Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition
Offered by Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF)
Who can apply
Composers of any nationality born after 31 December 1976. Two categories: orchestral work (about 10 minutes) and solo piano (about 5 minutes). Works must be original, unpublished, uncommissioned and unperformed. Anonymous submission. Previous ADICC laureates cannot reapply.
About this opportunity
ADICC is a sizeable international prize for a new, unperformed piece of orchestral or solo piano music, not a career-development grant, so you need a finished, never-played work rather than a work in progress. Pick one of two categories: an orchestral piece of about ten minutes, or a solo piano piece of about five. Composers of any nationality can enter as long as they were born after December 31, 1976, though previous ADICC winners can't apply again, and every submission — score, recording and programme notes — must be anonymous; including anything that identifies you gets the entry disqualified outright.
The money is real: first prize is $35,000, with a world premiere at the Abu Dhabi Festival 2028, a professional recording, and the possibility of having the score published; second prize is $13,500 with mentorship and promotion from ADMAF's network; third is $7,000, also with mentorship. All three laureates are flown to Abu Dhabi with accommodation covered, for rehearsals, a press conference, a meeting with the conductor, and the awards ceremony itself.
Applying means filling in an online form with your biographical details and uploading your score plus any required recordings — ADMAF's full rules are in a separate PDF worth reading before you submit. The deadline is December 31, 2026; a jury of composers, conductors and musicians judges entries through January 2027, with finalists announced March 15, 2027 and winners May 15, 2027, ahead of the March 2028 premiere. ADMAF hasn't published specific judging criteria.
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Frequently asked questions
- When is the deadline for Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition?
- The current deadline is December 31, 2026.
- Who offers Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition?
- Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) runs it, from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, International.
- What funding or support does Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition offer?
- 1st prize USD 35,000 plus world premiere at Abu Dhabi Festival 2028, professional recording and score publication opportunity. 2nd USD 13,500, 3rd USD 7,000.
- Who can apply for Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition?
- Composers of any nationality born after 31 December 1976. Two categories: orchestral work (about 10 minutes) and solo piano (about 5 minutes). Works must be original, unpublished, uncommissioned and unperformed. Anonymous submission. Previous ADICC laureates cannot reapply.
- How do I apply for Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition?
- You apply on the funder's own site. The link is on this page: with a free GrantGigs account for deadlines in the next 30 days, or with Pro for later ones. If applications are new to you, our guide on how to apply for music grants walks through the whole process. Read the guide →
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Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition (ADICC) 2027 — 2nd edition