Competition of Children’s, Youth and Girl’s Choirs * Concerts * Open Singing * Workshops * Round Tables * Exhibition * Closing concert of joined choirs
International Youth Choir Festival Celje is a biennial meeting of youth choirs chosen from Slovenia and abroad. In its history it has become an important international choir manifestation that regularly follows, values and stimulates the achievements of youth choirs, and with this it influences the quality level of young people’s singing culture. The honorary patron of the anniversary festival is Dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia.
You can find the festival program here.
Program
You can find the detailed schedule of the festival and competitions here.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Press conference ahead of the start of the 37th MPF and the 28th National Competition
EXHIBITION OPENING
Opening of the exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of MPF Celje Sings: Jurče Vreže and the Youth Choir Festival, by Dr Marija Počivavšek
PÉSEMCA
Regional review of children’s and youth choirs from the municipalities of Celje, Dobrna, Štore, and Vojnik
WORKSHOPS
Workshops led by Tadeja Vulc in collaboration with music pedagogy students from the Faculty of Education, University of Maribor
GUIDED EXHIBITION TOUR
Guided tour of the exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of MPF Celje Sings: Jurče Vreže and the Youth Choir Festival, by Dr Marija Počivavšek
FESTIVE OPENING CONCERT
A celebratory opening concert marking the 80th anniversary of MPF, featuring a joint performance by youth choirs from Celje primary and secondary schools and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, conductor: Simon Dvoršak Programme: Matevž Goršič – Children’s Cantata Kje je Tina? and Cantata for Peace (world premiere)
WORKSHOPS
Workshops led by Marko Vatovec in collaboration with students of the Academy of Music, University of Ljubljana
NATIONAL COMPETITION
28th National Competition of Girls’, Boys’, and Mixed Youth Choirs, 15:30 (girls’ choirs), 17:30 (boys’ and mixed choirs), Concert Hall of the Celje Music School, 19:00 partial announcement of results at Zvezda (competition schedule)
A MOMENT FOR SONG
A Minute for Song, 16:45 and 18:45 at Zvezda in the city centre, with a partial announcement of results at 19:00 (in case of bad weather, the announcement will take place at the Celje Music School)
FILM SCREENING
Screening of the documentary film The Celebration of Youth Song – Eighty Years of the International Youth Choir Festival in Celje, directed by Tadej Čater, followed by a discussion with the creative team
NATIONAL COMPETITION
National competition for youth choirs, 11:00 and 14:00 (competition schedule)
A MOMENT FOR SONG
Celje amateur cultural associations, Moments for Song, 11:45, 12:45, 14:45, 15:45 at Zvezda in the centre of Celje
ANNOUNCEMENT OF RESULTS
Ceremonial announcement of the results of the 28th National Competition and awards ceremony
MONOGRAPH PRESENTATION
Presentation of the monograph Let the Youth Sing! Jurče Vreže, Conductor and Visionary of the Youth Choral Festival in Celje by Dr Darja Koter
COME TO THE STAR
“Come to the Star”, event celebrating the City of Celje Municipal Holiday
VOCAL TRIBUTE
Celje Choral Tribute to the 80th Anniversary of MPF, the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of Jurče Vreže, and the Municipal Holiday of the City Municipality of Celje, 18:00, Trg celjskih knezov. Performers: the combined choirs of Celje primary and secondary schools and the Wind Orchestra of the Celje Music School. Conductor: Gašper Salobir. (In case of bad weather, the concert will take place at the Celjski dom)
GUIDED TOUR
Screening of the documentary film The Celebration of Youth Song – Eighty Years of the International Youth Choir Festival in Celje, directed by Tadej Čater
FILM SCREENING
Screening of a documentary film marking the 80th anniversary of MPF
SINGING WALK
Traditional singing walk through the old town centre on the occasion of the National Day of Singing with Hearts
Youth Choir Festival Celje.
The Choirs taking part at the 37th International Youth Choir Festival will present themselves at the competition concert and with an independent performance with a programme of their choice, as well as joining other singers at open singing and presenting a typical piece from their cultural environment. The best choirs will be awarded with money prizes.
During the festival the choirs will be provided with free meals – lunch and dinner.
Organisers, supporters and patrons
The Jubilee Youth Choir Festival Celje 2026 is being organised in cooperation with the Javni sklad RS za kulturne dejavnosti, Zavod Celeia Celje, Mestna občina Celje, Muzej novejše zgodovine Celje, Mohorjeva družba Celje and the Akademija za glasbo Univerze v Ljubljani. The festival is also supported by Glasbena šola Celje, I. gimnazija v Celju, Osrednja knjižnica Celje and Zgodovinski arhiv Celje.
The Honorary Patron of the Youth Choir Festival 2026 is Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenia.
Ferstival sponsors are Cinkarna Celje d. d, Reklama Celje d. o. o. and ZPO Celje d. o. o.
Festival is made possible by
Honorary patron of the 37th YCF Celje 2026
dr. Nataša Pirc Musar, President of the Republic of Slovenija