ADICC 2026: prepare the music, then check the files

ADMAF’s second Abu Dhabi International Competition for Composition is accepting entries until 31 December 2026. The organiser lists 30 September as the opening date; the 8 October news announcement does not mean applications opened that day. Its two categories are orchestral work and solo piano, with the organiser describing durations of approximately ten and five minutes respectively.

Check eligibility before polishing the upload. The organiser accepts composers of all nationalities born after 31 December 1976, excluding previous ADICC laureates. Entries must be original, unpublished, uncommissioned and unperformed. The detailed rules also exclude works created using AI tools. Read the full conditions for the chosen category, including orchestration and rights provisions.

The application separates identity from the material judged. Personal details go into the online form. The score, audio and any programme or concept note must be anonymous. The rules specify a system-generated reference code for score and audio filenames and warn that hidden properties, including PDF author fields and audio tags, are checked for identifying information.

A useful preparation method is to keep working files and submission exports in separate folders. Review the exported PDF itself, not just the notation project. Then inspect filenames and document properties, listen to the final audio and compare the package with the official upload requirements. A correct score can still be attached in the wrong version.

Put the deadlines in separate calendar entries: submission closes 31 December 2026, finalists are scheduled for 15 March 2027 and winners for 15 May 2027. The premiere is planned for March 2028. Leave time before the submission deadline to resolve a rejected file or an unanswered question through the organiser’s official contact route.

Before clicking submit, save a short private record of the category, reference code and exact exported filenames. Keep any confirmation the portal provides alongside that record. These are practical organisation suggestions, not additional competition rules. The official regulations and application portal remain the places to check the complete requirements.

Cover: original AI-generated conceptual illustration of an imaginary music studio. It is not an ADMAF venue, a real entrant or submitted musical work.