2026: 71st Anniversary Ferrier Competition

Applications for the 2026 Ferrier Awards Competition have now closed with effect from the end of January 25th, 2026

For your interest and use, below you will find an outline of the main rules of the competition.
Below that are useful links to documents that you may find interesting or helpful.

The competition is open to singers of any nationality who, on or before January 25th, 2026:

  • (a) have completed at least one year of a postgraduate course in music at a recognised conservatoire or music college in the United Kingdom (UK) or Republic of Ireland (ROI), or
  • (b) having graduated with a first degree or equivalent at a recognised conservatoire or music college in the UK or ROI, have thereafter completed at least one year of continuous study in the UK or ROI with a recognised vocal coach.

Applicants must also have their main residence in the UK or the Republic of Ireland as at January 25th, 2026. All singers must be 28 years of age or under on Friday April 24th, 2026.

As well as a first prize of £12,500 and a second prize of £6,000, the Ferrier Loveday Song Prize of £5,000 and Help Musicians Accompanists Prize of £5,000 will be decided in the competition.

The jury members for the 2026 competition are: David Parry, Linda Richardson, Peter Savidge, and Anna Tilbrook. The jury is chaired this year by Christine Chibnall. Further members of the jury will be announced soon. We are extremely grateful to all the jury members for participating in the competition in this way and value their contribution very highly.

The details of the events in the competition are as follows:

  • The Preliminary auditions will take place in February & March 2026 on these dates: Thursday Feb 26th, Friday Feb 27th, Saturday Feb 28th, and Sunday March 1st, all at Henry Wood Hall (Trinity Church Square, London, SE1 4HU).
  • The Semi-final will be on Tuesday April 21st 2026, 13:30–18:00, at Wigmore Hall (36 Wigmore St, London W1U 2BP).
  • The Final will be on Friday April 24th 2026, 18:00–21:00, also at Wigmore Hall.
  • Then, as usual, after a dinner break—during which the jury will consider what they have heard, the prize winners will be announced back in Wigmore Hall the same evening.

It is now too late to apply for the 2026 Competition. However, the documents below are now provided solely to provide information about the competition. 

  • Current Rules and Repertoire requirements may be downloaded from here
  • The Singer Application form for 2026 may be downloaded from here
  • The Singer Endorsement form for 2026 may be downloaded from here
  • The Accompanist Application form for 2026 may be downloaded from here
  • A specimen programme with useful advice in Microsoft Word format can be downloaded from here. The template on the second page of this document is where existing candidates should present their proposed programme by overwriting it and sending it with their application.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or requirements, please contact our General Manager, Janet Marshall, by clicking this link.