Marking a shift in the calendar – a month earlier than usual – the event once again promises to be a hub for innovation, collaboration, and forward-thinking ideas in classical and art music.

Staying true to its mission of being built by and for its community, Classical:NEXT has officially opened its Call for Proposals. Organisers are inviting music professionals from across the globe to submit projects, performances, and topics that will shape the 2026 programme.

From early to contemporary music, traditional to experimental approaches, live performances to recorded projects, as well as initiatives focused on education, technology, or business – all submissions are welcome. The emphasis is on bold, inspiring, and future-oriented contributions that reflect the evolving landscape of the art music world.

The deadline for submissions is 30 September 2025. Full details and application guidelines are available at classicalnext.org.

This call follows the success of Classical:NEXT 2025, which became the largest edition in the event’s history, uniting industry professionals for four days of powerful ideas and transformative moments. The energy of this milestone event has been captured in the newly released Aftermovie, now available online.

In the months ahead, organisers will announce the members of the Classical:NEXT 2026 Jury and share more insights into the host city, Budapest. Until then, the team encourages the community to continue the conversation and share their excitement using the hashtag #classicalnext2026 across Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

For any questions regarding the submission process, participants are invited to contact the Classical:NEXT team directly.