final, the jury selects 5 finalists.

Audience choice: The audience chooses the semi-finalist of their choice. The semi-final candidate chosen by the audience will be added to the 5 finalists if she/he is not among the jury’s choice.

  • Final

The finalist will perform 2 opera arias:
- chosen in partnership between the candidate and the conductor (the arias might be the same as the ones performed in the previous rounds).

At the end of the final, the jury ranks the 5 laureates.

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- All the arias must be sung from memory, in the original key and language.

- Certain adjustments to the programme are possible for countertenors, subject to approval by the Competition management.

- The rehearsals with piano and semi-final will take place in the premises of the IMEP (Institut Royal Supérieur de Musique et de Pédagogie): rue Henri Blès, 33A, B-5000 Namur, Belgium.

-The Final, with the Opéra Royal de Wallonie orchestra conducted by Maestro Ayrton Desimpelaere, will take place in the Namur Concert Hall, rue Rogier 82, B-5000 Namur

Schedule

  • Tuesday 16 December 2025: Registration deadline on the Competition website.
    After this date, no change will be allowed to the candidate’s programme, except where required by the Competition management.

  • Friday 19 December 2025: Publication on the Competition website of the candidates who have been selected by the Selection Committee to participate in the Competition rounds.

  • Friday 16 January 2026: deadline for payment of the registration fee.

  • Monday 26 January 2026, 17h00: setting of order of performance.

  • Tuesday 27 January 2026: rehearsals with piano.

  • Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 January 2026:  qualifying round.

  • Friday 30 and Saturday 31 January 2026: rehearsals with piano and staging work.

  • Sunday 01 February 2026: semi-final.

  • Friday 06 February 2026​: rehearsals with the Opéra Royal de Wallonie orchestra.

  • Saturday 07 February 2026, 20h00: final.

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Examination of registrations/Files

By registering online for the Competition, the candidate fully subscribes to and accepts the full Competition rules.
In order to participate in the drawing:

  • the candidate’s dossier must be in order, as presented in the registering conditions.

  • the candidate’s registration fee payment must be in order.

Travel expenses

Travel expenses

The Competition cannot reimburse the travel and travelling expenses of the candidates. 

Accommodation

The Competition can arrange free accommodation for candidates who request it, subject to availability, with host families in and around Namur. These families will only provide accommodation to the candidates and their potential private pianist. No other accompanying

person will be accommodated.

The accommodation will only consist of overnight and breakfast during the whole duration of the Competition, namely from Monday 26 January to Saturday 07 February 2026 included.

Pianists to accompany the singers - Scores - Cession of rights

  • Pianists to accompany the singers

Pianists designated by the Competition are at the disposal of the candidates, who will all be entitled to the same amount of rehearsal time. Candidates may, nonetheless, have a personal accompanist. However, no private pianist will be paid by the Competition.

  • Scores

The candidates must supply a copy of all the scores they will perform to their pianist accompanist and to the Competition management.
The Competition cannot be held responsible for any potential use of (photo)copies of scores.

  • Cession of rights

By registering for and participating in the Competition, the candidates and their pianist accompanists cede to the Competition the right to record, reproduce and arrange for the reproduction of their performances in the different rounds of the Competition and at the concerts, on any medium, including radio or television broadcasting, Internet, live or pre- recorded.

Process of the competition

All the rounds of the International Lyrical Art Competition of Namur are public.

The order in which the candidates will perform in the different rounds of the Competition will be defined on Tuesday 30 January 2024.

All the candidates will be entitled to the same amount of rehearsal time, with the pianist accompanist and with the orchestra.

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Jury

  • Besides the President and the Secretary, the jury of the Competition will be composed of prominent people chosen among opera house representatives, artists’ agents and renowned lyric artists.

  • The President and the Secretary are not entitled to vote, but the President will cast the deciding vote in the case of a split decision.

  • The Competition management reserves the right to increase and vary the number and selection of the jury members between the qualifying round and the final.

Remarks

In the event of a dispute, only the French text of these rules is legally binding.

Rules (PDF)
Règlement (PDF)
Reglement (PDF)
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