Morning – Rehearsals with pianist
2:30 PM – Youth Conference at the Bottesini Hall (L. Folcioni Music Institute)
5:00 PM – Concert by the students of IC Falcone e Borsellino featuring Siheon Ryu (IBC 2024) at the Manenti Auditorium, San Bernardino Church in Crema
Morning – Rehearsals with pianist
Afternoon – 2nd Round Auditions at the Bottesini Hall (L. Folcioni Music Institute) – free admission
2nd Round Auditions at the Bottesini Hall (L. Folcioni Music Institute) – free admission
9:00PM Cavalli350 Concert Valentina Ferrarese, mezzo soprano (2025 CMC First Prize), Luigi Accardo, harpsichord Sala Pietro da Cemmo, Crema
Morning – Rehearsals with pianist
Afternoon – 3rd Round Auditions at the Bottesini Hall (L. Folcioni Music Institute) – free admission
2:30 PM Semifinal at Teatro San Domenico, Crema Free admission and live streaming on the Associazione Bottesini YouTube channel
9:00 PM Lirico in Abside Concert Charlotte Langner, soprano (2026 CLIP Second Prize), Massimiliano Bullo, piano Teatro San Domenico, Crema
Morning – Masterclass at the Stauffer Foundation in Cremona – registration required
The total prize pool for IBC 2026 is estimated at € 66,000.
a double bass made by Marco Nolli luthier
a double bass made by Richard Gonon luthier
a bow made by bow maker Marco Pasquino, as well as a “Imperator 4/4” hard case/flight case for double bass by Bogaro & Clemente
€ 1000
€ 1000
Every candidate who passes the first round will receive a set of three pieces of 050 Rosin
The top three finishers will receive a Bogaro & Clemente bow case
The top three finishers will receive a set of D’Addario strings
The top three finishers will receive a set of Pirastro strings
€ 400
The organizers may offer additional prizes or prize concerts
Saturday 24th October
Fondazione Stauffer – sede dell’Accademia Stauffer – Cremona, Via S. Martino n. 6
Participation Request for the Luthiers’ Exhibition
Luthiers are invited to participate and reserve an exhibition space for the Luthiers’ Exhibition, which will take place on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Sala Rossa of the Bishop’s Palace in Crema, Piazza del Duomo 27, as part of the 10th International Bottesini Competition (IBC).
Download the documentation
Submissions for IBC 2026 are now closed, but the announcement form is still available here.
Download here the musical program that will be required during the competition.
Click here to purchase the sheet music for G. Sollima’s “The Atlas Syndrome” (Capriccio for Solo Double Bass).
Help us to support music, culture and young talents
Help us to support music, culture and young talents
