First established in Odense in 1980, the Carl Nielsen International Competition has long served as a launchpad for exceptional young musicians. Its recent laureates — including violinist Johan Dalene (2019) — continue to underscore the competition’s global reputation for excellence.
Held in Carl Nielsen’s birthplace, the Odense Symphony Orchestra’s flagship competition for violinists, clarinettists, and flautists honours the composer’s three solo concertos. In 2026, the competition returns with a renewed focus, celebrating each discipline one at a time, beginning with the flute.
Application rules:
The flute competition is open for all nationalities under the age of 30 on the first day of the competition. Flutists must be born on or after 8 June 1996.
The application must be completed and submitted online.
An application fee of USD 75 to be paid by credit card.Applicants are required to complete an online application via the Acceptd platform. The application must include the following:
- A copy of the applicant’s passport for verification of identity
- A recent suitable portrait photo for reproduction (without copyright) – your photo should be at least 1000 × 1200 px
- Three unedited video recordings of the works listed on the competition’s official website, recorded no more than six months before submission
- A short CV/biography (maximum 800 characters)
- A declaration of any prior education received from any members of the Jury
- A selection of the pieces to be performed in all competition rounds and the final, chosen from the repertoire announced on the competition’s website (below).
The application deadline is 1 February 2026.
Only complete applications will be accepted.
The application fee is non-refundable.
Applicants will be notified in February/March 2026 whether they have been selected as one of the 24 contestants in the Carl Nielsen International Competition 2026. All communication will be by e-mail and will include a deadline for accepting the invitation. Sheet music for the commissioned piece will be sent as soon as possible after confirmation has been received from all contestants.
Selected contestants must confirm their participation by the deadline stated in their invitation.
In exceptional circumstances (force majeure), the General Manager may allow a late arrival to participate, provided they report in person no later than one day after the first round of the competition has begun.
Awards:
First prize: € 12,000
Second prize: € 9,000
Third prize: € 6000
Repertoire.
Pre-selection repertoire:
1. Georg Philipp Telemann: from 12 Fantasias for Solo Flute, TWV 40:2–13. Choose one of the following:
a) No. 3 in B minor, TWV 40:4
b) No. 9 in E major, TWV 40:10
c) No. 11 in G major, TWV 40:12
d) No. 12 in G minor, TWV 40:13
2. Benjamin Godard: Valse (3rd movement) from Suite de trois morceaux, Op. 116
3. Siegfried Karg-Elert: Chaconne for Flute, Op. 107, No. 30
FIRST ROUND
1) Choose between:
a) Herman D. Koppel: Capriccio for Flute and Piano, Op. 73 (Éditions Alphonse Leduc) *
b) J. P. E. Hartmann: Sonata in B major, Op. 1 – I. Allegro vivace
2) Louise Alenius: Competition piece commissioned by the Carl Nielsen International Competition. Invited contestants will receive the score at a later date.
3) Johann Sebastian Bach. Choose one of the following:
a) Sonata in E-flat major, BWV 1031
b) Sonata in E minor, BWV 1034
c) Sonata in E major, BWV 1035
* By kind permission of the publisher Éditions Alphonse Leduc, the Nielsen Competition is able to provide applicants with a complimentary copy of the score for Herman D. Koppel: Capriccio for flute and piano, Op. 73.
Applicants may request the score by contacting the Competition Secretary at gemho@odense.dk. The score is made available solely for the purpose of preparation and participation in the Nielsen Competition. Any reproduction, redistribution, or use beyond this purpose is strictly prohibited.
SECOND ROUND
1) Claude Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (Universal Flute Edition or Éditions Jobert)
2) Choose one of the following:
a) Luciano Berio: Sequenza I
b) Karl Aage Rasmussen: Pièce de concours
c) Yan Maresz: Circumambulation
d) Lowell Liebermann: Soliloquy, Op. 44
e) Michael Jarrell: Le point est la source de tout… (Épitomé II)
f) Fuminori Tanada: F
g) Philippe Hurel: Loops (for solo flute)
3) Choose one of the following:
a) Franz Schubert: Introduction, Theme and Variations on “Ihr Blümlein alle”, D. 802
b) Charles-Marie Widor: Suite, Op. 34
c) Sergei Prokofiev: Sonata in D major, Op. 94
SEMIFINAL
1) Any work for solo flute chosen by the candidate, maximum duration 6 minutes.
2) Choose one of the following concertos:
a) C. P. E. Bach: Flute Concerto in D minor, Wq 22 (H. 425)
b) C. P. E. Bach: Flute Concerto in G major, Wq 169 (H. 445)
FINAL ROUND
1) A. Mozart: Rondo in C major for Flute and Orchestra KV 373 161
2) Carl Nielsen: Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, FS 119